What do we think of Kirstie Allsopp's link with SMA?

[hunkermunker]

I am slightly less than utterly unimpressed You?

And yes, of course, it's her decision, yada-yada, but what a shit decision it was.

Kirstie, I knock walls down in your general direction.

DS was on the 99.8th percentile till a year old and was exclusively bf for 6 months (he was 6lb 5oz at 35 weeks and well over 10lbs by his due date). My brother was 10lb 11oz and exc bf for 4 months (this was 38 years ago though) - no formula though.

i thought there was a limitless supply.. hence mothers can feed twins, triplets, tandem feed a newborn and toddler...

sure, some babies will feed a hell of a lot more, but the best way for supply to meet demand is to put baby to breast as often as possible, and try to avoid topping up especially in the early weeks, as it can interfere with establishing supply

i think we are generally surprised at how much a baby , especially a new born, needs to feed

Not when you only have one boob that produces milk and your baby is taking roughly 8 ounces every 1 1/2 hours. I'm afraid it doesn't work to that extent.

I hate fish. I hate shellfish.
Ds seems to be doing alright thus far!
That diet is simply what EVERYONE should be following - i.e. a healthy diet to maintain weight and to feel well - it's not specifically for bf mums!
Well except I think for the pint of milk - and certainly the Vit D supplement is unnecessary unless you are a vampire
Except for the peanut bit I guess... though I ate Snickers bars through pg and still do!

Why would a 6lb baby feed less than a 12lb baby? The 6lb baby would likely feed more frequently, having a smaller stomach and all.

GG, I read a theory we produce enough milk for twins initially (hence the engorgement in the early days) and once your breasts work out you're only feeding one baby, they adjust accordingly.

How would people successfully breastfeed twins and triplets (and they do) if your body's not designed to produce enough milk for an 11lb baby, a baby that your body grew?

Can this thread not degenerate into how much milk babies of various sizes need, please - it's for slating Kirstie A

Who is the Kirstie Allsop? Never heard of her?

There kind of is a non-stop endless supply - if that supply has been given the chance to establish properly in the first place and there are no physiological reasons that might limit it.

It's just supply and demand - a baby that feeds a lot stimulates the breasts to produce a lot.

GG, many big babies naturally drop down the centiles until the hit and stay on the right one for them. Clearly anecdotal evidence here shows that feeding big babies is possible, sometimes with help and support and sometimes naturally.

sorry this wasn't your experience and you didn't get more support to help you get your supply well enough established to BF exclusively.

but GG - even 6lb babies reach 12lb (and more) at some stage - some quicker than others (in the case of my - exclusively BF - DS1)

BT....the "location, location, location" presenter.

She needs the money??

gg, it sounds like you had a very difficult time

i thikn th epoint is, not how much babies need to breastfeed, but that here is anotehr sleb endorsement of formula...

My only opinion of Kirsty Alsop is that she is very good at looking at houses for other people. Goodnight ladies. Have a good evening.

Night, gg.

I don't want to slag off Kirstie. She has nice posh shoes and uses parasols. But I fear she has Let Me Down.

Ok, back to the point - Kirstie, shame on you, but then again, what did I expect from a Tory? (I know that is not logical but it makes sense in my world )

GG there is a mother who breastfed sextuplets.

so erm, I think that it can be done. boobs are wonderful things

sextuplets? Wow, that puts ds2's current growth spurt into perspective!

and actually there is a non-stop endless supply. your body is constantly producing milk. and if you feed more and more then it will produce more and more.

I never get why people say they can't feed their "big" newborn.
I exclusively fed a giant 20lb 6 month old

yes it doesn't surprise me she is in cahoots with DC so I suppose SMA shouldn't be that shocking

GG, women can feed twins or triplets, etc from birth without supplementation. Our bodies are primed to produce a lot of milk right off the bat because our hormones doesn't know if we had 1 or 4 babies.

Likewise irregardless of weight, on day 1, a baby's stomach is the size of a shooter marble, it can hold about 5-7 ml of colostrum.

A 6 pound baby does not have a stomach that is 33% smaller than that of a 9lb baby just because he weighs 33% less.

I cannot say what your babies needed because I don't know your situation but more often than not, babies need to be kept close and fed as often as they cue for a feed. In the first few days, in order to bring your milk in, it can be quite often. But the more often they are fed, the earlier it seems to bring your milk in. sorry if you already know this. just thinking of the others who may be reading and may be curious too.

So, not Lactation, Lactation, Lactation then?

lol md

Cheers Daisy - never watch it.
Far too busy MNing to watch daytime TV
Like to know what's happening to my grammar.

There is a lady at my bumps & babies class who is exbf her dd who was nearly 11lb born and grew at a great rate of knots - she is off the top of the growth charts! Obviously her mum did make enough milk, though we used to joke she must have been taking steroids
GG - the past is the past, your three kids, I assume, are doing great. You were given advice by health professionals, who are supposed to know what they are talking about, so of course you take it! Sadly it turns out that some of these professionals can be as badly informed as the average joe on the street. Believe me I know!

So has anyone actually watched the SMA video that Kirstie introduces, or are we all just slagging her off before seeing it?

My husband and I watched it 5 months late admittidly, but actually it didn't over complicate anyting and didn't ram formula down your throats.

Oh, and btw, not all of us are able to exclusively breastfeed so the content was very useful.

I suspect that Kirstie has enough money for this not to have been her only motivation. Just thought I'd give a different point of view.