What do we think of Kirstie Allsopp's link with SMA?

[hunkermunker]

I am slightly less than utterly unimpressed You?

And yes, of course, it's her decision, yada-yada, but what a shit decision it was.

Kirstie, I knock walls down in your general direction.

[cmotdibbler]

Hmmm. And I bet its shite advice - all you need to know in the first 48 hours ? Keep them close and cuddled, stay in bed together, and let them feed as much as they want. Don't stress, and don't do housework. Bet thats not what they say.

[youareamazing]

Message withdrawn

[hunkermunker]

Yep, I bet it makes it all really complicated - all cleaning cord stumps in bat tears and ensuring you use a separate piece of cotton wool for each eyelash [overcomplicates]

[andiem]

very unimpressed still some people will do anything for money

[littlepinkpixie]

Maybe lots of stuff about how while we all know "breast is best" mustnt forget how difficult breastfeeding is, must be very careful what you eat, better have some SMA on hand just in case you arent "enjoying" breastfeeding.

[Snaf]

Oh, Kirstie, you're no longer my favourite property-porn blow-up posh totty. Will have to seek solace in the Beeny norks, I guess.

Perhaps she Just Didn't Have Enough Milk (TM) to feed that enormo-sprog, huh? Huh? Because we all know it's impossible to keep them satisfied on breastmilk if your baby is over 8lb...

[lackaDAISYcal]

ooh, I thought she would have been a possible BFing champion

[GrinningGorilla]

Snaf have you ever tried keeping a enormous baby (and I don't mean a small 9 pounder) satisfied on breastmilk alone? In my experience (3 times enormous babies) I was strongly advised by the health visitor and the breast feeding specialist to top up with artificial because they were not getting enough from me and losing too much weight.

[harpsichordcarrier]

you mean like this pile of horse shit:

?Do I have to change my diet if I?m breast feeding??
As long as your diet is healthy, balanced and varied, and you eat regularly, your body will be able to produce top quality, nourishing breast milk for your baby.

Have at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables (fresh, dried, frozen, tinned or juiced) a day.
Drink lots of fluids ? at least 6 - 8 glasses a day.
Boost your energy levels with starchy foods such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes.
Make sure there?s plenty of fibre in your diet, such as wholegrain bread and cereals, as some women experience bowel problems after having a baby.
Drink at least one pint of pasteurised milk a day (or use in puddings, custards, sauces and/or on cereals).
If you don?t like milk, increase your intake of dairy products: one carton of yoghurt or an ounce of hard cheese provides a similar amount of calcium to a third of a pint of pasteurised milk.
Eat at least two portions of lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs (well-cooked), beans or pulses a day.
Take a supplement containing 10 μg of vitamin D every day ? your healthcare professional will be able to give your more information about this.
Peanuts, if you or the baby?s father, or either of your families, have a history of allergy you may wish to avoid eating food containing peanuts while breast feeding.
Fish is a great addition to a healthy diet but limit oil-rich fish (such as salmon, mackerel, herring, fresh tuna or sardines) to two servings a week and avoid eating more than one portion a week of shark, swordfish and marlin.
Limit your intake of coffee, tea and cola as caffeine can pass into breast milk and upset your baby.
Keep alcohol intake to a minimum."

[beansprout]

I fed a 10lb 5oz baby on b/milk for 7 months.

[WilfSell]

wot's enormous then? I had 3 pretty biguns and all were exclusively BF...

[lackaDAISYcal]

My friend is still feeding her 13 months old DS and he was a toddler 11 lbs when he was born

[beansprout]

Actually, I fed him for over 3 years. The exclusive bit was 7 months.

[Snaf]

GG, I haven't personally had an enormous baby (ds was a mere 8lb 6oz at birth) but I have supported many, many women to exclusively breastfeed large babies.

I can't comment on your individual case, of course - it may well be that that was appropriate advice for you. Doesn't mean it's the same for everyone, 'tis all.

[andiem]

I fed one on the 98th centile exclusively for 6 months and have just stopped feeding him now at 1 he hasn't had any formula

[WilfSell]

Thing is, whatever they were at birth, some of us still managed to exclusively BF 6 months later, when they must be drinking MUCH more, so I'm not at all convinced by the size matters argument.

My first and third were monsters (9lb15 and 9lb7) and both became very rotund on my milk fountains within a month or so. Fat little buddhas . No issue at the start or end of exclusive BF with their size and their satisfaction.

[lackaDAISYcal]

i was readiing the sma stuff and thought they were at least ticking the boxes until i got to that part.

do you think they are tapping into the junk food culture by convincing folks with a penchant for maccyDs, KFC and pizzas that they best not even bother trying?

[Notanexcitingname]

and presumably he didn't stay 10lb 5 oz, beansprout

[GrinningGorilla]

All over 11lb, biggest 12lb 3. Trying to get a baby that big going on breast is almost impossible especially if you don't have very good milk supply. I was completely relieved to be told to top up by "professionals".

[beansprout]

The size argument is stupid. If we can grow babies that big, our bodies can feed them.

If we have big babies were are told to give them formula, if they are small we are told we should give them formula, etc etc

[hunkermunker]

Christ, Harpsi - I lived on whole cheese and onion quiches and M&S triple chocolate breakfast cereal when I was first feeding DS1 (wtf was the matter with me - why couldn't I cook anything else?!). Poor, undernourished thing that he was...not!

That stuff about healthy diet while bfing pisses me off - it's all part of the "you must be middle class to breastfeed, after all, only the middle classes eat oranges and fish with heads and scales still on" bullshit.

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

Out of interest, did anybody see the backlash on comments in the (sorry) DM for Charlotte Church becomming a breastfeeding champion?

I was surprised at the comments that were on the site.

[GrinningGorilla]

Beansprout, why is the size arguement "stupid". A baby of 6lb is going to feed a lot less than a baby of 12lb. Our body's are not limitless, there is a limit to how much milk we can physically produce, there is not a non stop endless supply.

[beansprout]

There pretty much is, it works on supply and demand.

[LaVieEnRose]

Yes Kirstie may you rot in hell for being in cahoots with a drug baron and pushing heroin onto defenceless babies and their stupid mothers.

Oh hang on, its only formula. So.... what is the problem exactly???