American readers of this blog might like to know I'm appearing on The Tyra Banks Show ~ July 3rd in relation to full-term breastfeeding...which will then syndicated around the world. Hold your breath, she's no Oprah!
How interesting! I hadn't been to your blog in a while, but decided to stop in today to see if you had posted anything about when you would be appearing on Tyra! I've been checking the TV guide for the past month or two. I'll spread the word!
I define full term breastfeeding as allowing your child to self-wean when they are ready ~ that is, not under ANY pressure by the mum whether that is conscious or unconscious on the mum's part. Most children wouldn't self wean before about 2.5 years minimum. v
tyra treated you very unfairly and made her personal opinions very clear. Sorry they couldn't at least show both sides. How dare the uneducated audience try and sexualize it...sad.
WOW, I just watched the segment on the Tyra Banks show and I couldn't believe how awful everyone was to Veronika! They were making breastfeeding out to be some sort of a sexual perversion! I am a new RN and my husband and I have just begun trying to get pregnant and I fully intend to breastfeed. I was not breastfed and I had terrible colic and belly aches all the time as a child, not to mention many allergies. I think this country (USA) is just way to anti-breastfeeding. The idea of breastfeeding a newborn still repulses many here so it's no surprise that breastfeeding into young childhood would be appalling to many Americans. Even though this practice is well accepted in many other nations. In nursing school, my clinical instructor for our postpartum rotation was an avid breastfeeding promoter, even into childhood. She taught us that when our parents were at the age of having children, the Doctors were telling them that their breast milk wasn't nutritious enough and that they should always use formula. I believe this is part of the reason so many people here don’t understand the benefits of breastfeeding. They are just trusting what their doctors told them. I was shocked on the Tyra show when Tyra stated in a surprised tone "so they still let you feed your baby breast milk even though she was only 4 pounds at birth?" I think that just illustrates how misinformed we are. I think if you have an underweight child, breast milk is the only safe option to provide adequate nutrition! I think that this country is still young in learning about the benefits of breast milk, and that is why breastfeeding young children is such a shock to us Americans. As breastfeeding becomes more accepted here, I believe breastfeeding longer will become more accepted also. I think Tyra should be ashamed at how terrible and judgmental, her and her audience treated Veronika, and I apologize on behalf of all us Americans who still have a lot of learning to do about the benefits of breastfeeding.
I was very disappointed with the reactions of some of the moms. Even if you don't agree with a mom's choice, there's no reason to be so disrespectful. I thought you did a GREAT job of holding strong and not backing down though. Congrats on that. I hope more open minded women will pick up what you're putting down ;)
Veronika - you were absolutely brilliant! Yes, the audience was horrible, and Tyra wasn't much better, but you and Kim held your ground. It was clear that both of you were intelligent, loving mothers. What you said MADE SENSE. I so admire you, and I'm sure I'm not the only one! Thank you for having the courage to tell the truth!
I was on the couch nursing my 7 month old when I saw Veronika on Tyra. I was disgusted by the reaction her comments and personal stories drew from the audience. I just hope that Veronika knows that there are many of us here in Canada and the U.S. who promote breastfeeding (and are not so rude). I meet with moms in my neighborhood and we all breastfeed; in front of each other, while at the park, coffee shop, restaurant, where ever we are when our babes are hungry. The audience reaction on Tyra just shows that there are still lots of misconceptions about what our breasts are really for. I admire Veronika's joyous approach to motherhood and look forward to reading her book.
Veronika, I am here in the US and watched Tyra's show today in hopes of some positive publicity for breastfeeding. My hopes obviously went unfufilled. I just want to send my deepest sympathy to you and your family for the way they treated you. That was just awful. I litterally found myself crying for your sake. I am so so sorry. I am still in shock. It's so saddening. My daughter is only 10 months old, but I am already worrying about what people will say to me when I am still nursing after her first birthday. Good for you for standing up for us! THANK YOU!!!
