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MNHQ

Speaking at Unicef conference on "Mumsnet and feeding: What are women talking about?" Help needed:)

103 replies

carriemumsnet · 16/11/2011 11:35

I'm giving a talk at the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Annual Conference next week in Liverpool and could do with some help. The title is "Mumsnet and feeding: What are women talking about?" and I want to give examples of best and worst practice.

I don't want it to turn into a 'them and us' experience and be over critical, but at the same time I want to give an honest reflection of people's experiences of deciding whether to breast or bottle feed, trying to carry on breastfeeding, starting feeding, weaning etc - and a highlight what helped you, what worked, what we can encourage and how we can work together with health professionals - as well as give examples of worst practice, and case studies of what absolutely doesn't work and needs to be addressed.

If there's anything else you'd like me to say in addition to this, please feel free to post it here. I can't guarantee I'll include everything, but it's always useful to have anecdotes and experiences for the Q and A session!

If anyone's attending the conference - do come and say hello - it'll be good to see a (hopefully) friendly face:)

OP posts:
JugglingWithGoldandMyrhh · 16/11/2011 11:44

It didn't hurt me - only problem (more or less) was getting them to stop at 4.5 and 6 yrs (yes, that's right !) respectively. Hmm

Lots of discussion on BLW thread ATM.
Wise voices (like mine?) suggesting perhaps there might be a middle path rather than all these extremes !
HTH !

MNHQ
carriemumsnet · 16/11/2011 11:40

Really good point - I've already got in my talk that they need to say it hurts at first till you all get used to it - sometimes even if you're doing it right, or if you've done it wrong and then do it right. Know some disagree, but if you warn folks it might hurt a bit at the beginning, but once you both get the hang it becomes really easy, I think they might persevere more. Do shout though if you disagree - that was just a personal view!

OP posts:
Hullygully · 16/11/2011 11:37

I think the most important thing is that people should tell the truth. Tell mothers that if you are going to bf, it pretty much takes over their lives for the first few months and they should be prepared with a big pile of books and a lot of dvds. I knew, because a friend had warned me, but I think in the desire to (rightly) encourage bfing, the reality gets glossed over and contributes to why so many give up.

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