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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

"Bringing up Baby" didn't do much for breast feeding, did it?

90 replies

bohemianbint · 26/09/2007 15:52

Everyone looked to be bottle feeding, the one woman who did do it looked to be having a crappy time of it and more airspace is given to the views of those who "don't want to see boobs in public"! Yet more slanting to make breastfeeding look like martyrdom for loony hippies. Not to mention the 4 hour routine that would be guaranteed to scupper anyone trying to establish breastfeeding in the early days.

What are the odds on them redeeming themselves next week, do you think?

OP posts:
3andnomore · 26/09/2007 16:00

Is that a TV programme?
Possibly the one on Channel 4 that people keep mentioning...

Original poster
bohemianbint · 26/09/2007 16:10

yup, that's the one...

OP posts:
tiktok · 26/09/2007 16:13

True, agree with OP, here - see threads on Telly Addicts.

Apparently episode 2 is even worse.

The woman trying to help with the breastfeeding really did not know what she was doing..... : ( : (

StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2007 16:17

No it didn't - and if you must do it, please stop at 3 or 4 months.
AM I not right in thinking that newborns should be fed on demand anyway, whether bf or ff?

Original poster
bohemianbint · 26/09/2007 16:19

It's just such a shame how its constantly portrayed in the media. The only positive thing I saw recently was on Corrie, ie Violet saying she would be breastfeeding for months - sadly she was saying it like it was a bad thing and would kill her social life.

Can we please just have some nice, non judgemental portrayals of breast feeding on tv? It's no wonder so many people choose not to do it, looking at the cultural barriers that are even subliminal sometimes... but it's very very sad.

OP posts:
beansprout · 26/09/2007 16:22

It was a shame. Formula really has become the norm in our society, so much so that we talk about the "benefits" of bf rather than the "risks" of ff.

Breizhette · 26/09/2007 16:44

I also cringed when it was described as part of the "tribal experience", as if it was extreme behaviour.

Lovage · 26/09/2007 20:48

Yes, that didn't look like a good latch to me and as soon as the baby did seem to latch on, the mum winced and the 'expert' said 'oh he's come off again'. very offputting if you were in two minds about it, I thought.

mammyjo · 26/09/2007 20:51

And at a time when the mum needs all the help and support she can get - but from someone who knows what they are talking about. Didnt see the show, but know what those early bf days are like. Am still bf dd and she is 6 months old. Regularly get comments asking when I am going to stop, as if I am doing something that I shouldnt be.

morningpaper · 26/09/2007 20:54

Agree that the breastfeeding=tribal message was v. strong

basically they meant breastfeeding = primitive

(they also referred to the tribal people as being "primitive" )

StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2007 20:55

I'm waiting for those mammyjo, as well as the questions about hy I haven't weaned yet - only MIL has mentioned this so far, but surely before long everyone and his dog will need to know.

FairyMum · 26/09/2007 20:57

Agree, but unfortunately if there had been positive messages about bf and long-term bf especially, would have caused an outcry about the bf-mafia taking over CH4

lazyemma · 27/09/2007 07:57

well, it wasn't all bad news - it looked to me like three of the women were breastfeeding, and you saw the one who was having problems with latching on later breastfeeding in a restaurant and saying how easy she was finding it, and one of the others having a quick break from what appeared to be a game of basketball to nip over to the sidelines and breastfeed her baby.

This programme has flaws alright- unethical, much? - but I don't agree it has a duty to promote only positive messages about breastfeeding, it is trying to portray people's actual experiences with these three regimes after all.

StealthPolarBear · 27/09/2007 08:32

really lazyemma? I didn't see those bits - must have been on here ranting about CV

StealthPolarBear · 27/09/2007 08:34

But the problems I have with it are the 'experts', didn't CV make some comment about how she can't be doing with this bf and the Spock woman said if you're going to do it, just do it for 3 or 4 months? I agree it shouldn't pretend women have it easier than they do.

harpsichordcarrier · 27/09/2007 08:35

I don't think being advised not to bf in public because other people don't want to see your breasts counts as a an experience of the regime. it is an inherent bias and is calculated to undermine bf for that woman.

