Extended BF in the news -- Too old to BF!

[calebsmommy25]

This is also in the current news section, but feel that it is appropriate to post here too. This clip is outrageous and wrong. This woman NEEDS to be corrected.

Here is the link to the news clip: http://www.foxnews.com/video-search/...m?pageid=23043

Here is the link to Dr. Virginia Klein's website: http://therapists.psychologytoday.co...w+Jersey_28387

[alegna]

Where on earth did she find her ideas?

How absurd.

-Angela

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by alegna

Where on earth did she find her ideas?

How absurd.

-Angela

omg, i pretty much posted the same words in the Child Lead Weaning forum, i just posted this clip there. i can't believe she isn't embarrassed to be seen in public saying these things!

[midnightwriter]

>>>I've been a psychotherapist for over 25 years, written four books, produced and hosted over 500 TV shows, appeared on all the major networks as a guest expert, created and chaired six international conferences, and have trained counselors and others in Switzerland, France and the USA for over 15 years. I love listening to and sharing with folks, everywhere.<<<

Dr. Philla?

this is from her site, http://gettingfree.com/

[gabeycakesmama]

Haha Dr. Philla

That was horrendous. Babies need to stop bf'ing when they can eat "properly"??? If I were a fake "psychotherapist", I would say she is compensating for her guilt at formula feeding her own children. Jeesh.

[menomena]

"A lot of moms extend breastfeeding for weightloss purposes."

Uh huh. I really am tandeming for 19+ months and losing too much weight because I like it.

Oh my and "going home and sucking on mom's breast" is apparently what 2.5 to 3yr olds are talking about.

And now we're going to have sexual frustration and be "rather inappropriate on a date" b/c I'm going to "soothe" myself on my date's breast??? Ack. Is my date going to also tuck me in and read me a bedtime story? Yikes.

I need to be done with this clip.

[SpiderMum]

This is a terrible report...that woman has no business talking about breastfeeding when she obviously has no clue about anything related to it.

[kavamamakava]

I think that lady is wrong about extended nursing leading to adult breast fixation. I would love to see a study (do any exist?). But my unscientific opinion is that those with breast fixation weren't breastfed, extended or otherwise.

[bscal]

kavamamakava - DH is most definitely fixated with breasts (and has been since puberty!) and he was FF.

So, to add my unscientific opinion to yours, I theorize that men who are fixated on breasts are normal, at least in a society where our culture encourages the use of breasts as sexual objects.

Or, as my DH just pointed out when I was telling him about this post: It's genetics. Men are genetically programmed to be attracted to a woman's breasts - they are a sign that she is of age for mating. We are, after all, mammals.

Beth

[SwanMom]

Originally Posted by bscal

kavamamakava - DH is most definitely fixated with breasts (and has been since puberty!) and he was FF.

mine too.

I hope nobody takes her seriously--I thought the video was so absurd it was humorous. Other, less "enlightened" women may actually believe what she said...whatever it was that she said? That my kid can find better nutrition than breastmilk once he has teeth? where?

And I love how the guy is trying to explain why women breastfeed: to lose weight. Yes, that's all it's about.

[donutmolly]

Ugh! Seriously? Nothing... no studies that show extended dependence on mother-soothing vs. self-soothing, no studies that show psychological harm from extended BFing... really. We're just supposed to take her word on it, the almighty psychotherapist from nowhere. Great. I hate that they allow this drivel in public.

On the other hand, the female host did do a good job suggesting the US has some hang-ups about breastfeeding, and there was sort of consensus that BFing to 2.5 or 3 yo is ok... this is progress... I guess.

[Firemom]

My dd weaned right before 6 years of age. She is now 12. This woman says it will affect her relationships later in life. I recently asked my dd if she remembers nursing. I was sad when she said she doesn't even remember it. So pray tell, if she doesn't remember nursing what is this woman even talking about it.

I have a smart, healthy, happy child, who is so well liked by her peers. I have to aske this woman, "Where did I go wrong?"

[serenekitten]

Yep, I heard this on the TV this morning (Dad leaves it on Fox News all the time... gag me with a spoon! . I didn't pay a whole lot of attention, so I'm glad I got a chance to watch it again.

... I think. All I got out of it was "blah blah blah."

Was the "weight-loss purposes" comment really necessary? What children talk to their peers about "going home and sucking on mom's breast?" And children are taught to soothe themselves ONLY by going to mommy's breast? I think not.

One of the hosts has a short blurb on her blog. She replied to one comment with, "She says it does have lasting implications for social interactions in adolescence and beyond, particularly relationships with women." Implications are not facts. Quit trying to pass them off as such!

So... yeah. Less than impressed.

[annettemarie]

Please remember that discussing the comments violates the User Agreement.

[soso-lynn]

That was beyond ridiculous. There is no place in their brains for it???? What does that even mean? And since when are psychologists experts on nutrition?

At least the host seemed to find her ridiculous.

[Swan3]

Whoa...is there a shaking head/googly eyed smiley?

Is she really a psychologist or just pretends to be one on tv?

[krystyn33]

I would laugh at the absurdity of her statements, if it wasn't so aggravating that people will watch that and believe her.

Frankly, I can't see how respecting and honoring my son's needs as he sets the pace for weaning will make him therefore disrespect the needs and wishes of others--he will be much less likely to be inappropriately sexually aggressive, I imagine because he was lovingly breastfed. Isn't one of the basic tenants of modern psychology that needs which are not met in infancy and early childhood cause neurosis--that adult maladjusted behaviors are often misdirected ways to fill those unmet needs...?

[ShadowMom]

I'd like to just dismiss her as a quack, but unfortunately as someone who has had a protracted custody battle, and as someone who nursed my child until he turned 3, my fear is that some poor mama who's nursing her child will have this woman used against her.

After all, she is a psychotherapist and the courts depend on experts when it comes to custody issues.

I think before anyone formulates an opinion on breastfeeding, much less expresses it publicly, they should all meet with Katherine Dettwyler and read her entire site. Is there really anyone else who's an expert in the role of breastfeeding in a culture and the appropriate length of it?

[tanyam926]

Isn't there anywhere on fox to tell them what I think of that story? I couldn't find a comment section.

Her arguments didn't even make sense. It seems that fox already knew what they wanted the angle of the story to be and then dug around for someone to say it. (Not very coherently either).

[Juvysen]

I WISH it worked for weight loss. No such luck, here. Or maybe I just eat too much : maybe I should make my kids nurse MORE... wait... I don't know if that's even possible - ds nurses like a newborn lately... :