Stupid storyline in a book made me mad!

[Stefka]

This is a bit of a pointless post but I had to rant somewhere! I have just finished reading this book that is about three friends who are all pregnant. It's chick lit light rubbish (all my mummy brain can cope with right now!) but the attitude towards BF in it really pissed me off.

In the story the women go to a class run by a scary midwife who is often shown up by another character who has loads of kids. All fine - except that the midwife is pro BF and the power mum of five is all for the formula. It makes BF out to be something that the militant are into and it really annoyed me! Like there needs to be more misinformation about BF out there

Was it written by India Knight?

No Milly Johnson. Why?

I agree and think there should be a concerted effort to get positive images of breastfeeding on TV and in the media, just so that it becomes normal for people to see it. It can be discreet so no need for boobs in the breeze. It should be so common as to be unremarkable and I'm sure that this would help those new mothers who want to breastfeed to have positive role-models.

I just read one of her books and the only bf person in that one was the most appalling character ever, decribed as bovine with udders! She was very militant too. She column in the ST has been very anti bf too iirc.

Try A Woman of No Importance by Kate Konopicky, I though this was very funny.

What was it called?

One I'm reading now (Momzillas) had a part in it where a bf mother was feeding her toddler and it was written in a way that made her out to be very odd and hippyish. That annoyed me.(sorry long sentance)

The Pudding Club.

I can't think of any positive roles models in the media. I don't think I can ever remember a BF character in a drama, soap or film.

contact milly johnson

Should anyone feel the need...

Wouldn't read any more of her silly books if I were you, they sound a bit shite

Nobody in the soaps bf. Ever. But actually how could thay as its not their child. Duh!! They could mention they were bf though I suppose.

If I can't have my boobs in the wind, I'm don't know that I shall bother continuing with this whole BFing lark.

I'm just learning to BF. My DD and I are not accomplished enough to do it in public yet (leading to some mad dashes home from the park if she wakes up looking for a feed) but when we are ready there is no way I'll be able to be discreet.

Let me aim for competence. I don't see why I should be discreet about something so normal.

Women who are brilliant at it, e.g. able to put a toddler on for 30 seconds in a swimming pool (to ref. a recent thread) are probably discreet as a matter of course, but it's hardly a priority, is it?

princessmel - they'd cope! after all they show characters 'giving birth'! [mile]

True

I'd do it!!

sorry colicy babe in hand

IIRC, Caroline Aherne's character in The Royle Family bf, saying she did it because she didn't have to leave the sofa. Or am I just imagining that? Can someone confirm?

she did bf on the royle family, I remember Antony's mate getting all giggly cos he saw her feeding baby david.

I don't worry too much about RL discretion, I was thinking more that it's unlikely that they'd be able to show boobs on Eastenders at 7pm, plus as Princessmel says they'd not really be doing it. Acting showing characters BF would be great, as at the moment all we get are the shows poking fun at BF older children, or nothing at all.

Thanks Headfairy - thought so! Actually, The Royle Family is a great show to have bf shown as 'normal' as they're meant to be a very average working class family, so nothing 'hippy' or 'posh' about bf there.

I seem to remember Jim being a bit shocked, but no-one said anything else. She did make some comment about her boobs leaking in TopShop though

I'm sure film makers and tv producers could fake bfing to show it as normal in programmes, they can fake someone being stabbed or blowing up so why can't they make pretend bfing look realistic.

I just read "Cuban Heels" by Emily Barr, and one of the women in there bf'd and liked doing it.

In FRIENDS Rachel breastfeeds baby Emma in the hospital. In the beginning they have problems as well. So if that show can do it I'm sure others can. At least in one sceen.

I remember in the mid 90,s a young woman breastfeeding in Home and Away, Alf threw her out of the cafe and his wife (blond curley hair) stuck up for her, it gave a lot of information at the time. But was a long time ago.