Aargh - must ... vent.... fury

[brixtonbrood]

Bloody Channel 4 are doing a documentary about extreme breastfeeding of 7 year olds, with reasonably "explicit" trailers. I wouldn't mind this slightly strange minority getting yet more coverage (there's been loads in the Guardian/Observer over the last year it seems) if it wasn't the only coverage the issue ever bloody gets. The only footage of breastfeeding I've seen on British television...ever... I think is these unusual women and Geraldine James on Little Britain Aaaaaargh! (to be fair I hope and suspect that there may be decent portrayal in the soaps, which I don't watch, the Archers was always fine, and ER is excellent).

How about a doco on Extreme Artificial Feeding, how one third of UK babies never recieve the bare minimum of colostrum after birth, and how most the mothers of most of the rest abandon breastmilk before 6 weeks, how the health of the poorest and most deprived kids in particular is being compromised before they leave hospital by unhealthy social attitudes and untrained midwives. How about something using the words public health crisis, and epidemic, that questions whether the levels of asthma, eczema and obesity that we're all so concerned about might possibly have a link. You know I could forgive them for being just a shade sensationalist, and even showing a nipple or two if they were dealing with a serious issue rather than trotting out the same old sideshow.

May I say AAAAAARGH! one more time?

And breath.

Comments

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

I'm right there with you...

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I think the not-enough-breastfeeding issue is too much of a hot potato to get serious coverage -- because there's a fear of appearing critical of mothers who for whatever reason can't or won't do it.

It does seem a shame though, as a good documentary etc could make a big difference -- like the cot death campaign.

[brixtonbrood.livejournal.com]

Oh, and did I mention the hundreds of preventable breast cancer deaths? Aargh

[t--m--i.livejournal.com]

Quite right: who gives a %^$%^ if a tiny number of kids aren't weaned by the time they're old enough to talk? But heaven forfend that anyone talk about the medieval state of maternity care (and in that I include post-natal support). To hell with "offending" people, why not have a reality show that teaches women how to breastfeed? You could call it "Troubleshooting Tits"....