GMTV are at it again-another survey about BFing

[SofaKingFedUpOfSnow]

here

I completed it out of curiosity. Some of the questions are really loaded and negative about BFing.

I've pointed out to them that they're not exactly unbiased as one of their major sponsors is nestle.

It sounds like his advice is based on his own hang-ups. I wonder if his wife refused to have sex with him when she was bf because he's an ugly twat and he decided to blame it on the bf?

sexual feelings???????????

If I was his wife I'd be refusing to have sex with him....

He and Miriam Stoppard are evil twins separated at birth. Or maybe not.......has anyone ever seen them in the same room at the same time??????

WTF???
So some IDIOTS out there will interpret that as women that breastfeed are peodophiles!

I've done it - and in the comments said I thought it was the most loaded questionnaire I had ever seen, questions 8 and 9 in particular. I think the most disgraceful question is the one about whether breasts should ever be on display in public - as though feeding your child is in some way similar to flashing

I think the La Leche league or similar should make a complaint before the results are out.

The pity is, they could do so much good if they were factual about it...

This isn't about Dr Jones. I shouldn't have brought him up really. We've done the complaining about him before and this isn't the thread for my grievances about his attitude to extended bfing. The GreenMonkies interview with LK is on t'web. Don't watch it though, you will have serious hair envy. Pretty lady. Nice earrings too. And lovely calm manner when faced with Dr Whatsit.

as someone who has struggled to keep breast feeding going for 5 months now i found some of those questions just horrid.

i compose and analyse surveys for a living and you can really influence the outcome by the phrasing of a question.
some of those are just shocking in terms of the likely bias in the responses, all negative.

looks like its been written by someone with huge hang ups about breasts. no pun intended.

Many of your survey questions, show a questionable bias against breastfeeding?

All mothers need to be supported to feed their children in the best way for that mother/child pair. However this should be after receiving the correct information about breastfeeding, which is it is the normal natural way of feeding a child for a MINIMUM of 2 years and beyond (as the WHO guidelines say, which apply to all women in the UK not just the third world mothers)

All mothers have a legal right to breastfeed a child of any age in public under the sexual discrimination act. Suggesting that others have the 'right' to object is encouraging further bullying of the minority of mothers who continue to breastfeed their children past the 6 weeks mark.

Breastfeeding is NOT a way to avoid sex relations with your partner, nor does it encourage an unhealthy relationship with your child. In fact research shows the longer a child is breastfeed as a child, the more confident, social and happier they are as adults.

If GMTV really wanted to make a difference and provoke an interesting debate, what about putting pressure on the government to fund real life breastfeeding support for the 90% of mothers who give up breastfeeding before they are ready. That would make a real difference to new mothers and their babies.

From an educated married mother who just happens to be nursing her 3.5 year old and 17 month old and is three month pregnant with her third child.

I've written a fairly long comment in the comments box too.
I'm happy to write a skeleton letter for anyone to use as a base for their own to email them. I'll do that after my 2nd breakfast. I need 2 breakfasts because I like cake in the morning I'm exclusively breastfeeding a 6 month old and need the calories.

Well said, babieseverywhere

Just aired my views on their survey. Cheeky fuckers. Talk about giving the ignorant a platform to air their views. Should breasts ever be on display?? Like you are getting them out for the benefit of other people ffs. Im fucking enraged at this survey, and have given it with both barrels on the comments bit.

Yes, what's with the word 'display'? Mine's always well covered by the baby who is, what was is again? Oh yeah, feeding from it!

1. Do you think a woman's breasts should not be displayed in public for any reason?

eh? pardon? bf does not equal me taking my top off in public or flashing my breasts ever.

how does feeding my child equate to a page 3 calendar hanging in a workplace??????

I wrote:

"As a maths teacher, perhaps you would like the help of some of my secondary students in creating a survey which isn't hideously biased. This survey is so poorly put together that your results won't be meaningful in any way. In fact, I might use some of your questions as examples of 'how not to do it' in my next lesson on How to Write a Good Survey."

Filled it in and said-

"Human beings, as infants, are designed to consume human milk. Giving them milk which is designed for infant cattle is, obvious to any fool, not the best thing for them. Why would anyone be against this most natural of acts?

