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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Roxy's comments on Eastenders about breastfeeding

61 replies

jimmyjammys · 13/01/2009 23:15

Was anyone else disappointed with her comments that she was didn't like breastfeeding and that all the "middle class" mothers made cross signs at her when she got out the bottle? I can't find any other threads discussing this so if there are could someone link me to them?

I thought it was really appalling generalisation that only middle class mothers breastfeed and they look down on people who don't. Why couldn't she just say she didn't get on with breastfeeding and leave at that - or even bother mentioning it when it's not part of any storyline.

I really expected better from the BBC.

OP posts:
Original poster
jimmyjammys · 13/01/2009 23:43

Yes, not sure when she got to meet middle class mums at a baby group when her baby was abducted for several days and then her husband tried to kill them all!

OP posts:
Aitch · 13/01/2009 23:44

true, carm, but actually the bbc's soap remit does include education i'm sure.

Aitch · 13/01/2009 23:45

no point pulling apart walford, though. how come all those skint characters don't realise that they own london townhouses? how come they don't have washing machines? how come they always have the right change in the pub? etcetera.

Carmenere · 13/01/2009 23:45

Hi Aitch Yes I'm sure you are right.

ilovelovemydog · 13/01/2009 23:45

at jimmy. OK, touche.

Original poster
jimmyjammys · 13/01/2009 23:46

I think soaps do influence a lot of people and there was no need to take a swipe at breastfeeding of all the things they could take a swipe at.

OP posts:
Aitch · 13/01/2009 23:46

i'm always right, carm.

Carmenere · 13/01/2009 23:47

Yes and have you noticed thaqt they have started to give that poor barmaid the occasional 'yes' or 'no' line after 20 years of no speaking??

Aitch · 13/01/2009 23:47

i rarely see EE but i found that scene where sean was trying to kill them genuinely upsetting. FAR too dark for the time slot.

Aitch · 13/01/2009 23:48

she used to run the flower stall at the market, she's just delighted to be in the warm, carm.

Carmenere · 13/01/2009 23:48

Yes Aitch you are

Aitch · 13/01/2009 23:48

lol

Original poster
jimmyjammys · 13/01/2009 23:49

It's silly isn't it? Here's Roxy, I shagged my sister's boyfriend, had his baby, pretended it was my own boyfriends, got married to him, he found out what I was up to and abducted my baby and then he tried to kill us all - but you know what - those middle class breastfeeding mothers - they are right smug bitches.

OP posts:
Aitch · 13/01/2009 23:52

tbh i think that saying she was expressing for the baby was pretty cool. i suppose it's small steps.

Original poster
jimmyjammys · 13/01/2009 23:55

True true Aitch, the expressing must be a soap history first.

OP posts:
Grendle · 14/01/2009 14:28

Actually, I found the storyline to be quite genuine from a bf perspective. First she didn't intend to bf, so when the nurse suggested she expressed she pulled a face. Then a few days later, she mentioned that she had to go and express. Later, once Roxy was at home there was a scene with her sterilising a breaspump and her and Ronnie joking about expressing. But, it was a positive scene -2 sisters joking around and Roxy smiling and looking proud. Then billy had to take the expressed milk up to the hospital. I'm sure there was at least one other conversation with Sean where she mentioned expressing too.

Then the wild kidnap storyline kicked off, but even then there was a little positive mention, as she sobbed at someone "but I was still breastfeeding", and I think there were other mentions of her feeling full or something whilst the baby was missing.

I agree that the episode mentioned in this thread didn't give the most positive message, but it is only a soap opera, and they do try to reflect real life (to some extent!!), not just run a public health campaign. At least breastfeeding features, most of the time in a positive way with a character who's not just some sort of middle class earth mother, or another stereotype they might have dreamt up .

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 14/01/2009 15:04

This reply has been deleted

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Aitch · 14/01/2009 17:49

oh, that's much better then,if she stopped bfing cos her child was missing. yes, bler bler there are more things that can be done but i thinkk that's very positive tbh.

as an aside, i'm just stopping bfing my 5month old, but she's a preemie so she looks pretty new. one of my concerns, silly i know, is that people will think i never tried when they see me take the bottle out. so in a way i can understand a character like hers lashing out about that. but lol i am prepared to accept that i may be Reading Too Much Into It...

StealthPo09IsHere · 14/01/2009 17:53

5 months

Aitch · 14/01/2009 17:55

i KNOW!!!

Aitch · 14/01/2009 17:56

(well, 20 weeks. i never really understand the month/weeks thing. [dim])

bookthief · 14/01/2009 18:02

Well Aitch, all your local 20-weekers will have been enjoying pureed pie & chips from 8 weeks. They're more likely to be looking disaprovingly at you denying dd2 of "real food" when it's obvious she needs "something more" .

You've done great - you know that. Stuff em. (and ime no-one really does that judgy thing, did you? We're all too busy thinking about how our babies are just so much better looking than everyone else's to really care about feeding. Or am I just Very Shallow.)

chandellina · 14/01/2009 18:09

maybe the point is BFers shouldn't be quick to judge those using bottles. (Those babies might have been kidnapped!)

StealthPo09IsHere · 14/01/2009 18:34

lol! But there should be no judging going on either way.
Aitch, apologies, I have just realised I probably say that every time you mention your DD's age. Just let me know when she passes her driving test and I'll say it again then

wotulookinat · 14/01/2009 18:37

chandellina is right - BFers can be very judgemental of FFers, and do sometimes look down on them.