TVScope: Extraordinary Breastfeeding, Channel 4, Wednesday, February 1st, 9pm,
As many breastfeeding mothers already know, the most extraordinary aspect about breastfeeding is that disciples of its considerable benefits make up only a handful of the population. And it's not as if evidence doesn't exist. For instance, the World Health Organisation recommends that all children should be breastfed until at least two years old, and studies show that breastfeeding can continue until the age of seven.
Also, the Irish Health Promotion Unit says the "evidence for the superiority of breastfeeding for both mothers and children is very compelling", adding that "many of the health-
enhancing and disease- preventative benefits of breastfeeding in infancy are sustained not just throughout childhood and but also into adulthood".
For the mothers who breastfeed, it offers "some protection against pre-menopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis in later life", and while providing a unique bonding agent, also "contributes greatly to the baby's psychological, emotional and social development".
However, Ireland continues to have the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe. And it's something we have in common with Britain. To emphasise this anomaly, Extraordinary Breastfeeding focused on four breastfeeding mothers, their views, lifestyles and philosophies.
Sophie opened the programme breastfeeding two-year-old twins, Zac and Molly, sometimes 20 times a day and as often as every half-hour. Although obviously over-stretched, she happily explained her life-sentence with the cheerfulness that "I've two breasts, two children and lots of love". However, half way through the show and practically on her knees, Sophie took the plunge and decided to wean her children off breast milk.
Spanish-born Dolores was also a mother with a mission. In the process of adopting a Chinese baby, she continued to breastfeed her four-year old son Tristan so as to provide a food source for her adopted daughter when she arrived. While some thought her son had an obsession with her breast, Dolores maintained it was not obsession but "passion". When her Chinese toddler arrived, she seemed too old to adapt immediately, preferring to drink milk from a spoon that her new mother had expressed.
Kirsty, who still breastfeeds her two-year-old daughter Megan, works for Little Angels, an organisation which teaches young mums how to breastfeed. She was concerned that legislation to be implemented in Britain could prevent women breastfeeding in public places.
A tale of extraordinary breastfeeding involved Veronika and her daughters Eliza, who's nearly eight, and Bethany (10). Bethany stopped breastfeeding when she was five but still believes that breast milk is "better than anything in the world - better even than mango", and wanted a breastfeed for her 10th birthday. Eliza is still breastfed and claims that she wants to carry on breastfeeding until her mother's "a million years old".
For breastfeeding information, www.healthpromotion.ie/breastfeeding or La Leche League of Ireland at homepage.tinet.ie/~lalecheleague (01-2868587)