Artificially fed babies are at an increased risk of-

Gastroenteritis-up to 5 1/2 times more likely
Middle ear infections-up to 3 times more likely
Respiratory infections-twice as likely
Urinary tract infections-5 times more likely
Necrotising entercolitis-20 times more likely

As well as juvenile onset diabetes (type 1), increased blood pressure, wheeze, obesity and the development of brain, nervous system and eyesight is affected especially in premature babies.

Why would anyone knowingly want to introduce their or anyone else's baby to these risks when there is a free, readily available, all natural alternative that we are biologically programmed to produce and consume?

The key word there is knowingly. Unfortunately not everyone knows the benefits of breastfeeding compared with the risks of artificial feeding. Your programme, GMTV, would be a perfect platform to help to educate those who are unaware of the dangers they may be putting their children in by not breastfeeding them. What a crying shame for all of us that you choose not to promote it but instead to add to the stigma attached with questions such as:

"Do you think a woman's breasts should not be displayed in public for any reason?"

In this context we are talking about feeding a hungry baby here, not flashing at strangers in the street. Breastfeeding is not a lewd act that we should be ashamed of. It is simply the best way to feed a baby.

The whole tone of your survey is negative towards breastfeeding and the questions have been phrased to influence the outcome.

Shame on you GMTV."

Good for you chunks. Sadly I'm imagining when they don't get the results they're hoping for with this they'll claim the survey has been hijacked (because real women hate breastfeeding, obviously)

Filled it in didn't leave a comment because I didnt trust myself...........will be interesting to see if any of our opinions are reflected in their 'results'. I feel like going and sitting outside their offices and feeding ds all day bit cold though I spose

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to Mumsnet, but just had to say how pissed off I am about that survey! GMTV seems to be regularly making the suggestion that women need permission to breastfeed and that its other peoples' business how long they do breastfeed for/ where they do it/ how (discreetly!) they are doing it.

Totally agree with all comments so far. Well said babieseverywhere.

This type of thing shouldn't be permitted, its promoting attitudes in direct contravention of health guidelines for children. Will complain once teddybear andI have had more cake.

Lol noblegiraffe.

I turned off GMTV this morning when I saw they had this for a survey .

Have (slightly) calmed down and left a fierce complaint in the box after the 'survey'. What utter twats the lot of them.

BBC news for me for now on I think.

have completed survey and made a comment - let's bump this thread all day so they get a good amount of well-considered responses!

I have done it-I agree- stupid, loaded questions. Made a polite request at the end that they do a positive article on breast feeding not a 'bitty freaks' who flash in public type thing.

Thank you for that pineapplechunks. I'll be copying including some of that in my complaint!

Its the interference with information that really gets me. To me this reduces peoples' ability to make a proper choice. Rather than informing people, it is advertising against breastfeeding.

Am still despite leaving several comments at end of survey.

I've completed, even though I'm no longer bf (although I did continue to 22mo ) Also left comments - indicated that their clear presumption that people should switch to formula for the sake of some implied 'decency' issue not surprising given their links to nestle.

I am concerned about GMTV?s Breastfeeding survey 2010 due to its negative undertones which make breastfeeding sound inappropriate. I want to challenge the view that breastfeeding in public is socially or morally wrong and encourage GMTV to adopt a more positive stance to breastfeeding.

The wording of some of the questions undermines the benefits of natural feeding and may discourage women who are considering it. A mother?s milk is scientifically proven to provide the optimum nutrition for babies? development and immune system. Formula milk cannot do this which is why bottle fed babies are at greater risk of a variety of illnesses. The World Health Organisation advise mothers to exclusively breastfeed for at least 6 months and maintain breastfeeding for a further 18 months. The facts are clear and GMTV failing its viewers by discouraging breastfeeding which puts babies at risk. The survey undermines women who breastfeed by creating and spreading misconceptions about feeding in public.

Any results of this survey cannot fairly be used to support conclusions due to the bias of the questions. To obtain accurate results please rephrase the questions and include a greater variety of answer options. GMTV is in a position to advise and influence a large number of women however they are currently failing them. I would like to see a trained breastfeeding councillor from the La Leuch League or similar on the show discussing common misconceptions and problems with breastfeeding and advising on how to find local support.

Letter is too long atm but I don't really know what to cut out. This is the place to send letters btw: www.gm.tv/contact-us/41041-comment.html