Just wanted to post this... http://tyrashowwiki.warnerbros.com/thread/1625153/Tyra+Show+So+One-Sided Lots of people that saw the show were disgusted with the way you were treated. Unfortunately I missed the show. I remembered as I was nursing my 12month old down for a nap. When I turned the T.V. on there was only 5 seconds left. My heart plumited when I saw you in the audience. You did not look happy. I assumed it didn't go well. From what I've heard/read I am so sorry you got treated that way. I am glad you stayed strong though.
Veronika, thank you so much for going on the Tyra show to promote breastfeeding. I'm so sorry the audience members were so ignorant about the subject. Just by saying "Oh, I wasn't breastfed and I'm fine" doesn't mean that it was BEST for them! I could feed my kid french fries and candy as his only food source and I'm sure he'd SURVIVE, but it doesn't mean that it would be GOOD for him. People always try to sexualize breastfeeding and turn it into some perverse act, and I'm glad that you were able to defend it for the rest of us!
How terrible that you were treated the way you were! That's aweful that someone who doesn't have kids and never breastfed can air herself on public television like that. Ugh! Horrible!
I am a 58 year old grandmother who tried to fight this battle in 1970 when my son was born. I was told I could not nurse in a ladies dressing room nor in the ladies room in Sears. I joined La leche league, fought the ignorance of Doctors and relatives and the general public. I am so disappointed that the battle is still not won. My cousin's daughter was told by a "lactation consultant" that her breasts were too small to nurse. Is that incredible?! All I can say is "you go girls"...make this a better place for our grandchildren. Strangers don't matter much anyway. You know what's best for you and your child.
I was really hoping to see the show... is there anywhere to download it online yet?
My son is 8 months old and nursing is still going very well. I'm really glad there are people like you out there to show that breastfeeding is normal! Thank you for being so strong in your convictions!
What a horrible, horrible show (but you were great!). Tyra's comment "I was bottlefed and I'm just fine!" said it ALL! I turned it off after that because I knew the working moms vs stay at home moms thing was going to get NASTY. I think what it really boils down to is this: children have no value in our society. I don't think they ever did really. In the old days, a child's value was how much work he/she did which was why boys were usually valued more than girls and these days, kids are seen as accessories. My dad (who was not at all a great father) LOVED to say how animal rights came about before children's rights and how children's rights came FROM animal rights! In fact, one is more likely to get MORE jail time for hurting an animal than for hurting a child! And people wonder why these poor children end up growing up into very screwed up adults! The cycle keeps repeating.
And that whole thing about your husband, WOW! People really cannot comprehend that there are men out there who are mature and are not sex crazed idiots but then again, if they aren't, something is WRONG with them. Can you believe that my older sister kept thinking that my husband was a pedophile because he's great with kids?! Kids LOVE him because he can get down on their level and spends time with them and plays with them but that's a sign of being a sexual predator for many people! What has this world come to?!
Hi Veronika, I hate that I missed the show, but i wanted to add that I'm so sorry that you were treated so rudely. But my heartfelt thanks for being brave enough to do it. It's the loudmouths that get the attention, but there are women watching the show who will be listening and hearing what you say for the first time. You change lives every time you stand up for breastfeeding.
Veronika you were great! I was so proud of you. Thank you for standing up for all us breastfeeding moms. I feel like you were treated totally unfairly. And the lady that asked where the father was, like she was expecting you to say he had abandoned you all and you were making the girls bf as some attempt to have an intimate relationship to compensate. Uh! I was ready to jump through the tv and strangle her. But you were poised and confident and took the abuse well. Thank you again, and keep on fighting for our rights!
when i flipped around & happened to see you on the tyra banks show, i was excited because i thought, "oh goody! a breastfeeding show!" oh lord... it just got worse... and worse. by the end of your segment i was livid, disgusted & spreading the word that tyra banks publicly smeared breastfeeders. what a shameful display. i'll bet that was her intention all along. and that audience member who told you she had 3 letters for you, "C.P.S."???? does she really believe you should have your children taken away? tyra purposely chose the rudest, most opinionated audience members on the "working mother" (anti-breastfeeding?) section & spoke to almost nobody on the other side!! i sincerely hope you had some angry words with a producer after the show.
