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Exclusive BF for 6 months may be harmful

713 replies

Longtalljosie · 14/01/2011 07:02

Oh bloody hell Hmm

The problem is it's only one study but will be seized on even if later it's put into context.

The other problem is the way it implies that breastfeeding is in some way a problem.

The third problem is the possibility they might turn out to be right, because I loved BLW and want to do it again...

I can hear certain members of my wider family from here...

OP posts:
wonderstuff · 14/01/2011 14:28

WHO article very helpful thank you theidsalright

MrsTeddy · 14/01/2011 14:29

Skiiing Gardener - I'm sorry but you're wrong; that's what the Dept of Health advice says. The WHO advice is clearly six months, it doesn't mention four - www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs342/en/index.html. This is why this subject is so confusing!!

Avantia · 14/01/2011 14:32

This whole thing makes me laugh , I have two aged 10 yrs and 8 rs , both weaned around 14-16wks . Both fit adn well and no food allergies.

I remeber being on Mumsnet once and there being discussions about the 6 month guidleines and how dangerous and silly it was too wean at 4 months and look where we are now !

I think the 4 - 6 month window is a good guideline. The Governments of this country say that each child is an unique and should be treated and as an indiddual to their needs and development when plugging Early Years but then on other hand they are lumping all children together to say you must not wean before 6 months or must wean at 4 months.

Each child is unique , one size doesnot fit all.

lets just see what we are discussing in 5 yrs time Grin

mamatomany · 14/01/2011 14:37

Interesting that the link between delayed cord cutting and increased iron gets practically no media attention whatsoever!

Isn't that because they want you to donate the cord blood though, I had a heated "discussion" with somebody who thought she was doing a marvelous thing donating her child's cord blood, I pointed out that it was to the determent of her own baby though, she wasn't happy.

Zola78 · 14/01/2011 14:39

I think this sometimes the problem with parenting in the modern age. We (including myself) rely so much on experts rather than intuition. Experts have their place as does scientific research but the way we read up and research things rather than relying on what we think, what we can see has in my opinion gone too heavily the other way.

I wish when I had my first that I would have just read the signs instead of reading incessantly, going online constantly and asking everyone I knew. By my 4th child I had learnt to trust myself.

MrsKitty · 14/01/2011 14:44

So...The best 'experts' that the BBC could get to discuss this 'newspiece' were Clare Byam Cook on BBC Breakfast, and Claire Fucking Verity (from that awful Bringing Up Baby show from a few years ago) on Radio 2 this afternoon. Hmm. FFS.

And as for whoever that was standing in for Jeremy Vine earlier (Richard?) Shock Hmm - when the caller mentioned that she was still feeding her 4 yr old his reaction sounded as if he thought that was completely bizarre. (Although I did wonder why the discussion had moved from weaning to BF/FF debate anyway) Confused

allbie · 14/01/2011 14:45

I can't imagine that most intelligent folk would regard breastfeeding as detrimental? All mammals lactate for the same reason!
Zola78, I have always thought 3rd and 4th children have the real bonus of our experience!

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 14/01/2011 14:46

mamatomany - some hospitals won't let you donate the cord blood. UCH wouldn't a few years ago. I don't think there is a central plan to collect it.

Porcelain · 14/01/2011 14:46

The media coverage of this is very irresponsible. How many confused mothers will be switching to iron "enriched" growing up milk or rushing out to buy pots of baby food. It's very misleading.

As for the science, I'm not convinced, there's no new evidence, it's a review (like WHO would have done, but much smaller), and considering the authors' background, it would be entirely possible for them to pick and choose the studies that supported their view. I've worked in medical research and it is very hard to be unbiased, and very easy to find evidence to support any stance you want.

My little one will still be BLW when he is ready, probably a couple of weeks before 6 months as he is already sitting and nomming on everything in sight.

SantasMooningArse · 14/01/2011 14:52

It's all crap

All you can do is follow the advice that is current when you have your DC to the best of your abilities (eg we weaned ds4 at 5 months on Paeditric advice) - there's no point worrying about future research or info. You'll go slightly mad if you do.

