Bringing Home Baby

[Ish'smom]

I cant watch baby shows on TV any more!
I was watching the show "Bringing Home Baby" and I had to turn it off. The first couple was fresh home from the hospital and feeding the baby formula and at first I thought they had chosen to use formula, but then there was a segment with the mother talking about wanting to breastfeed and saying how she couldn't figure out the pump and showing shots of all the confusing parts of the pump, while she explained that she hadn't thought much about what to do when she brought the baby home while she was pregnant and was reading the next chapter now, all the while giving the baby formula. I did not see her try to BF the baby once!
The second couple had already statred bfing but were advised to supplement with formula to decrease the babies jaundice which was not actually at a very high level. So of course they were starting to have BFing problems becasue the Doctor told them to give more formula than breastmilk!
I had to turn the TV off. I am not criticizing these mothers though. I am just furious about the lack of good advice, and information that they had and the way that breastfeeding was portrayed as so difficult on television. I actually wished I could call the couple and tell them their doctor was sabotaging their breastfeeding relationship! GRRRRR!

[momo7]

Originally Posted by Ish'smom

I cant watch baby shows on TV any more!
I was watching the show "Bringing Home Baby" and I had to turn it off. The first couple was fresh home from the hospital and feeding the baby formula and at first I thought they had chosen to use formula, but then there was a segment with the mother talking about wanting to breastfeed and saying how she couldn't figure out the pump and showing shots of all the confusing parts of the pump, while she explained that she hadn't thought much about what to do when she brought the baby home while she was pregnant and was reading the next chapter now, all the while giving the baby formula. I did not see her try to BF the baby once!
The second couple had already statred bfing but were advised to supplement with formula to decrease the babies jaundice which was not actually at a very high level. So of course they were starting to have BFing problems becasue the Doctor told them to give more formula than breastmilk!
I had to turn the TV off. I am not criticizing these mothers though. I am just furious about the lack of good advice, and information that they had and the way that breastfeeding was portrayed as so difficult on television. I actually wished I could call the couple and tell them their doctor was sabotaging their breastfeeding relationship! GRRRRR!

I once had a conversation with a friend when we were both brand new moms. She told me she didn't want to breastfeed because she didn't want to pump.

She wasn't working outside the home, so I just kind of looked at her..."Then you don't need a pump." She got this look of complete surprise on her face. "I don't?"

I told her "No, because you aren't going to be leavig him with a sitter or whoever."

Then she looked confused "Well if I don't pump, how will my milk come in?"

Its been about 18 years since then and you would not believe the amount of women I've spoken with who really believe they need a breast pump to nurse their babies. It's very sad that they won't even bother to pick up a book and learn about it.

[earthmommy2]

The lack of education out there can be shocking. My mom was wet nursed as a child and has a breastfeeding phobia, but never in a million years would she tell me I was wrong for nursing my children. As she put it, it was so delightful to see my babies in that first few moments of life wrap there little arms around my breast. Sorry OT...
I think it's sad to say myths about breastfeeding are still far tooooooo common!!

[llamalluv]

The second couple had already statred bfing but were advised to supplement with formula to decrease the babies jaundice which was not actually at a very high level. So of course they were starting to have BFing problems becasue the Doctor told them to give more formula than breastmilk!

I was a breastfed baby who had jaundice. My mother took me outside and laid me naked on a blanket in the backyard every day for 10 or 15 minutes. (Fortunately I was an April baby, and not a January baby!)

I really don't get the whole push of formula from doctors when thre are FREE cures!!!

[pumpkinhead]

Seriously, step away from the TLC! The squishy newborns suck me in, but I ultimately end up yelling at the TV. It's not just the crap BF advice, but they never put the babies in the carseats properly. Chest clips at their crotches and the straps waaaaaaaaaaay too loose.

[Kodama]

I find myself anoyed with all the baby shows except Discovery Healthy's Special Delivery.

I do not know what a "normal" birth is like and am a bit jealous.

I get anoyed at the moms who act like having a healthy baby is hard or that breastfeeding a typical newborn is so difficult. I wish they understood what they had and how lucky they are.

[momtob&t]

my sister, who is due any day with her first baby, watches these shows all the time, when I am with her I am always pointing out things, like, "how can she have a low milk supply, her baby was born three hours ago, she actually doesn't even have 'milk' yet?" I also pointed out to her that these shows are probably sponsored by disposable diaper companies and maybe even formula companies. Has anyone else noticed that they always show the mom (or someone else) changing the babies' diaper with a huge pack of Pampers diapers and wipes right there? And the camera seems to zoom in on them...

[rmzbm]

These shows drive me bonkers. :

[sapphire_chan]

I really don't understand why doctors are allowed to lie on those shows.

