To think that GPs shouldn't be promoting this sexist, outdated rubbish?!

[NotTheNiceLadyDoctor]

I've namechanged for this, for reasons that will become obvious!

I'm a GP in the Midlands. I'm also currently 23 weeks pregnant with my first child. When I had my booking appointment with my midwife back in July, she gave me a big pack of stuff, which included Emma's Diary. For those of you who haven't had the grim experience of reading this particular publication, it's a booklet which mixes medical information about pregnancy with the fictionalised pregnancy diary of an idiot called Emma. The diary is peppered with all kinds of offensive comments and attitudes. The diary section normalises unhealthy attitudes towards weight gain and body image, and promotes pregnancy breast growth as a happy perk because it'll make men fancy you more, rather than because your boobs are preparing to feed a baby. Emma becomes so forgetful at work that she can barely do her job and wishes she'd gone on maternity leave as early as legally possible. It also promotes very dated attitudes about gender and relationships.

If you don't have a copy to hand, my Twitter thread last month gives a flavour of the kind of crap Emma's Diary is filled with: twitter.com/DrHFRyan/status/1025280307015168000

Incredibly, this offensive, misogynistic, outdated publication is still being officially endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners. I have a huge, huge problem with this as a GP. I don't think that family doctors should be normalising these kinds of attitudes about pregnancy, body image, and gender roles.

Personally, I'd like nothing more than for Emma's Diary to fall off the face of the earth, but as a compromise, I'd feel a lot happier if the Royal College of GPs wasn't associated with it in any way. Can I please ask you to sign my petition if you feel the same way?

www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-rcgp-endorsing-emmas-diary.html

If you happen to be a doctor - I know there are a few of us on here! - you can also read my blog for Pulse magazine on the subject: www.pulsetoday.co.uk/views/blogs/dr-heather-ryan/a-right-royal-mess-why-is-rcgp-still-endorsing-emmas-diary/20037467.article

(To be clear, I am very much speaking in my personal capacity here, and not as a representative of my GP surgery or any of the organisations I'm involved with.)

Signed OP, it was awful and outdated when I had my first 24 years ago, can't believe it's still being used now.

@NotTheNiceLadyDoctor I’d bet a lot of the time women don’t realise they’re exchanging their data for freebies. Last time I was on a postnatal ward the Bounty reps came outside visiting hours, in vaguely hospital-looking uniforms, and their line was “We’re checking to see if you’ve had your Bounty bag yet?” I bet lots of exhausted/drugged/etc postnatal women just assume they’re hospital staff.

My husband thought they were medical staff and was confused about a) why I told them to go away and b) why they wanted to photograph the baby. I knew who they were (mostly due to Mumsnet!) but you could really easily not have - they just walked straight into the room (I stayed in delivery room overnight because the postnatal ward was full, so apparently that doesn't stop them!) and had a very official air about them.

I've just had contact from Derbyshire Live (the people who publish the Derby Telegraph). They're planning on running a story about my campaign (I work in Derbyshire). Thank you all so much for helping to fight the good fight and raise the profile of my petition

Signed, and thank you.

I don't think women are being grabby in exchange for their data.
When you're in hospital having your first baby, you've never heard of Bounty, you're not used to medical settings, you generally respect authority, you're so tired you don't know if you're awake or asleep, you do tend to along with whatever is asked when it's presented as procedure. You don't expect anyone to be walking around a hospital ward who isn't a nurse or a midwife or a paediatrician and because you've never had a baby before, it doesn't cross your mind to question it.
That's why it's so fucking wrong and unethical.

@BlancheM Very good point - thank you for challenging my thinking on this. As a doctor myself it's easy for me to forget how organisations like Emma's Diary and Bounty are so successful partially because patients assume they're part of routine medical care (ED being handed out by midwives, Bounty distributing Child Benefit forms etc). It's awful

Didn't @MNHQ conduct a consultation about Bounty tactics a while back?

Pretty sure @RedToothbrush had some very informative threads on the subject.

Have signed the petition.

