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"And I'm not breast feeding as I think it's anti-social," ??!

71 replies

futurity · 08/01/2005 09:10

just read this article with Jessie Wallace who had her baby 2 months ago and she makes the comment "And I'm not breast feeding as I think it's anti-social," ...that's really going to promote breastfeeding isn't it!!

OP posts:
zebra · 08/01/2005 20:31

Well, if someone wants to put their social life at greater priority than the health of their child, I guess that's their perogrative...

edam · 08/01/2005 20:43

silly moo.

Flossam · 08/01/2005 20:46

Probably was taken completely out of context. But in all honesty, I find it quite hard to BF in public and I'm not famous. Would you be able to do it?

Although of course, she has probably got her chaffeur driven car parked right outside her favourite bond street shop so needn't be an issue....

WestCountryLass · 08/01/2005 22:00

Well I haven't been out clubbing since I had my first over 3 years ago, can't think of anything worse (as sad as that may seem to some).

Gwenick · 08/01/2005 22:03

zebra - that'a bit harsh isn't it! Of course we all know that 'breast is best' - but just because you don't bf doesn't mean you're going to have a sick child. My DS1 was bf for 14 months - and was quite a sickly baby (lots of chest infections and stuff) DS2 ended up being bottle fed and has been to the dr.s 2 times in 13 months

gothicmama · 08/01/2005 22:10

have emailed teh mirror suggesting they do a more positive piece on Bf

kinderbob · 08/01/2005 22:42

My take on this is that she is already looking "slimmer than before she was pregnant". When this comment is made, the next sentence is usually one about how they lost the weight entirely by breastfeeding (Liz Hurley, Claudia Schiffer etc.)...as she isn't bfing she wants to make it clear that she is not doing a punishing diet or exercise to achieve this "she is just a baby machine".

I think she was trying to boast about being so slim, and the "antisocial" was an aside to her main point.

JulieF · 08/01/2005 23:07

Well I just think that she has made a thoughtless comment that alienates anyone who breastfeeds their baby, especially in public, and will reinforce the idea that b/f is something yukky/abnormal.

Saying that b/f is antisocial may be her personal opinion, anyone is entitled to not want to b/f but saying it to the press is insulting all the b/f women out there.

Imagine if someone said that bottlefeeding was antisocial what an uproar there would be.

Hulababy · 08/01/2005 23:09

But JulieF - surely zebra's comment earlier could be classed as alientating towards all bottle feeding mums on MN??? Where's the difference?

Gwenick · 08/01/2005 23:12

I agree. I think at the end of the day if a women really wants to BF she will - regardless of what some Celebrity says.

BTW - before I read the article I did't even know who Jessie Wallace was!! Not every BF women of child bearing age watches Eastenders you know!!!!

Caligula · 08/01/2005 23:17

She's entitled to her own opinion and to feed her baby any way she wants. She's not entitled to label any other mother anti-social for their choice.

Hulababy · 08/01/2005 23:18

If that is the case then why is zebra's post:

"Well, if someone wants to put their social life at greater priority than the health of their child, I guess that's their perogrative... "

any different?

Surely that is labelling any parents who choose not to breast feed, as putting other prioties before the health of their child???

Gwenick · 08/01/2005 23:20

Well I've read the article and nowhere can I see where she labels other mothers as being anti-social......

Caligula · 08/01/2005 23:23

But this thread isn't about zebra, it's about Jessie Wallace. And zebra isn't going to influence anyone adversely, whereas La Wallace might, mad world that we live in.

Also, Zebra's comment is judgemental and negative about her perception of Wallace's choice, not about all non-breastfeeding mothers, the way I read it. (But perhaps I was reading it wrong.)

Whereas a blanket statement "bf is anti-social" is about anyone who does it.

But I agree, she probably didn't say it in exactly that way. If she did though, the statement is indefensible.

Gwenick · 08/01/2005 23:27

She says "I didn't breastfeed because it's anti social" - apparently with a 'grin'.

Now to me that says "I" - that's the key word. She's not saying 'people who bf are antisocial" she's saying for 'her' it was antisocial.

Zebra's comment could easily be just as influential (how many members on MN??) as Jessie whatever her name is - like I said I didn't even know who she was!!!

JulieF · 08/01/2005 23:28

She states that breastfeeding is antisocial, therefore those that chose to do it are committing an antisocial act, so must be being antisocial.

"if someone wants to put their social life at higher priority before the health of their baby thats their preogative " it is a mum's preogative to do this,though it is rarely that simple. When I chose to bottlefeed I wasn't thinking of my social life (never had one) but I was thinking of my perception of convenience and my perception of b/f being yukky. I chose to put those things before the health of my baby. The research on the benefits of b/f and the risks of bottlefeeding are clear, I chose to disregard them.

If zebra has posted that I was wrong to do this, or that it somehow made me a bad mother then I would be up in arms, but she didn't so I'm not.

Hulababy · 08/01/2005 23:29

Agree with Gwenick.

If said with a grin - probably having a dig at those people having a go at her for going out clubbing or something too.

But also feel that my initaial thoughts on this are most likely to be the case - the media mis-quoting - just for a change - to match the story they wanted to have.

Blossomhill · 08/01/2005 23:35

JulieF - I am so badly trying not to post on this as last time I was left very upset by Zebras nasty remarks. That's all I am prepared to say, want to say more but won't!!!

aloha · 09/01/2005 17:59

I think Jessie Wallace is just a really dimwitted person (surprise!) who thinks that antisocial means 'bad for your social life" and has no idea that her misuse of words could be insulting to others who understand it to mean, 'bad for society/against society'".

NameChangingMancMidlander · 09/01/2005 18:01

Agree with Aloha.

hercules · 09/01/2005 18:11

I dont think J Wallace is responsible for whether or not mothers bf. She's not a health professional, she's an actor.

aloha · 09/01/2005 18:12

And I don't think even the most avid breastfeeder would say that breastfeeding is fantastic for your social life. Luckily I don't want one! But if I was Liz Hurley and had full time live-in help and a round of glitzy invites and a Versace wardrobe gathering dust, I might well have resenting sitting on the sofa in front of Top of The Pops 2 with a glass of red wine, breastfeeding all evening, but being sad and not having much else on, I really enjoyed it

motherinferior · 09/01/2005 18:12

I used to have a social life [wistful emoticon]

SDragon · 09/01/2005 18:12

"I didn't breastfeed because it's anti social" equates to saying that bf-ing is antisocial whether she meant it like that or not.

Of course she has the right to feed her baby however she likes but if she'd said "I'm not bottlefeeding my baby because " it would have been just as irresponsible.

hercules · 09/01/2005 18:13

Why should she be responsible though anyway?