02/04/2025
I received some feedback recently that my research was ‘very niche’ and I should broaden it by working on other things.
Apart from the fact that if anyone ever tells me I should do anything, I’ll do the opposite, even if the thing is a great idea … isn’t this statement how we’re in such a mess in the first place?
How is a topic that literally affects every human at least once (and often much more) in their life very niche?
At least 80% of women want to breastfeed, but the majority have given formula by the end of the first week. 80% of those who stop in the early weeks don’t want to. They then often don’t get the support they need with using formula. Those who continue breastfeeding often struggle to get the support they need. Pretty much everyone gets judged.
At least one in five new parents experience depression after a baby. Probably more as parents still worry about talking about it.
More than a quarter of women experience birth trauma - again, probably more
Then you’ve got the almost universal experience of struggling with something to do with caring for babies in those early weeks … sleep, do I pick them up or not (yes), routines (not often great), you’re spoiling that baby 🤨, solids will help them sleep (nope, sorry)
Add in all the different intersectional experiences of this …
I could go on, but we need more investment and understanding in this stuff that affects so many people directly and as we know can have long lasting impacts on families.
Describing it as niche just shows how far we have to go. How do we get that understanding just how important it is and how it actually affects everyone?
Anyway, I’m certainly not going to be bored any time soon. I’d quite like to see the day this actually became very niche to be honest 🤔