Breastfeeding debate type thingy on gmtv now...

[wellbalanced]

....

emizap, where do you work, I'd love a massage as part of my job!!

That's the real point though isn't it? You don't suddenly start nursing a toddler or a 3 year old, you just carry on doing what you are doing. I am tandem nursing my 2 girls (aged 6½ and 3⅔) and I remember that when DD2 was born and I fed them both together for the first time (of which I have a fabulous but very "private" picture!) I suddenly noticed how big DD1 was, because up til then she had been my "baby". Then I saw her next to newborn DD2 and she didn't look like a baby anymore!!

It's all in the perception. Sadly, to most people it's just a big iick, and no one can persuade them otherwise. One of my close friends has a DD roughly the same age as DD2, she said that she was going to nurse her DD for longer than she had her DS (stopped at 6 months) but not that long [as she looked at my nearly 3 year olds DD1!] She is still nursing her, and she will be 4 next month, and now it seems the most natural thing in the world to her!

Oh, I must have that look too, I plugged DD2 in whilst sitting in the Kwik Fit waiting room in Inverness at Christmas, no-one batted an eye, and no-ne ever has. I am "discrete" in that I don't flash lots of flesh, but I also don't go to great pains to hide what I am doing either.

I fed 16 mo old dd2 2x yesterday at a birthday party I took dd1. No one noticed. the second time she fell asleep despite the nightclub volume music . One woman commented 'I wish mine would do that.' I think she meant fall asleep without a peep not breastfeed. What a fab tool in the mummy arsenal.

At Christmas my cousin had to ask whether DD was latched on (she was) despite the fact she was sitting next to me and had bfed three children herself

It's so nice to hear that other people are still feeding big babies in public. Since DD still asks for a lot of feeds during the day, my choices are basically feed her in public or never go out, which would drive me crazy in a matter of days.

Thanks for all lovely welcomes!

@StealthPolarBear ? yes, am UK-based. The 2000+ women in survey (and only tip of the long-terming iceberg!) are from 48 countries. Largescale psychosocial adjustment testing could be done cross-country, academics/researchers can and do collaborate in this way.

@belgo - am delighted BOC has inspired you to continue!

@PuzzleRocks - am willing warrior; though if could be anonymously, with bag over head, would gladly do so!

@Babieseverywhere - am so glad you've found BOC helpful/given you support! That's one of two major reasons I wrote it - the other being to educate hlth profs.

@Bucharest - "civilised country' totally unacceptable! Am sure CBC would stoutly deny charge of racism, but that's what it amounts to... Don't think Ofcom right for this though. Race Relations Council maybe?

@I'mSoNotTelling - yes agree; from my own experience knew such a book was needed.

@dawntigga - would happily agree to webchat, if invited.

@thedudesmummy - glad if my post filled in a few gaps!

@emizap - hope you find much of interest in BOC, was certainly interesting to research/write!

From survey responses, was heartened to learn just how many wonderfully approving and supportive fathers there are ? though some do struggle...

Am glad to have joined - though feel something of a fraud as my 'baby' is now seventeen and a half! In the survey, many mothers of long-term bfd teenagers echoed my own experience: the bond remains close and our physically and emotionally healthy teenagers are lovely people!

Inundated from all sides right now so won't be able to be here very often, but good luck to all on your mothering journey!

^waves at Anne^

I only watched the youtube clip yesterday and meant to say how self confident Nicola Harris seemed was and how funny it was to see her look of laughter bemusement at what CBC said. Your facial expressions and what you said just goes to reinforce how normal it is to feed children to natural term.

Nicola, you were brill.

nicola was FANTASTIC, she didn't get played AT ALL by lk, she walked all over her i thought.
i was a rubbish bfer, just absolutely pants at it, i do wish i could have been good at it, it was so lovely when it worked. what's lk's story, i'm surprised she's such a nippy sweetie about it.

^waves at H20^

Ann - so great that you've taken the time to come on here and as for you feeling a fraud being on here, no way!! We should be getting the red carpet out for you
Webchat sounds like a great idea!

I completely agree that Nicola came across really well. I just think it's such a shame that mothers seem to have to "defend" their right to BF beyond 6mo.

