Dr Christian Provokes Extended Breastfeeding Fury

An article by Claire    1 Comment

This week, TV’s Doctor Christian Jessen has caused upset in the lactivist community for his ill-informed comments in Closer Magazine. The face of Channel 4′s Embarrassing Bodies was quoted as saying, after 6 months breastfeeding ‘has no effect’. He continues to warn, ‘..breastfed older children risk becoming pyschologically dependent on the mother. This could result in behavioural problems as they grow up’. A Twitter storm ensues forcing the magazine to produce this rather weak explanation.

Although the comments have a little context, he’s was hypothesising about a mother feeding an 8 year old, it’s a sorely misguided stance to take in mainstream media. Whilst I’d be concerned that any mother was getting their primary source of breastfeeding advice from Closer Magazine (or even fashion advice at that!), this is an example of the constant battle of perception of extended breastfeeding in the media and in our western society.

When I was training to become a breastfeeding peer supporter, we were shown this amazing chart produced by the National Childbirth Trust. Designed to support mothers with their choice to breastfeed beyond the NHS recommended 6 months exclusive feeding guideline, it’s full of encouraging benefits supported by medical research. There are numerous sources of studies on the NCT, UNICEF and World Health Organisation websites, written in plain English, showing that this choice to breastfeed beyond 6 months or 1 year, has the possibility of health benefits and a solid bonding experience.

If I can find this research with one Google fumble, then it baffles me why a television Doctor and glossy magazine cannot do a little homework and take their publishing responsibilities much more seriously. This is an issue which impacts the confidence of breastfeeding mothers, particularly in the U.K. with our peculiar Victorian attitudes.

We need to be talking more about the health benefits and less about so-called ‘behavioural issues’. I strongly feel, we need to be clear behavioral challenges from toddlers are completely separate parenting issue, not directly linked to the choice to breastfeed beyond 6 months. In my view, talking about children having behavioural issues under 12 months at least, which I have heard, is absurd. Testing boundaries is a classic developmental sign not necessarily a path to the naughty step!

Above all, we need to support mothers in their choices, which while Dr Christian sheepishly concludes in the Close Magazine statement, I feel it is not strong enough. The average number of years a child is breastfed worldwide is still disputed but it has been found in some countries it’s around 27 - 36 months, significantly higher than is promoted and supported in the U.K. I’d ask Dr Christian and anyone finding themselves uncomfortable with the concept of being around a mother feeding beyond a year, to think about this and the NCT Reasons to be Proud chart. I’d encourage them to show empathy and positive about the experience both the child and the mother are a part of.

For sources & references see:

http://info.babymilkaction.org/news/campaignblog220114

http://www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2014/01/the-award-for-magazine-doctor-who-talks.html

http://abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/breastfeeding-your-toddler/

Claire Jones-Hughes