[wanderinggypsy]

LOL I never watch these shows but the other day I did out of sheer boredom and I totally see what you all mean!! The woman on the one I saw was saying how her newborn just wasn't taking to breastfeeding (meanwhile she kept giving him bottles!!!) and then she lamented "What's the point?" to which I howled "Your baby's optimum HEALTH!!!!" and then stupid TLC did a big warm fuzzy closeup of dad feeding baby a bottle while mom snuggled the older brother. They may as well have run a caption reading "formula feeding allows moms to spend more time with older children". It almost made me puke. I have strong suspicions of sponsorship.


Yuck.

[Monkeypants]

The only time I saw this show there was a new mom who's ped told her that she would have trouble producing enough milk because she had a small frame so she was supplimenting with formula. On day three before her milk was even in. Because she had a 9 lb baby. This doctor completely undermined her chance of sucessfully breastfeeding her baby. In my mind that is medically negligent advice. Oh yes and she also had to have an "emergency" c-section after three hours (!) of labor. Whatever. I'll never watch it again...but it makes me sad that so many people are getting information from this show that will inform their eventual pregnancies and births.

[Magali]

I used to love those shows but now I get too mad to watch. Why oh why does everyone on those shows need to supplement w formula? Why is breastfeeding always mentioned in the terms of "struggling to breastfeed" or "having to deal with breastfeeding"? Yes, there are times when circumstances warrant supplementation, but every single time??? There is actually a show that has replaced TLC for me...Life's Birth Stories. I like it because it chronicles different women's birth experiences, from home birth to elective c-section.

[NewMama2007]

Originally Posted by momtob&t

Has anyone else noticed that they always show the mom (or someone else) changing the babies' diaper with a huge pack of Pampers diapers and wipes right there? And the camera seems to zoom in on them...

There's also some cleaning/disinfecting stuff prominently placed - Lysol, maybe?

I watched one with a same-sex couple this week (and mama was breastfeeding!) and there was prominently placed Hanson's soda . Maybe not a sponsor or whatever, but I was suddenly craving a Ginger Ale...

[tireesix]

Home birth diaries is the way to go (don't know if tthey show that anywhere but the uk)........

[Eben'sMama]

Yeah...For some time now, I have been referring to those shows as "Bringing Home a Formula-Fed Baby" and "A C-Section Story" .

[PlayaMama]

the only one i can watch is the midwife show... i'm spacing on the name...the crazy thing is it's only shown at 1:00 in the morning. maybe because they actually show a woman in a tub having a baby.

i seem to be having good luck catching it since i'm having trouble sleeping lately.

[yarngoddess]

I also hate how most of the mom's say "Oh I'm going to TRY to breastfeed" OY!!
They had one where the mom was an OBGYN- but she wasn't used to being around babies!!! She had this huge plan to breastfeed and cloth diaper- and both got thrown out the window "Too Yucky"!!!!! How horrible. To think I watched that show before I had kids, like it was the gospel- now it's just discusting!

[snowgirl]

Originally Posted by momtob&t

I also pointed out to her that these shows are probably sponsored by disposable diaper companies and maybe even formula companies. Has anyone else noticed that they always show the mom (or someone else) changing the babies' diaper with a huge pack of Pampers diapers and wipes right there? And the camera seems to zoom in on them...

Absolutely they are!! If you watch which commercials are on during the show, they are the ones who pay for the programming. You always see diaper and formula commercials on those shows. And the products in the programming is called "Product Placement". You see it in everything, tv shows, movies. It is on the rise due to TiVo etc. Sorry to get off topic. Back to my rant.....The sad thing is many pg women watches those shows and thinks that is right or the only way. And does not know any different. And that there are other options. Who is going to sponsor bf'ing? No one, unfortunately, because no one can make $$$ from it. There needs to be more PSA's about BF'ing!!!!!!!! Anyhow, I watched them when I was pg and it made me really want to have a natural birth and not so medical.(I knew before watching those crazy shows that I really wanted a water birth, which I did have) It drove me nuts to see everything look so sterile and cold. But, I was lucky to question those shows and listen to my instincts. Sometimes they show home births and water births and that is so cool. There was a show on about a Midwifery School/practice in Miami. Not sure if that is still on or not, but I really liked it. And was almost shocked to see it on tv.

I guess I try to learn something from watching those shows. It helps me understand why women stray from the natural process of life. And there is a lot of work to be done. I am really sad for the children though. They are the ones that are being hurt physically and emotionally and their parents don't even realize it. When their children are acting out and getting sick all of the time when they are older, they won't even understand that most of it could have been prevented.

[2crazykids]

I think House of Babies was on either Discovery health or TLC, but cancelled now, sadly. That was the show worth watching!

[beckyh]

I remember watching one of those shows and when they bought home the baby, the mother said that they were going to formula feed the baby until her milk came in. How in the hell is your mik going to come in if you never put the baby on the breast? :

I love House of Babies, I had no idea it had been cancelled. That really sucks. when I was on bed rest and at home after my back surgery, that was one of the only shows that I enjoyed during the day.