I wonder what you all think of the story below. Does TV have a duty to try to promote breastfeeding, which is known to be so beneficial to both mum and baby or should they keep to their characterisation and even give daft advice because thats what someone would say in ‘real life’? Personally, I like to think most of the general public are intelligent enough to know the difference. Has anyone got an opinion? Are we trying hard enough to show breast feeding in a positive light on the TV? Would a better PR by the media help to encourage different opinions by shops, restaurants or intolerant people?
What do you all think?
The RCM has written to ITV to complain about its programme Coronation Street and its poor handling of breastfeeding and bottle-feeding in recent episodes.
Midwives magazine: October/November 2009
The RCM’s education and research manager Sue Macdonald pointed out that following the birth of character Maria’s second baby, there was no mention of the midwife who would be visiting Maria and providing postnatal advice and support. Also, when Maria had problems with breastfeeding, another character Audrey quickly suggested that she immediately change to bottle-feeding.
She adds: ‘The representation of bottle-feeding as the way to feed an infant in a family programme such as Coronation Street contributes to normalising bottle-feeding in our society.’
A producer from ITV responded saying that when producing episodes they had to deliberate how they were going to match the requirements of the storyline and character portrayal against the constant pressures of both accuracy and the interested bodies.
‘We do not want Coronation Street, which is a character-led drama serial falling into the genre of drama-documentary. Notwithstanding, we have of course taken your comments on board over the issue of breastfeeding and it may well become the nub of a story on some future occasion.’
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thank you – i shall try Tyson
Thank you for your help!
Thanks for some good thoughts there. I am kind of new to web surfing, so I printed this off to put in my file, any better way to go about keeping track of it then printing?
you are very welcome. I am aware many people cannot get as much access to their midwife as they (or their midwife) would like – and so try to provide a stop gap for them. Keep researching though – and be very critical when you are reading research, question everything and check it has been well done.
You have stoked my interest. tweaks moustache.
haha – then my life has not been lived in vain! I think I shall be able to tweak one of my own in the not too distant future – bloomin hormones!
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thank you for this comment. I am sure there will be a few less flattering comments but so far people have been really kind. I will try to spend some time soon browsing research and seeing if I can get some good articles and information on here. Thanks also to the people who have posted questions and who have recently updated me with the outcomes of their pregnancies.
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