Hello Veronika, It's me, KIM! I thought we were great, strong, intelligent, polite, kind women and even though you weren't all that happy with your hair, my friends thought it was fabulous! I am glad to see that so many of the people who saw it feel the way that we did, although by and large it was tame compared to what we lived through. Fortunately a lot of the audience commentary (or rude, obnoxious, inappropriate, moronic shouting) was cut from the final version - you still have not received your copy?? Let me know! Love to you and yours. Britton says hello too - she is here with me now and she is...gasp...BREASTFEEDING AGAIN!! :)
I unfortunately missed the show. But I can only imagine. Sigh. People are just SO uneducated when it comes to breastfeeding, and the nasty assumptions they make about us are hurtful and rude.
I am so sorry Tyra treated you badly, I used to be a fan. Not anymore. That kind of "I am fine, and ff" mentality disgusts me.
I have a very avid nurser, who is going strong at 2 and a half, and will probably continue a few more years. :)
Thank you for showing women everywhere that breastfeeding is a beautiful, natural thing, and parents should be commended, not persecuted for letting the child decide when to be done. Love you! ~J
I am not terribly excited about how you were treated. I am sure that you are a confident woman and mother and that it probably didn't get under your skin. But the whole show very much discouraged breastfeeding, as well as any mother who might want to cut back on work to be with her children more. Before I had a child, I used to think that I would wean at the first sign of teeth, and most certainly not into toddlerhood. But when I looked into my son's eyes, that all changed. We're still going strong at 15 months.
Sadly, that show is representative of how selfish and immature women here are.
I did not see the Tyra Banks show, but kudos to you, Veronika. I am still breastfeeding my son at 5.5 years. I am so proud of myself and him for continuing, in spite of social pressure to force him to quit. He is indeed slowly weaning himself but nothing offers him the same peace and comfort for sleeping or waking as does my warm breast and mother's milk. He is healthy and smart and loving, and I attribute much of that to bf.
27 comments:
Make sure it's 'Youtube'd' for us Brits!
what is "full term" breastfeeding? breastfeeding past age 2? i have a 4 yr old nursling here. i hope the show airs it in a positive light.
How interesting! I hadn't been to your blog in a while, but decided to stop in today to see if you had posted anything about when you would be appearing on Tyra! I've been checking the TV guide for the past month or two. I'll spread the word!
Sorry, not the right entry to post this but couldn't see any better one.
http://health.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=311814 I found this shocking! But no one else sees the problem.
Sam
I define full term breastfeeding as allowing your child to self-wean when they are ready ~ that is, not under ANY pressure by the mum whether that is conscious or unconscious on the mum's part. Most children wouldn't self wean before about 2.5 years minimum.
v
I'll be watching from Chicago! Tyra is definitely no Oprah. I'm interested to see how the show plays out.
tyra treated you very unfairly and made her personal opinions very clear. Sorry they couldn't at least show both sides. How dare the uneducated audience try and sexualize it...sad.
WOW, I just watched the segment on the Tyra Banks show and I couldn't believe how awful everyone was to Veronika! They were making breastfeeding out to be some sort of a sexual perversion! I am a new RN and my husband and I have just begun trying to get pregnant and I fully intend to breastfeed. I was not breastfed and I had terrible colic and belly aches all the time as a child, not to mention many allergies. I think this country (USA) is just way to anti-breastfeeding. The idea of breastfeeding a newborn still repulses many here so it's no surprise that breastfeeding into young childhood would be appalling to many Americans. Even though this practice is well accepted in many other nations. In nursing school, my clinical instructor for our postpartum rotation was an avid breastfeeding promoter, even into childhood. She taught us that when our parents were at the age of having children, the Doctors were telling them that their breast milk wasn't nutritious enough and that they should always use formula. I believe this is part of the reason so many people here don’t understand the benefits of breastfeeding. They are just trusting what their doctors told them. I was shocked on the Tyra show when Tyra stated in a surprised tone "so they still let you feed your baby breast milk even though she was only 4 pounds at birth?" I think that just illustrates how misinformed we are. I think if you have an underweight child, breast milk is the only safe option to provide adequate nutrition! I think that this country is still young in learning about the benefits of breast milk, and that is why breastfeeding young children is such a shock to us Americans. As breastfeeding becomes more accepted here, I believe breastfeeding longer will become more accepted also. I think Tyra should be ashamed at how terrible and judgmental, her and her audience treated Veronika, and I apologize on behalf of all us Americans who still have a lot of learning to do about the benefits of breastfeeding.
