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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Make Breastfeeding Normal exhibition and National Breastfeeding Awareness week

80 replies

theAfkaUrbanDryad · 13/05/2008 08:14

Morgan's blog has a fantastic article about National Breastfeeding week and the problem with those awful posters. At the bottom, my account of my experience yesterday at the photocall for the Make Breastfeeding Normal exhibition - and the points that need to be made about that.

It's quite long - but there are things said in there that I could not say as eloquently and i feel this is an issue that needs to be in the public domain as much as possible!

OP posts:

mummyrex · 13/05/2008 11:41

Where are these dreadful posters going to be used?

mummyrex · 13/05/2008 11:48

I am SO upset by these posters!

the idea that MY breasts are 'tailor made' for my 'man' !!!!!!!!! Words just fail me...
I have never thought that I could be embarrassed about breastfeeding but I would feel embarrassed if one of these posters were around or if I thought people I was feeding near were aware of them.

Please tell me they are not going to be circulated!

tiktok · 13/05/2008 11:49

alright, no one is arguing for flabby bellies.

Where does anyone suggest this would be a good idea?

The point is that if we are concerned about the sexualising of breastfeeding, these posters do nothing except confirm it.

They miss the point of it all.

kiskideesameanoldmother · 13/05/2008 11:55

just looked at the flyer which was linked to here and guess who was not touted as a sponsor of the conference?

i wonder how they can explain this away.

good ole' AVENT.

tiktok · 13/05/2008 12:02

Avent will not have been a 'sponsor' though, but an exhibitor...ie they'll have paid for their stand to be there rather than actually supporting the conference.

I agree - they should not have been.

alright · 13/05/2008 12:05

no twasnt suggested flab would be a good idea if was just a comment re the post about the taut belly. i dont like the sexualisation of bfing either, but i think its trying to appeal to those women that want both, bfing and sexyness, i breastfeed with a sexy bra on! no flat tummy here tho

alright · 13/05/2008 12:12

no twasnt suggested flab would be a good idea if it was just a comment

KashaSarrasin · 13/05/2008 12:14

Wow. I'm really disturbed by the account of the London exhibition . That's just so wrong What a shit way to treat bf mums who volunteered to help .

I have to admit the posters had kind of washed over me a bit and I hadn't really thought about them, but actually I think the comments are spot on.

mummyrex · 13/05/2008 12:16

I simply don't believe that the main reason that young twenty-somethings don't breastfeed is because it 'isn't sexy'.

I think it is because they feel embarrassed and awkward about feeding in public. When I was a first time mum I used to plan outings around where I felt comfortable enough to feed - eg places that had feeding rooms or cafes with discreet corners (I am much braver now).

Isn't the fact that too many people in the UK only regard breasts as something sexual the biggest problem we all face? These posters will simply make this worse for everybody.

hunkermunker · 13/05/2008 12:16

Apparently the Royal College of Midwives are happy to have them as exhibitors because they have to do what their members want and their members are happy to have Avent ads.

hunkermunker · 13/05/2008 12:19

I don't think there's any one "biggest problem" for any demographic, really.

It's more a combination of things (formula advertising; meaningless platitudes from people "happy mummy happy baby" which skim the surface of deeper feelings wrt breastfeeding experience; the general idea that formula is the same stuff, but in a handy freeze-dried form, the fact we live in a society that thinks babies are fed with bottles and doesn't see anything changing to confound that view; concern about bfeeding in public) - not just one thing.

beansprout · 13/05/2008 12:22

Those posters!!

It's like they gave the account to Don Draper in Mad Men!

LookingForwardToSummer · 13/05/2008 12:23

i'm really shocked. what terrible posters - where are they going to be used, can they be stopped. I may be weird but i love being all wobbly and squishy. bf, for me is all about softness and gentleness - and is normally a beautiful thing to see. but those posters are vile

alright · 13/05/2008 12:25

im in my twenties and the main reasons my friends gave up bfing were "their milk didnt come in" "too tired" "formulas just as good" and one who said too me "so boring" !!!

Original poster

theAfkaUrbanDryad · 13/05/2008 16:49

Looking - I think the posters are going to be used in hospitals and possibly billboards but i don't have that as hard fact.

OP posts:

LookingForwardToSummer · 13/05/2008 17:26

i still can't believe the dreadful posters!

theAfka - maybe you could start a new thread with a different title (something like 'awfull bf posters' perhaps) to try and find out more - and what could be done.

VictorianSqualor · 13/05/2008 17:47

Oh My Goodness this just reminds me why I need to get my arse into gear with this bfing calendar, someone please give a swift firm kick.

I'd like to think that posters of breastfeeding can be much better portrayed than this!

omy · 13/05/2008 18:29

WOW! How horrifying - both the posters and Afka's experience at the BF exhibition. Very depressing. Fab blog!!

omy · 13/05/2008 18:32

I notice that the flyer to advertise the conference says that 'mothers' should attend - presumably without their babies as there were no facilities for them! I don't think they really meant mothers to go at all! Notice that 'mothers' are 3rd from last in the list when they should be first!

Lizzzombie · 13/05/2008 18:56

UD - I read your mates blog. I cant believe they treated you all so badly. Did you not even get a mention of thanks from the organisers? Were you spoken to by anyone other than the press? Were you even acknowledged other than to provide the event with a spectacle to be photographed? (did you get into the papers btw?)
I don't understand why anyone would organise such an event and then treat you all like this. Its contemptable. Have you written to/contacted the organisers to discuss how you were treated?

Original poster

theAfkaUrbanDryad · 13/05/2008 18:59

Well, when the posters for the Be A Star campaign came out we were all really excited and thought "Finally - we're getting somewhere!"

And now this.

Looking - feel free to start a new thread!

OP posts:

kiskideesameanoldmother · 13/05/2008 19:17

i think i will be carrying a black permanent marker in my pocket/handbag for a while.

i have never ever condoned graffiti but should i encounter one of those posters I will be adding the website addy of Be A Star to it.

scottishmummy · 13/05/2008 19:19

sorry can someone clarify for me were avent sponsors and/or acknowledged in event poster/literature?

kiskideesameanoldmother · 13/05/2008 19:26

avent were not a sponsor but were an exhibitor. i expect they paid to have a booth at this event.

scottishmummy · 13/05/2008 19:29

righty i see -yes they would have paid for a pitch.lots of these so called conferences are actually marketing and product placement events

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