I've had an email from Coronation Street. Here's their email with my reply. (The email is reproduced as it arrived in my inbox... including massive paragraph )
Thank you for your email David.
I do not disagree with any of the characterisations - yes those things do happen. I also realise it is dramatic fiction (baby with no umbilical cord? No one able to just get married, or just have a baby without drama) But, it was just not realistic that there was absolutely no support on offer.
At no point does Maria suggest a bottle - so Tony did not "agree with her". She is obviously trying to breastfeed. It could all have been so very different if the "solution" had been to suggest a call to the midwife (which would have been drummed into her before she left hospital that that is what they are there for). Midwives and midwifery assistants also visit new mothers several times in the 10 days after birth to offer support, including for breastfeeding.
Perhaps if Maria had gone to anti-natal classes she would have known that babies feed very little in the first few days as all that is produced is colustrum, and it's not until day 3 or 4 that the milk kicks in?
Breastfeeding is really difficult. But there is support available, breastfeeding cafes, midwives, heath visitors, NCT telephone helpline... loads.
I suggest you have a look at the link I sent you to see real live mums reactions to that scene.
Also, where were the helpline details at the end of the programme? If these had been scenes of someone with an eating disorder, or suffering domestic violence there would have been contact details for support.
Regards
--- On Thu, 9/7/09, Nugent, David wrote:
From: Nugent, David
Subject: cs
To:
Date: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 11:46 AM
Thank you for your e-mail regarding Coronation Street and I?m sorry to read that you were unhappy with comments made Audrey, Kirk & Tony in a recent episode. Successful drama such as Coronation Street relies on realistic portrayal and characterisation. Our responsibility as Producers is to strike a balance between the realities of life and an awareness of the transmission time and potential audience. In the many situations addressed in Coronation Street we never set out to encourage unfair or prejudiced attitudes however there must be moments when inappropriate things are said or done, if no one ever demonstrates human frailty or ignorance it is impossible to identify with them. Audrey?s comments about breast-feeding were totally within the character that we have built over the past 30 years; she has always been a self centered, selfish and highly opinionated woman who has confessed to being a rubbish mother on many an occasion. Her remarks about putting a baby straight on a bottle are just the sort of thing she would say as she would never give so much time to looking after an infant; as she said she put Gail on a bottle from day one. Kirk comments about him being uncomfortable about seeing women breastfeeding are again just the sort of foolish thing he would say and Tony, in his besotted state will agree with Maria no matter what his real thoughts are.
Notwithstanding, we are very sorry you were offended and I can assure you that we have taken your comments on board and hope that this issue will not spoil your future enjoyment of Coronation Street. If you would like to take this matter further you can contact our regulatory body Ofcom at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road , London , SE1 9HA .
Yours with Best Wishes, David Nugent, Coronation Street
David Nugent | Duty Officer- Coronation Street | Duty Office | ITV plc
[email protected]