Quenelle · 14/01/2011 14:58

MrsKitty ref Shock at the woman who said she breastfeeds her 4 year old, I heard that too. It was Matthew Bannister. And he was completely unable to stop the discussion turning into BF vs FF. The Jeremy Vine show always winds me up though, I only hear it because it's on in the car if I go out at lunchtime.

This is how the Independent is reporting it Too much breastfeeding 'puts children off greens'.

The Independent is my newspaper of choice but this has really irritated me. What a ridiculous headline.

southofthethames · 14/01/2011 15:01

My health visitor always advised watching your baby to see if he/she needed solids earlier - the WHO advice is the same......nobody ever advised witholding solids till it was exactly 182 days! The no solids before 17 weeks advice is right. And the iron deficiency advice has been in the Dept of Health advice all along - for some the best measure might be giving vitamins, for others, adding formula to breastfeeding (or using formula to make up infant cereal).

The most important thing is make sure your child has the best nutrition rather than what other mums or parents think. A child with a few allergies is preferable to a dead child or a child brain damaged by malnutrition (vitamin B12 and iron defiency, if you are asking.)

latrucha · 14/01/2011 15:04

I've complained to the Today programme about their coverage.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 14/01/2011 15:05

That's a great headline - the point of a headline is to get you to notice it, buy the paper and look at the ads.

They aren't meant to inform.

ohnanaWHATSMYNAMEohnana · 14/01/2011 15:11

oh ffs i nearly killed myself ex bf for 6 months and now there saying this!

Heathcliffscathy · 14/01/2011 15:12

it's all at cross purposes isn't it?

basically earlier (than 6 months) introduction of food (esp allergens) whilst continuing with breastmilk as the main source of calories and nutrition seems to me to be the way to go, however, clearly this is a subtle message that the DoH will struggle to convey (esp given that because the message changes constantly they have no credibility)

x

Heathcliffscathy · 14/01/2011 15:13

sorry didn't mean to kiss you all at the end of that! don't know what came over me!

TheSkiingGardener · 14/01/2011 15:17

MrsTeddy I was referring to a detailed WHO report I read which summarised the research. I now can't find it on a quick search which is frustrating.

I think the point I want to make is that the research says babies are usually ready between 4-6 months, but because they have to boil it down to sound bites and factsheets someone has to decide how to oversimplify the advice.

StarExpat · 14/01/2011 15:18

These headlines are not a true reflection of the "study" itself! wtf???

Quenelle · 14/01/2011 15:22

"That's a great headline - the point of a headline is to get you to notice it, buy the paper and look at the ads.

They aren't meant to inform."

I know why newspapers report the way they do and I make allowances for it before getting het up. But this was misleading, it didn't even reflect what the article said.

sinat54 · 14/01/2011 15:23

I have a 11 year old,the weaning age was 4 months when he was little, then 6 years on for DS2 the age was 6 months, still weaned him at 4mo, and continued with BF. Also, have DD age 2, who was weaned at 6/7mo as she was just not interested in food!!

I think baby led weaning worked best for us...

Betelguese · 14/01/2011 15:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

clumsymumluckybaby · 14/01/2011 15:32

as mamatomany said up thread

The paper acknowledges that three of the four authors "have performed consultancy work and/or received research funding from companies manufacturing infant formulas and baby foods within the past three years".

so is just a huge company funded crock of shite then,isnt it.and they have utterly succeeded in making mothers and alike believe the simple phrase, 'breastfeeding for 6 months is harmful'

bullshit utter bullshit...

im just so sad and angry.

Betelguese · 14/01/2011 15:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gaelicsheep · 14/01/2011 15:35

I will have to read this thread later. Just wanted to say that the BBC news story here includes "your emails". One of these is from a woman pupporting to be an NCT trained volunteer peer supporter who states that iron "isn't present in breastmilk" Shock. I cannot find a way to add comments to that page to counter this. Anyone?