StealthPolarBear · 27/09/2007 08:36

oh yes, that was right at the beginning, wasn't it

mybabysinthegarden · 27/09/2007 09:40

I would have expected it from CV but was disappointed that that was the Spock woman's attitude. There was a voiceover at one point saying something like "It's known that breastmilk is better for babies than formula" though.

mamadoc · 27/09/2007 10:35

The biggest problem with this programme is that whilst it purports to be an experiment it is of course a set up. It is in no way portraying people's actual experience. It is edited to show the party line about each method. The continuum concept is portrayed as being as extreme as Claire Verity at the other end of the spectrum. The really dangerous person is actually the nice cuddly Dr Spock lady as she is supposed to be portraying middle of the road normality and she apparently thinks you should only bf for 3 months and never in public. This programme is reinforcing a message that breastfeeding is very difficult, tiring and inconvenient, not compatible with having a life and not suitable for the modern world. IIRC the voiceover on the basketball bit was actually saying how inconvenient it was for this lady to have to bring her baby to the game.

hazeyjane · 28/09/2007 22:20

Personally I was relieved to finally see a portrayal of breastfeeding that was similar to my own experience. I am not aware of the image of breastfeeders as loony hippies, it seems to me that in the media and the world around me (baby clinics, hopital, women's magazines etc) that because breastfeeding is natural it is therefore 'easy' for every woman. I was shocked when I started trying to breastfeed and found it to be agonising,and after several long tearful weeks of bleeding and blistered nipples, thrush and a tongue tie (I guess I was just lucky!), and despite much help from breastfeeding counsellors and midwives, I reluctantly gave up and became a bottlefeeder. I believe that some women do find it more painful than others, even when they get the latch right, and to believe otherwise is as crazy as believing that some women have more painful births simply because they are doing it wrong. My husband and I were both extremely moved to watch this woman having similar difficulties to the ones that we had had, and it reminded us of just what a misereable time it was for us,however I do think it is important to show that it is not an easy thing for everyone, and that some people will fail as I did and that others will persist and succeed.Oh also I wonder if Beansprout could tell me the "risks" of using formula, its just that, whilst I am fully aware that breast milk is clearly the best thing to feed your baby, I did not think that formula was actually harmful, but instead the only alternative if not breastfeeding.

quirkychick · 28/09/2007 22:38

OMG!!!

I was absolutely appalled at CV and leaving the baby outside/in cot crying without even checking her. I don't agree with cc but to not even see the newborn baby wasn't ill, or hadn't been sick everywhere or done one of those up the back poos that they do and was lying in it for 4 hours!!

Explains MIL attitude to babies though.

quirkychick · 28/09/2007 22:41

Forgot to add...

Definitely shows how attitudes in the 50s and 60s (and before) have undermined bf. I know it can be hard - believe me I have the t-shirt - but it is amazing how other countries have much better bf rates. We really need the support.

Piffle · 28/09/2007 22:59

but in the programme ahead it showed the woman who had struggled (continuum concept lass) feeding in public with cherubic bambino

but yes the bf help in that was shite
no no no do this this this#
hmmmm

StealthPolarBear · 29/09/2007 10:48

hazeyjane, I think beansprout's point is that rather than seeing ff as the "norm" and bf being some wondrous alternative, the norm for human babies should be human milk and anything else should be compared to it. So cow's milk is an absolutely unacceptable substitute, formula is a good substitute, bread and beer is a ridiculous substitute iyswim. So rather than talking about the benefits of bf (assuming ff as baseline) we should be using bf as baseline.
Hope that made sense. beansprout, if I've completely misrepresented you then please correct me and the views above are mine only!

hazeyjane · 30/09/2007 19:32

You are totally right that b'feeding should be seen as the norm. I guess it was just the word "risks" that freaked me out, as it is a word I associate with choosing to put oneself, or someone else in danger ie the risks of smoking or the risks of crossing the road blindfolded, both of which are obviously (I hope!) more dangerous than formula feeding.

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