MN has inspired me to be persistent with BF my 8mo DS and when people (including DH and my mum!) ask me when I'm going to stop, I generally say "I don't know! I'll take my cues from him and see how we go!"

I posted a link on my FB status to the GMTV interview and I'm envouraged my some of my friends' responses - including some who aren't mothers and some men! I'm sure CBC must be really regretting some of her comments.

Snatching another minute or two (family responsibilities await...).

@essenceofSES - thanks; though no red carpets please. Not warranted - just did what needed to be done. Are you aware of Breastfeeding Older Children Fb page?

@AitchTwoOhOneOh - Nik, as I knew she would be, was/is brilliant! Played by LK in the sense that time and attention was not given to the fact of TWO THOUSAND PLUS women versus no scientific evidence whatsoever! LK did not want that aired, and changed format to make sure it wasn't. Had we also got that across to a largely (I imagine) not-book-buying viewership, it would have been powerful and qualitatively different from any previous coverage. Never mind, next time...

MNrs - look out for piece on BOC in tomorrow's Metro!

From CBC's blog:
"In my opinion, Ann can (and should) breastfeed her children for as long as she wishes but I object to her implying that mothers who don't breastfeed for years on end will have less happy or healthy children. This is the view I wanted to impart to anyone watching the programme."

This is what has made me irate. How is supporting mothers who do breastfeed into toddlerhood and beyond, and saying that THOSE children have benefits, implying that those who don't will have less happy or healthy children? If I said that Volvos are safe cars, it would not be implying that all other make of cars are unsafe. This is such ridiculous logic. Something needs to be done about CBC and her "breastfeeding expert" status.

Anyone else agree?

Thanks Ann - wasn't aware of BOC FB page. Have joined up to what looks a great resource.
I'm sure others reading this will too

Ann- thank you for coming on here! Nicola and yourself were fantastic. I've not extended bf, my ds and I were both ready to stop by 12 mths, but what I really objected to was that any bf, even up to 6 mths does not appear to be normalised by lk. It's presented as this niche subject. As to CBC, she was laughable as an "expert".
Best of luck - I hope we see you here for a webchat soon!

niche subject is a polite way of putting it - hippy weirdo obsession, more accurate

Stealth, always polite me

MNrs, thought you might like to know this.

Though coverage to date unsatisfactory, GMTV is the only channel to consistently air sustained bfdg. It would be a pity if fallout from CB-C led to them abandoning coverage. I've therefore sent the following email to GMTV:

As a guest on LK Today on 25 Jan 2010, I am aware that you have had many justified complaints about Clare Byam-Cook's ill-informed comments.

Notwithstanding, I would like to congratulate GMTV, and the editor of LK Today in particular, for having the courage to repeatedly cover sustained breastfeeding - a topic that stirs up immensely strong feelings and is of interest to the whole population.

It is, unfortunate that GMTV has now acquired an anti-breastfeeding image ? and not just among those that breastfeed. The GMTV breastfeeding survey, probably conducted for interest's sake, but with insufficiently considered questions, did not help. But CB-C's outrageous statements - with no space created by LK for response - has set the seal.

However, one genuinely exploratory airing of sustained breastfeeding would retrieve GMTV?s reputation. It is an issue that should be aired and GMTV is the only TV channel to consistently do so.

Please, GMTV, do not lose courage!

good luck, will be interesting to see how they respond

Oh I missed all of this (mil stood on our laptop thus rendering it useless & I haven't had the energy for MN-ing on iPhone until now).

Dita - I now understand why you've complained to ofcom!

I don't understand CBC - why criticise something that you rely on to make a living? I often think she sounds quite anti-bf which is s bit like turkeys voting for Christmas when you consider her day-job.

I suppose she can't make any money from natural term feeding. If it was my job to help women bf then I imagine it would be be because I had a passion for it. I'd keep upto date on bf research - I'd want to know as much about it as possible. I don't get that from CBC.

It's thanks to MN that I am still feeding my 1yr old dd. I too thought you just stopped at 6 months. Off to Amazon now to buy Ann's book.

It was really fun! Haven't heard back from them though (gits)