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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

grrrr Clare B-C on Jezza Vine

28 replies

pookamoo · 22/07/2013 13:09

I shouldn't listen, I really shouldn't.

"there are some problems that can't be fixed" That in itself is true, of course, but she'd just said that "lots" of women are unable to bf. Which goes against medical evidence. And historical, why is it that our generation suddenly unable to do it when our ancestors would have died out if that were true!

Not looking for a BF/FF debate. I am totally pro choice. I believe women need more support and information if they want to BF.

Just WHY is misinformation spread so much? It helps nobody.

OP posts:
ByHecuba · 22/07/2013 13:43

Sounds depressingSad
My friend who has recently had a baby said her midwife had told her to feed her newborn 10 minutes on both sides so baby would not 'mess around' on the boob. She is now ffing completely after her milk supply dwindled (she wanted to do mixed-feeding from the start). I felt angry for her because she was given crap advice by medical professionals and by the time she told me, she had already had to stop bfing.

If she has another, I will probably say something, but there is no sense bringing it up when it will probably just make her feel worse.

There is still so much misinformation out there; it's no wonder women 'fail' when we are still being given advice from thirty years ago.

mrsmartin1984 · 22/07/2013 14:02

It makes me so cross when everyone seems to think that most women can't BF. Of course they can!!! Placing doubt in women's mind is prob the main cause of issues. How do people believe the human race exist if we were not able to feed our young. We are mammals, that's why we have mammary glands.

I was told time and time again that my milk supply was low by several different health professionals. Which is such a horrible thing to say, to tell a mother that she is basically staving her child. It completely made me paranoid, and I used to weight her so often. I was obsessed by her weight.

IcouldstillbeJoseph · 22/07/2013 14:06

A friend said to me at the weekend that she "couldn't believe my DD (6mo) doing so well on just breast milk"

I said I was more surprised that we could keep them alive out of a tin! But it goes to show the total erosion of the trust in bf. I am never surprised that the BF rates are so low

tiktok · 22/07/2013 14:22

You mean 'well-known breastfeeding expert' Clare Byam Cook, pookamoo?

Hmm
mrsmartin1984 · 22/07/2013 14:31

This muppet?

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1022083/No-breast-ISNT-best-baby--extremists-tell-you.html

"Byam-Cook also disagrees with the theory that virtually all women are capable of breastfeeding."

Then comparing women to dairy cattle. Lovely.

I am not a cow, I am not just churning milk out, I am nurturing my child

HorryIsUpduffed · 22/07/2013 14:31

1% of women is still a lot of women.

But yes, hugely annoying.

AmandaPandtheTantrumofDoom · 22/07/2013 14:34

I have zero respect for Clare BC Her advice is dire and her attitude towards breastfeeding is basically revulsion (if continued past her self proscribed deadline of a few months). She has nothing worthwhile to say IMO.

I fully respect any woman's right to choose not to bf, for any or no reason. But those who want to should get a better deal.

Phineyj · 22/07/2013 14:38

I think probably a lot of babies did just weaken and die in the past when there were problems with feeding. The breastmilk was also probably poor quality if the mother was malnourished.

Personally I think bf is a lot more difficult than some people like to make out, so it is asking quite a lot to expect a woman to suffer many difficulties when a good alternative exists.

Disclaimer: I did not hear the programme which was no doubt facile, uninformed and irritating like the rest of the show!!

DuelingFanjo · 22/07/2013 16:57

I heard this. She said that some lambs need to be bottle fed. I don't think she mentioned those those lambs have usually lost their mother and it's not like the farmer a. goes about checking if the lambs are able to latch or b. is interested in anything other than having baby lambs to kill/shear later.

FFS

She said lots of women don't have enough milk which is really bollox.

mrsmartin1984 · 22/07/2013 17:01

Surely supplementing with formula is the main cause for low supply.

Original poster
pookamoo · 22/07/2013 17:29

Yes,tiktok that one Hmm

Made me shout at the radio!

It was a segment in connection with the Duchess of Cambridge.

OP posts:
tiktok · 22/07/2013 17:33

LOL @ Farmer Giles going round checking Mama Ewe's latch :) :) :)

Lambs are sometimes rejected by the mother for some reason and she refuses to feed them.

This is not normally the case with humans.

