Comments on: Extraordinary breastfeeding

By: Jenny Lesley

Jenny Lesley — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 12:02:53 +0000

I didn’t watch the programme because I didn’t think it was going to be good for my blood pressure and because I didn’t think it could tell me anything I didn’t already know about breastfeeding and public attitudes to anything over 6 months (or earlier in some cases). I just find it very sad that we don’t have a society where any breastfeeding is considered normal and unremarkable and thus so many women suffer through lack of support and knowledge of how to overcome problems. I was just reading a post on a bf list about a woman in Prague who said that basically everyone breastfeeds because there is no Formula for sale, its only available on prescription. So they have a 98% bf rate. Amazing. Anyway, I’m still feeding F, mostly mornings only but he still wants and needs it and I’m still happy to do it so by mutual consent we carry on

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 09:41:32 +0000

I must echo your dismay at the other threads that I’ve read on this…everyone focused on the 9 yr old. *sigh* Do people even pay attention???

I’m glad your blog showed up on the first page of google…that’s how I found this.

You said that there were two ‘not completely british’ ladies. I’m American and didn’t pick up on the second one. Dolores was obviously one of them. Who was the other one?

I was surprised at how many people were shocked and angered by Dolores’ wanting to breastfeed her adopted baby. All I can think is that they think she’s getting a cheap thrill from it. I guess it shows how ignorant people are of the value of breastfeeding.

I wish they’d left off the most disagreeable family…they didn’t do anything for the cause. I could be considered an extraordinary breastfeeder (that term makes me chuckle!) and my husband and I joke around a whole lot. Those jokes shouldn’t be shared with a world that’s hostile to the idea of breastfeeding even babies, though.

I had read somewhere that Viktoria is the editor of motheringbritain magazine or something? I’ll bet they’re vegans, too!!! Call out Social Services!!! Everyone claims to be so worried at how screwed up their kids are going to be. They won’t be screwed up

I’ve nursed an almost-5 year old and it does make me uncomortable to see even my best friend nurse *her* almost-5 yr old. It’s just not a sight that we’re used to seeing. It doesn’t mean that it’s wrong for us to nurse those kids…just that it can make others uncomfortable to watch it.

By: Kath

Kath — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 19:58:10 +0000

FIKRIYE, mums don’t breastfeed in public so that the public can watch them, but because their child has a need for food and comfort and breastfeeding meets it quickly and easily. As a BF mum I cannot help what sick people are around in public thinking sick thoughts about me and my children, but any problem with breastfeeding is in their head, not mine. Who knows how many paedophiles might be looking at my kids when we’re out, even when they’re not being BF.

Similarly to thec anti-BF public there are people who hate to see mixed race couples, or homosexuals, or muslims in headscarves, or 101 other things they choose to find offensive - in this country you’re not allowed to discriminate against them and couldn’t ban them from a restaurant and so on. Breastfed babies and children shouldn’t be discriminated against either.

By: Jax

Jax — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 17:00:06 +0000

I don’t understand it either, and I thought carefully about letting the comment above through, but felt that if ppl have gone to the trouble to come over here, and state their opinion, then it was reasonable of me to allow it to be seen.

I googled this program earlier on, and apart from a small blush at discovering my blog on the first page of google ;), I found it very depressing to read around some of the other forums I found. It would appear that the vast majority of the public discussing this program consider extended breastfeeding to be anything past a couple of months old, and definitely only to be done in private. Sigh.

By: Tech

Tech — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 16:07:41 +0000

Yeah, I can totally see how it’s not strange when you’re doing it. I couldnt ever imagine co-sleeping and thought it a bit of a wierd thing to do, but now it seems the most normal thing in the world, and cots in a separate room seems bizarre!

I just dont understand this idea that its sick to BF a baby in public, surely its sicker to leave the child to starve until you get home, having to listen to them scream inconsolably, or perhaps all nursing mums should be locked away at home? Very weird ideas some people have.

By: Kath

Kath — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 14:36:22 +0000

M still occasionally asks to try BFing while I am feeding L at bedtime, but he says it tastes too sweet now and I don’t think he’s really sure how to suck anymore. He still liked to have a short comfort suck in bed (don’t think there was milk there he was doing it so infrequently at the end) til he was 6 though. When you’re doing it it doesn’t seem strange. Still haven’t watched the programme but I videoed it.

By: Merry

Merry — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 10:06:25 +0000

totally or mainly bottlefed, i mean

By: Merry

Merry — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 10:04:53 +0000

When i see a baby being bottlefed, it mainly reminds me how judgemental i’ve become, as i quite often find myself thinknig “didn’t you even TRY!” before remembering that my first two were totally or mainly breastfed!

I’ve turned into the people i hated back then!

By: trog

trog — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 23:12:12 +0000

kathy dettwyler’s an anthropologist who’s done stuff about weaning ages. She did a fab presentation on cultural blockages to breastfeeding, marketing etc, including stuff about breast cancer, which she’d not long been given the all-clear from at the time, and her take on the marketing of breast cancer drugs was fascinating, though I can’t remember the details now, doh.

Didn’t watch the show, presume it’ll be on E4 or some-such at some point, might try to catch it.

An aside re a comment elsewhere about being distraught about seeing babies bottle-fed… I do feel upset/sad/frustrated to see bottlefeeding, for many many reasons. They’re my reasons though and I rarely express them to the mother. I’m comfy where I am with that, iykwim.

By: FIKRIYE

FIKRIYE — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 22:21:10 +0000

I was so disgusted from the program, iam not saying breatfeeding is bad, but breatfeeding a 8 year old and breatfeeding in public is just sick. to many sexual connataions involved. To many perverts about in todays society, but if the mother likes the attention and does not mind there child being perved at them i suppose its a free world!!