Annabel Karmel, not content with making weaning sound complicated, has turned her hand to breastfeeding

[hunkermunker]

Words fail me

And yes, there are snippets in there that are true/useful - but HOW you dredge through the stuff that's unnecessary/nice to have but not essential - who knows?!

No, it's not bad to promote healthy eating at all - but it could be worded better IMO, ie, your body will make good quality milk whatever you eat, but all mums (or everybody) benefit from a healthy diet as it will make you more alert, resilient to colds etc - especially important when lack of sleep is an issue as you will be more run down. But really in those early days you just need to eat, not worry about what you are eating and whether it's healthy or balanced! It's too easy when your baby is tiny to go the whole day on a mouthful of tea (before it went cold) and maybe two slices of cold unbuttered toast (which you stuck in the toaster in a second when they weren't crying). And (if you have lovely friends) chocolate .

My health visitor said when my baby was 4 months old that he wasn't gaining weight quickly enough and asked if I was rushing about and forgetting to eat lunch or breakfast (I was missing both ) and insinuated that my milk wouldn't be enough for him if I wasn't eating and I ought to give him baby rice. I am I was told this because it wasn't true! I'm sure lots of mums are told similar or come to their own conclusions and begin to use top-up feeds.

theres some info in this who document about increased need for calories

www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5686e/y5686e00.htm

I think that any of you who care to get off your bandwagons will find that there has always been bf information on AK's site.

All she has done here is used someone else to supply the content. CBC may be controversial with her methods and I have to say that i don't agree with what she is saying but I really think that all of this personal attack of AK is out of order.
CBC has her own website and a best selling book - so the AK site can hardly be accused of being 'out there' with its content now can it?
There are plenty of places where her 'advice' can be found by mums.

I agree with gussymooloo, if you actually take the time to look the site you will see that this is just the start of a series of experts that are adding content - giving their opinion on their own 'expert' subject.

The real truth here is that no matter how we all feel about it CBC has helped mums to feed. We don't know the ins and outs of those circumstances and so should not be so scathing.

I find it very depressing that a group of 'friendly mums' can turn so readily into a lynch mob. The attacks on AK have been personal and completely unnecessary.
If you don't like what she does - simply don't buy her books. But lay off the insults - it is childish.

powerkitty, she is putting out bad information, and as responsible members of society, we care about that.

There may be mums who CBC has helped, but there are undoubtedly mums who have been put off feeding by her poor advice.

The advice on pumping by CBC, on AKs website is incorrect and damaging. Shame on them both.

gussy, thing is she only promotes her brand really....doesn't she...which is why she doesn't really care if the advice she gives is all correct....indeed, anyone wihtout the knowledge shouldn't really give it out, certainly not under the veil of proffessionism....

Fair lady, her website is full of easy to cook recipies, yes you can buy stuff for weaning if you want, but as far as cooking goes they are healthy recipies for free?? im really not seeing the issue.... her baby recipes arent just for babies either they are just normal cooked from scratch foods which unfortunately in this day and age people cant cook or dont have the time to... and yes when they start weaning they start learning to cook...

i think its positive, you can get her books out the libiary and off the website for free, so no shes not all about money or promoting her own brand... Jamie Oliver has more "merchandise" to buy at alot more money..

There is another expert advising on bfing aswell on the site, but no mention of her advise? there are links to all different bfing charities and websites for more info, and tbh alot of the info is standard practise is it not? it seems that people have a downer on the whole thing because they dont like CBC, sorry if im wrong.

the problem is, that whilst a lot of those shitey myths are being spread, by all and sundry, doesn't make them anymore factual right...but, if this info is wrapped up as part of a proffessional package, then myths become harmful, because they seem so much more believable....
if people want to promote bf and give advise they should make sure it is factually right...

Have you looked at the updated site?

Whats soooo bad with the information?

And on the unicef website theres alot of info about bfing mums healthy diet and how they are promoting this in third world countries.. wow its facinating reading

direct quote:

"If your baby is unsettled and is not gaining the right amount of weight, he is not getting enough milk and you need to find out whether this is because your supply is low or because he is not sucking well enough to get all the milk out. You can establish which it is by offering a top-up immediately after he has finished feeding on the breast; if he drinks some milk this shows that he wanted more than he got from the breast. You could use a breast pump to see how much milk was left in the breast compared with how much he took from the bottle. If you can easily express the same amount your supply is fine and it is his feeding that is the problem. In this case, you need to check whether he is latched on correctly and staying awake for long enough to take a full feed. If you can?t express any milk, then your supply is almost certainly low.

If you are still struggling then a simple way of checking is to substitute several breast feeds with a bottle and then use the pump to see how much milk you can express at each feed compared with the amount he took from the bottle."

