contradictory advice on the nhs

[oranges]

Hi,
Just musing really - there are so many cases here of gps and health visitors giving wrong advice on breastfeeding, and my friend said her gp sounded horrified when she said she had not weaned her ds at 5 months. Doesn;t it make it impossible to make informed decision on raising children, and doesn't it make you wonder if other advice given out by medical professionals, on non baby related matters, is equally confusing and/or wrong.

With regards to bf ... I really wanted to and was encouraged by all health professionals to keep trying. But dd was 5 weeks early and simply wasn't interested. When I finally conceded defeat and gave up at 3 weeks all hps told me it was the best thing I could have done and how brave I was to have stopped Sometimes I think that they have to toe the line, even if they don't think it's the right thing to do. Doesn't make it very easy to make a good choice does it?!

I think medicine/health are arts, not truly science.

it is especially bad for the new mother as at no time do you feel more anxious, worried and under pressure to do the absolute best thing for your LO.

The books contradict the midwives, who disagree with the HV and the doctors, and dont even listen to your IL s!!!!!!

Doctors are human, they don't get it right all the time

I get advice from as many different sources as poss ( drs, relatives, mumsnet) and then make an informed decision.
Had to complain to the GMC about a dr once-- but that doesn't mean I distrust all drs.

Doctors get sh*te education about nutrition and breastfeeding, too. The different types of health care professionals are very specialised, and so take different perspectives on the same situations. Doesn't help.

god, bj, hope you are ok, that sounds like a situation I never want to be in...

It does work best to get a concensus, and take the average/most popular answer!

doctors are worst at sexual health...my sis was a nurse in an STD clinic
she called it an 'eye watering' experience...

It was quite a while ago and the doctor was suspended so I still hvae faith in the system-- your sister must have some tales to tell!