Broadcaster Dil Wickremasinghe appeared on Midday today with her baby boy, Phoenix and breastfed live on national television.
To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, Dil fed her newborn live on air as she joined Midday host Elaine Crowley along with panelists Tina Koumarianos, Sonia Harris and Terry Prone.
Midday openly debated ‘attachment, mindfulness and aware parenting’ and breastfeeding on the show.
The outspoken broadcaster said: "Babies are needy and clingy for their own survival. They form a secure attachment to their mothers and, in turn, to the world". As the ladies discussed attachment parenting, Elaine pointed out that Dil was discreetly breastfeeding baby Phoenix, sparking a massive reaction from viewers.
Speaking about the show, producer and presenter Elaine explained that it was a conscious decision to include a live feed as part of the segment:
“I think mothers should be free to choose how, where and when to feed their babies without judgement or condemnation. If I didn’t point it out, there is no way anyone would have known little Phoenix was having his lunch live on air!! All mothers should be supported no matter what they want to do, and if you’re lucky enough to be able to take your baby to work and he happens to be hungry, well what are you gonna do?”
Reactions were positive and negative in equal measure. One viewer texted:
“Great to see breastfeeding on the show - it's not promoted positively enough in this country, well done! - Donna.”
While another said:
“Thank you Dil for: 1) breastfeeding on TV and 2) explaining attachment parenting with such easy matter of fact-ness. It was the best description of attachment parenting I have ever heard.”
A caller, Karen (not me), said that it has turned her off watching Midday:
“No need for Dil to be breastfeeding on TV. I won’t be watching the show again when she’s on it. She’s a self-promoting gobsh*te. Has she ever heard of a breast pump?”
Another viewer texted in to applaud the balanced nature of the programme:
“I did not breastfeed my baby and he is fantastic, very strong and very smart... He is 7 years old now and last year in school he had to do English and Maths from second class .. Bottle feeding makes no difference.. My son is very strong tall and smart and very well balanced and I decided to bottle feed him because breastfeeding kind of disgusted me.. Thanks for not talking down bottle feeding mothers Elaine, we do our very best too.”
If you missed the show, catch Midday here.