Now, I am not saying I know all there is to know...but the above is tosh and detrimental and will lead to a mum loosing confidence in her supply....
just one example...

gussy, the mum's diet will affect her own health, not the quality of the milk.

oh and this is Mythsbusting on that website :
"4. A baby will always get more milk out of a breast than a pump.
Not true! Most good breast pumps are very effective at emptying a breast and will often do a far better job than a sleepy baby. I regularly express milk at the end of a feed when the baby won?t suck any more on the breast but is still hungry and unsettled - the baby will then take this milk from a bottle.

1. If you can?t express any milk, your breasts must be empty.

This is generally correct. A pump normally gives a pretty good indication of your milk supply: the more milk you can express, the more you have; the less milk you express, the less you have. But if you are one of the very few mothers can never express any milk (even before a feed when you know your breasts are full), using a pump to see how much milk is in your breasts is clearly not an option."

Both points rubbish, no...???

Ive already said that the expressing bit was dodgy, they have added abit to it now saying that some women cant get milk by pumping..

buts its not cut and dry is it? that does happen to be true for some women... btw im not saying thats the best advice but its certainly not the worst ive heard...

Thats just as important Wastingmyeduation, twas my point

well...but it's kinda sad to say, well, because t isn't the worst it doesn't matter....it still cold make life harder for a desperate Breastfeeding mum....and that does matter...

on the Healthy Diet thing...well...I suppose that theoretically every human being would benefit from that, it's not exclusive to breastfeeding, is it....thing is, as a bf mum you do not necessarily eat more, because whilst you do need more calories to bf, well, most women do sort of accumulate some fat (naturally) throughout pg , which, than, theoretically should be burned off when bf not that that always works....

You said for optimum supply earlier.

yes a healthy mum makes an optimum supply of milk, never mentioned the quality of milk

It's nonsense, FairLady, I agree. I don't think "personal attacks" are unfair in this context - it's AK's website and so she's responsible for the information it contains. CBC is a loon but that's a side issue.

Incorrect or inaccurate information is bad, of course, but the trouble with the BF info on the website is that it is potentially harmful. And AK is in a position of responsibility because as a brand she is possibly seen as an "expert" by some mums and therefore there's likely to be an assumption that information she promotes is correct.

Personally the last place I would go for BFing advice would be a profit-making organisation, but let's be honest here - many mums won't think like that and will be quite confident that the crap advice to be had on AK's site (possibly in conjunction with the "suggestions" they've had from family, friends or less-than-knowledgeable HCPs) is correct. They then toddle off to buy some formula because they can't express a gallon within ten seconds and their poor baby is apparently starving. It's a final nail in the coffin for the process of BFing which is so easily undermined by knocks to your confidence.

Also, I am highly sceptical about this sudden interest in BFing from AK. She must really hate the new guidelines about exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months, non?

but optimum supply of milk is irrelevant to milksupply!
Otherwise 3rd world very underweight, starving women would not be able to make milk....fact is they do...because the Body will take from the mother no matter what her own nourishment status is....
It is of coursse not a optimal situation....but...

so, what you are saying is NOT the same as what wasting is saying...the healthy diet is so that the mum feels better physically, etc...

im looking at the positives

lots of good advice (ok not all to everyones liking..and a different perspective on bfing advice,) great healthy recipes, links to other BF sites/info

:O

problem is, unless you know beforehand a lot about bf, you won't be able to know which bit to take and which to throw out as bad advice...

Fairlady, sorry im abit confused? (easily done..)

what i am saying is when people are healthy etc their bodies are working at an advantagein third world countrys bf rates are poor after 4-6months for many reasons but one being the mums ability to keep producing enough milk, hence the project to keep them eating well...

im not saying if people dont eat right they cant bf... im just all for everyone eating better!

The standard BF advice is out there, but it doesnt work for everyone (didnt for me) so some people value a different opinion.

I think the scary thing for me when i started was everyone elses opinios of "doing it right"..

Im all for following babies lead

actually the reason why bf problems exist in 3rd world countries is that Formula is aggessively marketed over there...but that is a whole other debate!

it is certainly better for maternal health to have a good health, but as far as I am aware it has nothing to do with supply....however, I have not really been actively interested in bf for a fair few years, as my bf'days have been over for 4 years now, so, maybe there are other statistics....

the think is, that mythical facts don't do anyone a favour, if someone has a problem with bf, they need to seek help from someone who realy knows (i.e. bfc's lactation consultant...)....halftruths aren't going to make a positive impact....there is a difference between sharing what workes for you and therefore suggesting to someone els that it could help for them and someone giving out crap advice for money...