The Office

[lalemma]

Did anyone watch The Office last night? (Spoilers to follow)

Jim and Pam had their baby, and the episode totally normalized breastfeeding. Yes, it was a hospital birth, and yes, the mom wore a boob-hiding cape thingy, and yes, the hospital nurse kept pressuring her to give the baby a bottle of formula - but that's kind of what I liked about it. It was a story about pretty ordinary, non-crunchy parents choosing to breastfeed, and persevering - using a lactation consultant! - until it worked, even though it wasn't completely easy.

Yay!

[Drummer's Wife]

It was a great episode! I kinda liked the male LC.

[ErikaS57]

I thought it was good too. I think it sent the message that it's easy for some moms, not so easy for others, and if you just ignore the naysayers, you can make it work for you even if it doesn't seem to come naturally.

[ein328]

Loved it- glad OP brought it up.

I actually shed a tear at the end when she finally got her to latch..BTDT. I think it was awesome- showed how the staff in the hospital isn't always supportive of breastfeeding, etc.

And how REAL it was! I remember that same feeling- you're letting us take her home now? are you sure?

I almost wet my parents when she nursed the other baby, though!

[leaveit2beeker]

Dp and I loved it because as dp said 'It should go a long way in normalizing bf'ing, since J&P aren't crunchy hippies'.

And as a long-time Office fan, I recounted in my head the amount of breastfeeding references over the seasons...and it's pretty many! Female writers prevail, perhaps?

I really loved it. Good for them!

[listipton]

Originally Posted by ein328

I almost wet my parents when she nursed the other baby, though!

Me too! I also liked that they had Pam and 'her' baby co-sleep while the baby was nursing.

[kmarie8284]

I agree. Really realistic view of breastfeeding a newborn, and how it's not always easy at first, but worth it. I almost cried when the baby was crying and she was trying to get her to latch on. I remember that feeling, and then the relief when she finally did 'get it'. Not bf related, but I also liked how it wasn't a typical 'one contraction and then rush to the hospital followed by screaming and a baby ten minutes later' TV labor.

[eclipse]

I think I had her nurse when I had my first .

[sewaneecook]

Another Office fan here too! It was a great episode.

Pam's nurse was the reason I didn't want to be at a hospital to have a baby!

[annettemarie]

Moving to Television

[minkajane]

I was NOT happy when Jan Levinson had Astrid and nursed her in the office. She was sitting there with BOTH her boobs hanging out and I felt like it reinforced the idea that you have to be topless to BF, so any woman who would do it in public must just be an exhibitionist and "flop her boob out" to feed her kid.

I haven't seen the Baby Halpert episode yet because I can't use Hulu on my computer (anyone know of somewhere I can watch it?) but I'm looking forward to seeing it. Here's hoping they mention pumping in a future episode - who else can totally picture Michael accidentally drinking breastmilk out of the break room fridge?

[Drummer's Wife]

Last night's episode should be available on NBC by now. YouTube, too.

[minkajane]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

Last night's episode should be available on NBC by now. YouTube, too.

Score! It's on NBC. Thanks!

[Mamja]

I thought it was hilarious when she BFed the other baby. I reiterated to DH that there's nothing wrong with that, other than a lot of people are weirded out by it.

[Camile Rynd]

I was sure the episode was going to end with them formula feeding! She had a natural birth, and breast fed!! Also, loved the co-sleeping part. I think we ought to flood the network with letters of appreciation!

[dislocator3972]

Originally Posted by Camile Rynd

I was sure the episode was going to end with them formula feeding! She had a natural birth, and breast fed!! Also, loved the co-sleeping part. I think we ought to flood the network with letters of appreciation!

that is a brilliant idea.

I'm off to start typing. . .

[ramama]

I just saw the episode and I thought it was rather realistic and not preachy at all. A lot was said non-verbally through glances and looks, and I thought that was effective. Although I did want to scream, several times, "her milk's not in yet!" LOL

[Pandme]

I watched this last night on Hulu and came straight here. This was wonderful. Wonderful. It was a dead realistic portrayal of what having a newborn is like in the hospital (mine had single recovery rooms, thank god). I was ready to smack that nurse so hard, but that was pretty real too. Not all nurses are like that (mine weren't) but a lot are.

I cried at the end. My second is 5 months old and this brought back a lot of memories. This was really well done (although I wish they would have a bit longer for her milk to come in! I do know women who got it in 24 hours though.)

[itsang]

i finally got to see the episode & loved it! of course, michael was as ridiculous as usual...dwight, too. :

Originally Posted by leaveit2beeker

And as a long-time Office fan, I recounted in my head the amount of breastfeeding references over the seasons...and it's pretty many! Female writers prevail, perhaps?

I really loved it. Good for them!

i've wondered that, too. bf'ing has been mentioned a few times on the show over the years.

i do know that melora hardin, the actress who played jan levinson, is a pretty vocal proponent of AP.

Originally Posted by kmarie8284

Not bf related, but I also liked how it wasn't a typical 'one contraction and then rush to the hospital followed by screaming and a baby ten minutes later' TV labor.

yes, exactly. that was really cool.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by minkajane

who else can totally picture Michael accidentally drinking breastmilk out of the break room fridge?

Accidentally? I can see him trying it on purpose because the creamer ran out.