Conflicting advice (kind of X-posted)

[lindenlass]

Can you help? I'm trying to do a bit of informal research into conflicting advice. I'm wondering what sort of conflicting advice you've had about breastfeeding a very young babies (maybe ways of solving a particular problem you've encountered) and who you've had it from? Different friends/your parents/your parents-in-law/different HVs/books?

Thanks so much for any help :-)

ps. Posting this on sleep about that issue too!

i had a breastfeeding councillor tell me to switch dd over from one breast to the other after 10 minutes. she was premature, it took me ages to establish feeding with her. finally got told by someone else to let her take the whole breast before switching her other, trouble was she kept falling asleep.

In hosp mwives said 'if it hurts he's not latched on properly, it shouldn't hurt' (what planet were they on?) Community mwives said its toe curling it does hurt!
Also, had conflicting advice re the single side feeding thing and offering both breasts at each feed.

I was on IV antibiotics for cellulitis in my breast and breast abcesses the midwives were telling me it was ok to breastfeed but the doctors were saying I shouldn't.

I've come across loads of conflicting advice about bf...

The bf counsellor Clare Byam-Cook (wrote What To Do When You're Breastfeeding... and what if you can't) contradicts lots of the advice I was given by MWs in hospital. For example she says the 'nose to nipple' positioning is a load of rubbish and you should aim the nipple straight into the baby's mouth. Also she says that nipple-teat confusion is a myth and that you should definitely give your baby a bottle in the first 3 weeks so they get used to both.

I've never been able to work out which is the correct advice on either of those issues!

Also - when I was in hospital the MWs were all really helpful about bf advice but did contradict each other. For example, one told me to push a finger into the side of my breast to ensure dd could breathe through her nose... others told me definitely not to do that because I'd create a blockage which could lead to mastitis.

linden, spend a couple of hours reading this folder, and you will find enormous quantities of conflicting advice on breastfeeding. In fact, you may not get many replies to your thread because mumsnet posters have already shared their stories.

Conflicting advice is a constant; as you suggest, HVs, midwives, books and family can come up with mutually contradictory suggestions, and poor mum is in the middle

definitely the "advice" about which breast to use - was told to keep baby on one breast at each feed so she gets hind milk. Was also told baby must feed from both breasts at each feed

Both are wrong.... In fact, the baby is the best guide - so always offer the second side at least at first, so she can accept or refuse it Being dogmatic about one side or two is a sure sign the person giving the advice is poorly trained....IMO.