I’m sure I read recently about a hospital making a few changes re bounty reps.. they have it so mums who want to be approached display a card at the end of the bed, everyone else is left alone (or something along those lines)

@beefchowmein Google tells me that this has happened in Ipswich. Very good! www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/ipswich-hospital-changes-policy-on-sales-representatives-on-maternity-wards-1-5680923

@boreofwhabylon, MNHQ are indeed campaigning on this: www.mumsnet.com/campaigns/bounty-reps-campaign-index

I'm relieved to see that the hospital I'm booked at has clearly stated, in response to the Mumsnet campaign, that mums will only be visited by a Bounty rep if they've opted in.

I haven't read the whole thread, sorry...but thought it was worth mentioning that it's the same COMPANY that own Families magazine and Families online. I also thought Emma should get over herself as I went through spotting and a diabetic pregnancy with proper worries. I gained six stone whilst pregnant whilst I seem to remember Emma fretting about going over her acceptable one stone gain. It's as prehistoric as the midwife who told me I'd have to give birth on my back, rather than on all fours. Luckily I met one so backed me up!

I have signed your petition do you think it could go on Change.org for a wider audience? It is actually very important as Emma's diary is given to every woman by NHS midwives . The attitudes that are normalised in this publication are given to women who may be very young or more vulnerable and more likely to believe this crap, I have steam coming out of my ears over the boobs more attractive for men and not for feeding babies attitude. And as for those vultures in maternity wards - take this to the max LadyDoctor!

what?????? Mine is 20 and we had it back then - totally agree.

I havent got time to read all the thread responses but I am not sure if I want to sign.

I found all the free bounty and Emma's diary stuff really useful... was very naughty and claimed some of the bags a few times.... but it meant I could share out the things I wouldn't use with friends....

The book... well I read it but I clearly didn't read "in" to it.... or didnt pay much attention in to the way it was written.

I suppose from the point of view that our nhs midwives are handing this out then they are effectively promoting the literature but not if it's all they are given. I found my midwife excellent for care and the book answered some awkward things that I wouldn't like to ask.

In regards to a bounty rep in hospital I was quite disappointed that I didn't see one as i am not great at taking photos but I paid for a shoot when baby was little anyway. But I can imagine an annoying sales rep bleating at me would be irritating.

The benefits form came from my midwife through the new baby pack....

Clearly each areas reps are different.

I think something like this needs to be in place but until something better is created to replace it then I doubt anyone will change it.

I am assuming bounty have a contract to provide this information for the nhs or whoever pays them... might be worth having a look at that contract to see how it was tendered. As it's a government contract it should be in the public domain. If it wasn't tendered properly depending on the value it could be challenged....

Love your post and signed your petition! Don’t get me started on those bounty reps, they were given short shrift after my first was born!

Ot but why name change on mn when you use your actual name on your blog/twitter?

Am signing. It's about time somebody got this ridiculous, patronising, misogynistic shite retired.

I couldn't believe I was given this officially, and in all earnestness by the NHS. It almost made my eyes bleed. Thanks so much for doing this!

Ot but why name change on mn when you use your actual name on your blog/twitter?

So that people can’t link her past MN posts/threads to her actual identity. She may have said things on here previously that she wouldn’t want to be linked back to her. Name changing means that only this thread will be linked to her.

Signed
What a load of bullshit that book

Have signed and am now following you on Twitter (great thread). Some of the cr*p in this rag seems dangerous!

My daughter was born 12 years ago and I still remember Emma's Diary. What a pile of sexist crap. And you tell me it's still being given to pregnant women? Sheezus.

As for Bounty, my pack was given to me by the midwife, but that went in the bin. Could not be arsed. I had an argument with some woman trying to sell me imprints of Dd's hands and feet on the maternity ward too. I told her to fuck right off to the moon and never return.

@shabbyshibby What @soydora said - I don't want my entire posting history linked to my real name!

Signed and thanks xx

Week 13: Nick has gone away for the weekend, to a "conference". HE'S HAVING AN AFFAIR, EMMA! LEAVE THE BASTARD!

This had me in stitches.

Ha, ironically I got given a copy of this today at our private scan and I spent a good part of the journey home reading snippets outloud to my partner and ranting!