Weeds Disappointment

So, my gal pals and I like to watch the occasionally trashy show for an escape and something to laugh about together. Weeds would be one of those. I'll be mentioning several things about the show - so super spoiler alerts here. If you are unfamiliar with the show, a brief recap would be stay-at-home-mom Nancy Botwin finds herself a widow and ends up turning into a drug dealer to support her two sons. Normal choice for anyone under the circumstances, right?

Her escapades take her though an insane journey where in Season 5 she ends up pregnant by a Mexican drug lord mafia type. Here's where it would start to become appropriate topic for our blog. Nancy breastfeeds this baby and has struggles against her husbands culture and wealth where he believes that her breastfeeding is bad for his image. She wins the argument and there are several mentions of breastfeeding/pumping for the rest of the season. There is even a scene where her pump isn't working and she's engorged so she has her brother-in-law suck out some milk. FYI - he swallows. I was impressed and happy that such a popular show would showcase breastfeeding. Winning!

Then in comes season 6... and well... I'm confused and sad. The beginning of the season she is still breastfeeding/pumping just as she was before, and even when hastily packing to make their great getaway the first thing she grabs is her freezer stash of breastmilk. But then about halfway through the season they bring the baby to the pediatrician and there when asked she says that the baby is formula fed. That was the first mention or hint of formula that I can recall. I was a little surprised that the show just threw that in there. I even listened twice to make sure I wasn't just hearing things. Then a few episodes later they show Enfamil and Similac in the cupboard while she's making a bottle. I have to say... I was very disappointed that they just switched to formula after she had made such a strong pro-breastfeeding stink in the last season.

Now, I have to say that if any of us breastfeeding moms were in her shoes we'd most likely end up with supply issues too... because let's face it.. the stress of being on the run cross multiple countries dodging your mobster drug lord husband's goonies and the FBI would probably dry any of us up. I was mostly disappointed that this logical explanation of why she switched to formula didn't make it past the editing room floor. All they had to do was add a one or two line explanation right there at the pediatricians office.

I believe the baby is around 4 months old at this point in the show, and without an explanation as to why formula came into his life it just feeds into the myth and assumption that baby's shouldn't get breastmilk after a certain age. They were SO CLOSE!

Credibility for Sale

ETA: After writing this blog post, I got into a discussion with several people about this. Multiple people mentioned that just because it says "sponsored links" doesn't mean that it is necessarily companies that are sponsoring Mothering Magazine. No one seems sure on if they are companies that sponsor Mothering Magazine OR if they are something like google powered ads. Regardless of what they are, the fact remains that they are THERE. There are three formula ads on the lactation consultant resource page which is a blatant and disgusting attempt at setting moms up to fail. Was this put on directly by Mothering Magazine? Perhaps not. But they do have some say in who advertises on their website, plain and simple. They can say they don't want this advertisement up there. If whoever controls the ads refuses? Well then go with someone else or sell your ad space privately. It is abhorrent that this is allowed on a resource page that is SPECIFICALLY meant for moms who are seeking breastfeeding support and help. Positively nauseating. I did bring this to their attention and I sincerely hope that Mothering Magazine will take action. If they do, I will happily let you all know and support them for taking a stance against unfair formula ads. If they don't, well, Mothering Magazine will lose my respect and business. 

While searching for lactation consultants for a friend who is pregnant, I came across this on Mothering Magazine:

There are THREE advertisements for formula companies on the listings of lactation consultants. THREE. I don't even know if I can fully express my deep disappointment with Mothering Magazine right now. My husband originally said they might be googled powered but on second glance you can see that it is NOT google powered.

These are sponsored links. Which means that Similac and Enfamil are paying to advertise on Mothering.com. And they just so happen to be on the pages for lactation consultants. Do mamas who are having a fabulous time breastfeeding with no issues whatsoever seek our lactation consultants? NO. They do NOT. It is the mamas who need help...who are struggling...who are stressed out that are seeking out lactation consultants. The very mamas who would possibly fall into a booby trap and end up giving their babies formula. The formula companies disgust me. Their sneaky advertisements are just...I honestly just don't have words for what they are. They are horrifying. But this...this is just beyond my comprehension. Mothering Magazine, a well known resource who has over 44,000 "likes" on their facebook page is being PAID by formula companies to advertise on their lactation consultants webpage. This just goes too far...who can we trust? I was as shocked to see this as I would be if Kellymom had Enfamil ads! I fully intend on contacting Mothering Magazine about this. The cigarette companies used to pay doctors to endorse cigarettes...doctors. Aren't we supposed to be able to trust doctors? I'm not saying I"m getting out my tin foil hat and building a bomb shelter but honestly, Mothering Magazine is supposed to be one of the resources we can trust.

I'm so saddened by this and deeply disheartened. And people always wonder why the breastfeeding community gets up in arms about formula companies. They are everywhere.