In thinking that Jo Frost should shut the fuck up about breastfeeding

[spudulika]

... as she clearly knows nothing about it.

If you want proof have a look at the new Jo Frost magazine (no need to buy it of course, just do what I do - rifle through it at the supermarket ). Article on breastfeeding 'how long, and when to stop'.

She seems to think that 'weaning' means stopping breastfeeding.

And she feels the need to say 'I'm the biggest fan of breastfeeding, but I don't think mothers should be made to feel like the scum of the earth for not doing it. Whatever choice you make is fine!' To which I want to respond: if I wanted to read vapid platitudes about breastfeeding I'd go to Netmums. It's free. Whereas your magazine costs... bloody loads.

It's just not asseptable.

She needs to pull her socks up.

"I do agree with her though, that mothers who choose not to shouldn't be made to feel bad."

Why not? Breastfeeding should rightly be seen as part and parcel of being pregnant and having a baby. Very few women are unable to breastfeed because of medical reasons. To choose not to do so is selfish and unjustifiable.
(yes I breastfed, for 14 months so know just how difficult, painful and at times inconvenient it is. I also know just how much my daughter benefited and if present research is to be believed will continue to benefit from having a diet that was the best she could possibly have, because it was created uniquely for her)

YANBU because she's putting herself in the position of an expert and giving advice that's detrimental to the best interests of the baby.

The comment about scum of the earth is not a problem but the rest is as with most BF babies it's extremely beneficial to them to continue to have breast milk be the majority of their diet and have a slow introduction to solids.

Many 'experts' give crappy and detrimental breastfeeding advice though, for example she who must not be named!

By slow I really mean at their own pace.

I read her breastfeeding "advice" on her website a while back.

It was really crap.

I complained, but I don't know if they ever changed it.

I really and truly think the breast is best for the baby but if (for whatever reason) the mother just does not want to or can't then really it is not the end of the world. People get far too heated and upset over the debate. I loved breastfeeding mine. Very happy times and memories, I count myself as lucky. At the end of the day though it is up to the individual to make the feeding choices that they feel comfortable and happy with. You can't force someone to do something that for them does not 'work' for want of a better word. For me, Jo Frost is not really saying anything that controversial.

i hardly produced any milk. poor ds was always hungry after a i fed him so had to top him up, as he was never satisfied i swapped to jsut ff he was much happier. that was best for him so bf is not always best

Purple- you have been on Mumsnet before, right?

Good grief purple. I think that's the smuggest post I've ever read on here.

FFS at least she is making BF 'accessible' and seem like a normal, asseptabul ,valid choice for people who perhaps don't come into contact with people who BF in RL. I wouldn't buy her magazine and I don't watch her program. But if you are not a MNer and non of your friends have BF I think talking about getting to 6 months is a good starting point. FWIW I have been in contact with her TV show in my professional capacity and usually the advice she gives is really that of an expert. I work for a very specific mental health organisation and they wanted us to provide them with a child sufferer of the disorder and the advice for her to give the family (even though as we would provide the child, they would already be in contact with us any way IYSWIM). We didn't do it but it would have been good for raising awareness about the disorder

Her advice on this is pretty stupid. And whilst she is right that a few month of bf is great, it's a shame there is not more info on how beneficial extended bf is to babies/toddlers as it might encourage more women to carry on. Unfortunately there is a stigma attached to bf after a certain amount of time - especially the first year - whereas bf after a year has so many benefits to a child but hardly anything is said in mainstream baby mags about it.

Purple is entitled to her opinion ladies! And she is right that most women can bf with the right advice and support - I stress the most, of course not all.

Okay,okay enough with the fucking 'that's a silly argument'.Message received.

"would you only take medical advice from a doctor about a boil on your bum if they had a boil on their bum"

No. But I'd want my doctor to have done proper training on dealing with bum boils.

Jo Frost's qualification for spouting off about breastfeeding? She did an NNEB course about 20 years ago.

T'is a shame really. I usually appreciate her way of making me feel 10 feet tall about my own parenting, by the way she showcases the misery and inadequacy of other families.

"and usually the advice she gives is really that of an expert"

Well - the expert must have been on holiday when this article was being written, so the publisher had to put up with Jo Frost instead.

"But if you are not a MNer and non of your friends have BF I think talking about getting to 6 months is a good starting point"

She has a responsibility to give evidence based and good quality advice. Full-stop. Not confuse women further on this important issue. Especially not vulnerable women.

The main problem with bf advice and information in the UK is the lack of consistency. It undermines women's confidence. She's contributing to that.

Haftermhero - I'm awarding you tonight's prize for delivering the largest number of platitudes in one post.

Re: Jo Frost's size and appearance.

My old dad, who died last year, used to perk up no end when he saw her on tv. My dad used say - 'Blimey, she's a fine figure of a girl!'

I admire lots of things about her. Just not her advice on breastfeeding.

What bupcakes said.

What bupcakes said.

You shouldn't disregard his advice just because he doesn't have kids. That's your choice. When I visit my GP though, I realise that they are not specialists and as such I take their advice and decide whether it is for me or not.

I am just of the mentality, that for some things (not everything) you neec the experience to be able to give advice on it. If someone without kids told me during labour that I could "do it" without pain relief, well HTF do they know? Because other Mum's have done it? Poor argument in my book. I also believe BF is another one. No one knows how difficult it is. And someone who has no personal experience of painful nipples, baby won't latch, gorged boobs, giving advice on BF-well in my opinion is not one to give advice.

Expelliarmus The WHO recommends to BF for 2years -true. However, WHO stands for World Health Organisation and as such covers the world. They recommend 2 years as this includes third world countries where there is no clean water and food shortages. So kids with breastmilk for 2 years would stand a better chance of not dying in infancy. In developed countries like the UK there is no need to BF until age two, as we have access to clean drinking water and a healthy range of food. If mothers choose to BF that is their choice.

I BF my DS until 8 months, BTW.

Love it Bumcakes! That's exactly what I wanted to say.

Re: Purple - exactly what Bupcakes said!

Seriously, when are people going to stop poking their noses in to what other people feed their kids?

Feed them from your breast or feed them from a bottle.

Just do what's right for them and you and stop giving a crap about other people's choices.

It's all a load of bollocks in a lot of cases anyway considering so many kids are obese by the time they start Infant school.

Clearly a lot of parents (even the santimonious ones) don't get it right once their kids are weaned.

Does she really have a magazine? Who buys this shite?