0 out of 10 for rubbish analogy, CBC :)

TheDeadlyDonkey · 22/07/2013 17:34

Is that the same Clare Byam-Cook who likened breastmilk with coca-cola?
Yes, she really knows her stuff doesn't she.......
Hmm

Original poster
pookamoo · 22/07/2013 17:38

What gets me is that people are paying her HUGE sums of money for her advice, which is outdated and just plain wrong!
If I hear that Kate and William have employed her, I will be very disappointed. :(

OP posts:
TallulahBetty · 22/07/2013 17:41

In history, many babies DID die if the mother was unable to BF. Ok so only 1% are unable to, but 1% of 30 million women (and that's just the UK!) is a lot of women.

rindercella · 22/07/2013 17:43

I heard this too and knew there'd be a thread about itGrin

The breast feeding expert, who expertly says that she knows a dairy farmer and he told her some of his cows don't produce milk. So of course, by her expert deduction that means that loads of women can't either. Twat.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 22/07/2013 17:45

I read a blog by a person who saw her talk at a baby show and she, C B C, apparently likened bf babies to crocodiles.or alligators. Can't find the link at the mo, grrr at me

mrsmartin1984 · 22/07/2013 17:50

I hate comparing women to cows. It really demeaning to women breastfeeding. Cows aren't supposed to produce milk. They are bread to over produce milk. Those who fail to make the grade are not economical enough and therefore put down. Relevance?

recall · 22/07/2013 17:51

I am one of the 1%?

Could NOT do it. Placed Baby on breast - Baby didn't suck it.

Tried for weeks and weeks, tried everything, worked with HV, MW and LaLeche?there was not a single thing that I didn't try. It broke my heart.

I did produce milk, and expressed every drop for 6 months for all three of my children. Sad They just wouldn't take it from me.

Some women CAN"T breast feed !!!!!

tiktok · 22/07/2013 18:21

recall this is true - there are some mothers and babies who never get bf going for mysterious reasons - could be something to do with the mother, something to do with the baby, something to do with the way they (don't) get it together.

It's wonderful you found an alternative and I hope your heart healed. Because it so sad when mothers long to bf and it doesn't happen for them.

There's a lot we don't know about breastfeeding yet, but we do know that human lactation is not like the domestic milchcow, or like sheep, or like dogs or duck-billed platypuses or kangaroos or dolphins....apart from anything else we have more complex emotional feelings, expectations, hopes and fears, and all of that is part of the mothering experience.

midori1999 · 22/07/2013 18:21

recall, I would argue that you did actually breastfeed, albeit not actually from the breast. Sorry that was difficult for you though. Sad

I think the 1% refers to women who don't produce any milk, the percentage of women who produce some milk, but maybe not enough seems to be higher.

People like CBC don't really do much to help the women that want to breastfeed, because one of the biggest reasons for giving up before women want to is perceived lack of milk supply, so going round saying loads of women can't breastfeed just isn't helpful, it undermines already under often under confident women. Sad

Original poster
pookamoo · 23/07/2013 23:08

Apparently, she is the Sky News resident expert too now. Who is her agent?!!!

Sorry to hear your story, recall. I don't dispute that there are of course some mothers who cannot breastfeed (although I agree with midori in terms of milk production). CBC just goes on about it being LOADS of women, when actually, it isn't!

OP posts:
Splatt34 · 23/07/2013 23:20

I haven't seen her nor ever heard what she has to say. Many women, i would dare to say the majority struggle to breast feed for a variety of reasons. Some aren't prepared for the utter relentlessNess of it, for some it can't fit with what they want for their lifestyle. For some, like me, no mater what you try your baby continues to loose weight / barely gain & mix feeding is the best answer.

Don't judge people who 'can't' breast feed unless you have walked in their shoes. We all do what is best for out DCs / family / sanity & wwhatever Will& Kate decide none of us will ever know how trufly difficult their situation must be.

AmandaPandtheTantrumofDoom · 23/07/2013 23:26

We aren't judging youSad . we are saying that CBC claims to help those exact women to bf, but does not. She spouts myths that are detrimental to anyone trying to bf.

tiktok · 23/07/2013 23:52

Splatt, where is the judging? No one is judging women who don't breastfeed, for whatever reason.

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