I was very disappointed with the reactions of some of the moms. Even if you don't agree with a mom's choice, there's no reason to be so disrespectful. I thought you did a GREAT job of holding strong and not backing down though. Congrats on that. I hope more open minded women will pick up what you're putting down ;)
Veronika - you were absolutely brilliant! Yes, the audience was horrible, and Tyra wasn't much better, but you and Kim held your ground. It was clear that both of you were intelligent, loving mothers. What you said MADE SENSE. I so admire you, and I'm sure I'm not the only one! Thank you for having the courage to tell the truth!
I was on the couch nursing my 7 month old when I saw Veronika on Tyra. I was disgusted by the reaction her comments and personal stories drew from the audience. I just hope that Veronika knows that there are many of us here in Canada and the U.S. who promote breastfeeding (and are not so rude). I meet with moms in my neighborhood and we all breastfeed; in front of each other, while at the park, coffee shop, restaurant, where ever we are when our babes are hungry. The audience reaction on Tyra just shows that there are still lots of misconceptions about what our breasts are really for. I admire Veronika's joyous approach to motherhood and look forward to reading her book.
Veronika,
I am here in the US and watched Tyra's show today in hopes of some positive publicity for breastfeeding. My hopes obviously went unfufilled. I just want to send my deepest sympathy to you and your family for the way they treated you. That was just awful. I litterally found myself crying for your sake. I am so so sorry. I am still in shock. It's so saddening. My daughter is only 10 months old, but I am already worrying about what people will say to me when I am still nursing after her first birthday. Good for you for standing up for us! THANK YOU!!!
Just wanted to post this... http://tyrashowwiki.warnerbros.com/thread/1625153/Tyra+Show+So+One-Sided
Lots of people that saw the show were disgusted with the way you were treated. Unfortunately I missed the show. I remembered as I was nursing my 12month old down for a nap. When I turned the T.V. on there was only 5 seconds left. My heart plumited when I saw you in the audience. You did not look happy. I assumed it didn't go well. From what I've heard/read I am so sorry you got treated that way. I am glad you stayed strong though.
Veronika, thank you so much for going on the Tyra show to promote breastfeeding. I'm so sorry the audience members were so ignorant about the subject. Just by saying "Oh, I wasn't breastfed and I'm fine" doesn't mean that it was BEST for them! I could feed my kid french fries and candy as his only food source and I'm sure he'd SURVIVE, but it doesn't mean that it would be GOOD for him. People always try to sexualize breastfeeding and turn it into some perverse act, and I'm glad that you were able to defend it for the rest of us!
How terrible that you were treated the way you were! That's aweful that someone who doesn't have kids and never breastfed can air herself on public television like that. Ugh! Horrible!
I am a 58 year old grandmother who tried to fight this battle in 1970 when my son was born. I was told I could not nurse in a ladies dressing room nor in the ladies room in Sears. I joined La leche league, fought the ignorance of Doctors and relatives and the general public. I am so disappointed that the battle is still not won. My cousin's daughter was told by a "lactation consultant" that her breasts were too small to nurse. Is that incredible?! All I can say is "you go girls"...make this a better place for our grandchildren. Strangers don't matter much anyway. You know what's best for you and your child.
I was really hoping to see the show... is there anywhere to download it online yet?
My son is 8 months old and nursing is still going very well. I'm really glad there are people like you out there to show that breastfeeding is normal! Thank you for being so strong in your convictions!
What a horrible, horrible show (but you were great!). Tyra's comment "I was bottlefed and I'm just fine!" said it ALL! I turned it off after that because I knew the working moms vs stay at home moms thing was going to get NASTY. I think what it really boils down to is this: children have no value in our society. I don't think they ever did really. In the old days, a child's value was how much work he/she did which was why boys were usually valued more than girls and these days, kids are seen as accessories. My dad (who was not at all a great father) LOVED to say how animal rights came about before children's rights and how children's rights came FROM animal rights! In fact, one is more likely to get MORE jail time for hurting an animal than for hurting a child! And people wonder why these poor children end up growing up into very screwed up adults! The cycle keeps repeating.
