....to be feeling unfairly got at?

[breastbadger]

At the weekend, I put a ink to this blog as my fb status. I'm a local peer supporter and do feel strongly about the shocking media coverage that this has generated, but have honesty NEVER made any judgey / derogatory / ff-bashing comments online or in rl.

I'm also a Neonatal nurse, so part of my job is gently supporting women in any feeding choice they make.

So......I was a bit surprised to get this email from a male friend. This is it, nothing edited out. Apparently a letter in The Times.

AIBU for being a bit pissed off? Was my link really that offensive? Is friend having a dig or not?

Women are rarely given sensible tips on establishing breastfeeding during ante-natal classes

Sir, In an ideal world every baby would breastfeed and reap the enormous benefits from the process. But it?s not that simple. When people take up polarised positions, all they are doing is to make it more difficult for mothers (report, Jan 15).
Women are rarely given sensible tips on establishing breastfeeding during ante-natal classes. Instead of simple guidance, they are sold an illusion of warm bonding with the baby while breastfeeding.
As a paediatrician, I constantly see this struggle mothers go through. When you are feeling vulnerable, any head-shaking is seen as terrible criticism. This is when an unbiased view is helpful, not shrill badgering.
Dr Shyla Jehangir
Cockermouth, Cumbria

I also think you are brilliant AA, and it was with the BEST of intentions that I shared the link on fb. That's why I was surprised to have riled someone.
Really, keep up the good work. Please.

Right, really off to bed now.

Yeaahh...experience..

I personally don't know why anyone would go to such lengths, as this analytical armadillo has, to defend DOH's guidelines of weaning after six months of being exclusively breasfed. Surely a mother knows her baby best, and after all, guidelines are exactly that, a guide not a rule. There'll always be new scientific evidence that picks apart previous evidence, and it should weighed up and taken into full consideration.

I followed BLISS guidelines as my DD was 6weeks prem, which is,

"We recommend that weaning starts when your baby is between five and seven months old, the age they are from their birth date and not from their corrected age date."

So I started my DD on solids at 5.5 months (mostly BLW on homecooked food, not jars). Could it not be said that just as every prem baby has different needs, so has every term baby?

I treat most government guidleines on nutrition, both baby and adult, with a pinch of salt and think my family are lot healthier for it.

Totally agree Rev you know your baby best...a guide is just that..

Rev do you really think that 'a mother knows her baby best' holds any weight these days? Oh no, unless you are following strict WHO guidelines, you are at best stupid and at worst a shit mother.

I, for example, am a shit mother

fuck me!! I must be a shit mother too

The breast vs bottle and weaning arguments are just so ott in my opinion. As long as basic safety is met (no solids pre 4 months, correct sterilisation and preparation of formula) I'm not sure why we are encouraging women families to tie themselves in knots over it.

The message should be left at:
Breastfeeding in the first 6 months is likely to have some positive health effects for women and their babies. There should be support for women who choose this option. Formula feeding will not harm your baby. There should be support for women who choose this option. It is unlikely that anyone could tell the difference between a breastfed or formula fed baby by the time they reach adulthood.

Is there really any need to keep researching infant feeding methods above and beyond the research already available? It does actually feel like a way to bash women from both sides.