And that whole thing about your husband, WOW! People really cannot comprehend that there are men out there who are mature and are not sex crazed idiots but then again, if they aren't, something is WRONG with them. Can you believe that my older sister kept thinking that my husband was a pedophile because he's great with kids?! Kids LOVE him because he can get down on their level and spends time with them and plays with them but that's a sign of being a sexual predator for many people! What has this world come to?!
Hi Veronika,
I hate that I missed the show, but i wanted to add that I'm so sorry that you were treated so rudely. But my heartfelt thanks for being brave enough to do it. It's the loudmouths that get the attention, but there are women watching the show who will be listening and hearing what you say for the first time. You change lives every time you stand up for breastfeeding.
Veronika you were great! I was so proud of you. Thank you for standing up for all us breastfeeding moms. I feel like you were treated totally unfairly. And the lady that asked where the father was, like she was expecting you to say he had abandoned you all and you were making the girls bf as some attempt to have an intimate relationship to compensate. Uh! I was ready to jump through the tv and strangle her. But you were poised and confident and took the abuse well. Thank you again, and keep on fighting for our rights!
When is this coming on the air? Any clue?
when i flipped around & happened to see you on the tyra banks show, i was excited because i thought, "oh goody! a breastfeeding show!" oh lord... it just got worse... and worse. by the end of your segment i was livid, disgusted & spreading the word that tyra banks publicly smeared breastfeeders. what a shameful display. i'll bet that was her intention all along. and that audience member who told you she had 3 letters for you, "C.P.S."???? does she really believe you should have your children taken away? tyra purposely chose the rudest, most opinionated audience members on the "working mother" (anti-breastfeeding?) section & spoke to almost nobody on the other side!! i sincerely hope you had some angry words with a producer after the show.
Hello Veronika,
It's me, KIM! I thought we were great, strong, intelligent, polite, kind women and even though you weren't all that happy with your hair, my friends thought it was fabulous! I am glad to see that so many of the people who saw it feel the way that we did, although by and large it was tame compared to what we lived through. Fortunately a lot of the audience commentary (or rude, obnoxious, inappropriate, moronic shouting) was cut from the final version - you still have not received your copy?? Let me know! Love to you and yours. Britton says hello too - she is here with me now and she is...gasp...BREASTFEEDING AGAIN!! :)
Oh man. I have no problem with breastfeeding. But 8 is way to old. And very unnecessary.
I unfortunately missed the show. But I can only imagine. Sigh. People are just SO uneducated when it comes to breastfeeding, and the nasty assumptions they make about us are hurtful and rude.
I am so sorry Tyra treated you badly, I used to be a fan. Not anymore. That kind of "I am fine, and ff" mentality disgusts me.
I have a very avid nurser, who is going strong at 2 and a half, and will probably continue a few more years. :)
Thank you for showing women everywhere that breastfeeding is a beautiful, natural thing, and parents should be commended, not persecuted for letting the child decide when to be done. Love you!
~J
I am not terribly excited about how you were treated. I am sure that you are a confident woman and mother and that it probably didn't get under your skin. But the whole show very much discouraged breastfeeding, as well as any mother who might want to cut back on work to be with her children more.
Before I had a child, I used to think that I would wean at the first sign of teeth, and most certainly not into toddlerhood. But when I looked into my son's eyes, that all changed. We're still going strong at 15 months.
Sadly, that show is representative of how selfish and immature women here are.
I did not see the Tyra Banks show, but kudos to you, Veronika. I am still breastfeeding my son at 5.5 years. I am so proud of myself and him for continuing, in spite of social pressure to force him to quit. He is indeed slowly weaning himself but nothing offers him the same peace and comfort for sleeping or waking as does my warm breast and mother's milk. He is healthy and smart and loving, and I attribute much of that to bf.
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