Just want to publicly thank Clare Byam Cook

[Imperfectmummy]

Hi all

My sister contacted this site on my behalf last week as I was at breaking point. I was breastfeeding my beautiful daughter all day everyday and she was still very unsettled. I had got to the point where I felt my only option was formula and was devastated.

My sister had read CBC's book (my sister became aware of clares advise after she suffered with baby blues due to difficulties feeding and poor NCT advise who failed to notice her sons tongue tie and the fact the she started having periods meant she had low milk supply - as a result both mum and baby were unhappy) She always wished she had know about Clares views and advise at the time.

The Annabel Karmel team kindly put me in contact with Clare who has been wonderful. She speaks the truth and gave me practical advise that works.

Yes Clares advise does differ from other breastfeeding advise groups but all I can say is that from my experience she is right. She base's her advise on actually learning from BF mothers and you can tell.

I started by finding the route cause of the problem. Does she settle if full or if not could my baby have colic or reflux. I decided to go all out and express only and feed from a bottle only for one day - if my expressed milk was low I fed her formula and then expressed whilst my husband fed. When my little girl was full some times from expressed milk 5oz (which I could not get in one expressing session) or formula 5oz she would settle she was happy, smiley, alert - A very different baby. So in a nutshell she wouldn't settle for the first 6 weeks as she was hungry bless her- when full she is so content. And so am I!

I could only express about 3 oz, which I expressed easily in 10 mins after that nothing. This mirrors how she fed off me - after been on my breast for 15 mins she would fall to sleep or get frantic - I would always wake her to keep her sucking for 40 mins to find that with in 20 mins she was hungry again.

So you see some mums like me do have a low milk supply. I am now with Clares help building up my supply by expressing after feeding her for 15 mins and I am not ashamed to say topping her up if needed with formula until my milk increases. Just the fact that I am getting more time between feeds seems to be helping my milk already.

The reason I am writing this is that I understand there had been a slight back lash in regard to CBC's work and I want others to know that from my experience this is wrong. CBC offers another solution and a different way of looking at BF - without her help I may not be still breast feeding. I would recommend her book and advise to all mums in my situation.

My sister gives Clares book to all her friends when they become pregnant. Do the same for yours! If you are one of the lucky ones who can express lots and your baby settles happily between feeds it is still worth a read as she offer great advise on all aspects of feeding. I honesty believe if more people follow clares advise less mothers would give up breast feeding.

Sorry that this is a long post!

Thanks to Clare again.

[fussymum]

I'm a bit confused as to why you asked for help in the first place.
Did you have concerns about lack of supply before you called her or was it just that she seemed unsettled? Was she screaming because she was unsettled or was she just not going long between feeds?
It is perfectly normal for a young baby to feed "all the time" at times. It could be for any number of reasons. It usually settles without help and could simply be a growth spurt. There are also countless other reasons. Did she explore any other reasons with you (other than colic). Expressing is not an indicator of how good a supply is. Babies are far more efficient at milking the breast than any pump - they are also far better at increasing mums milk supply than any pump.

....P.S. - is that better?

[Claire76]

Not as insulting as your last post no but still why shouldn't she ask whoever she wants for help???? Why so confusing that someone has asked someone for help when they feel they've needed to???????

You know what FM, so many of us have so much going on atm and can really do without your bandwagon attitudes on here yet again. Someone has come on to say they are pleased with the results they got, why does that have to be such a bad thing? You are hell bent on YOUR opinion being the only one that matters. It's really so very boring now, let this lady be pleased with whoever she wants. What does it matter to you?????????????

I tried to welcome you yet again, even PM'ing you to say come on and have a look at and reply to some more light-hearted threads but you insist that this is the only subject you're interested in, so I give up and it would be nice if you would too!!

[rachaelmae]

Originally Posted by fussymum

I'm a bit confused as to why you asked for help in the first place.
Did you have concerns about lack of supply before you called her or was it just that she seemed unsettled? Was she screaming because she was unsettled or was she just not going long between feeds?
It is perfectly normal for a young baby to feed "all the time" at times. It could be for any number of reasons. It usually settles without help and could simply be a growth spurt. There are also countless other reasons. Did she explore any other reasons with you (other than colic). Expressing is not an indicator of how good a supply is. Babies are far more efficient at milking the breast than any pump - they are also far better at increasing mums milk supply than any pump.

....P.S. - is that better?

I think you will find that imperfectmummy doesnt have to justify herself to you, shes just posting her experiance... we are well aware of your opinion, do you really need to question, and give your obviously "better" opinion all the time??

and yes that is a better reply, slightly.

[fussymum]

Originally Posted by rachaelmae

do you really need to question, and give your obviously "better" opinion all the time??

and yes that is a better reply, slightly.

Nope, not better, but more informed. CBC IS with a capital IS giving out factually incorrect info and really needs to update her "knowledge".

If anyone has received bad info from a voluntary organisation as the CBC's fan's sister did then they could, and definatley should complain, no question. Who regulates the info CBC gives out? Who can we complain to? She is only accountable to herself and as such is a law unto herself. If, for example, an NCT counsellor gave out "duff" info she would have to explain her actions and run the risk of losing her title. CBC just says "oh, I'm a bit different". Sorry, that isn't good enough. GP's have to base their treatment on evidence based research for a reason too, and again, can be complained about and held accountable.

Sometimes there is a right and wrong. Some of Clares advice is right, lots of it is just plain wrong. If you get a right bit, then good for you, but that doesn't make it ok for the 10 others (for your 1) that get the wrong bits. Human anatomy and the physiology of the breast disprove much of CBC's "theories" - I'd love to know which evidence based research she uses.

This site has completely lost any credibility it had by asking CBC on as "expert"...........and it is very worrying how many of you have been sucked in.

[rachaelmae]

Originally Posted by fussymum

Nope, not better, but more informed. CBC IS with a capital IS giving out factually incorrect info and really needs to update her "knowledge".

If anyone has received bad info from a voluntary organisation as the CBC's fan's sister did then they could, and definatley should complain, no question. Who regulates the info CBC gives out? Who can we complain to? She is only accountable to herself and as such is a law unto herself. If, for example, an NCT counsellor gave out "duff" info she would have to explain her actions and run the risk of losing her title. CBC just says "oh, I'm a bit different". Sorry, that isn't good enough. GP's have to base their treatment on evidence based research for a reason too, and again, can be complained about and held accountable.

Sometimes there is a right and wrong. Some of Clares advice is right, lots of it is just plain wrong. If you get a right bit, then good for you, but that doesn't make it ok for the 10 others (for your 1) that get the wrong bits. Human anatomy and the physiology of the breast disprove much of CBC's "theories" - I'd love to know which evidence based research she uses.

This site has completely lost any credibility it had by asking CBC on as "expert"...........and it is very worrying how many of you have been sucked in.

yeah we hear you

im only saying she has a right to post her experiance without all having to justify herself to you.

Its what the forums about we share personal experiance its not always how it should be done or inline with every flaming government whim but we share whats worked for us in the hope we can help someone else... im not talking just feeding but all aspects of child raising.

imperfectmummy found advice that worked for her, it may not work for everyone, its the beauty of children they dont always do stuff thats textbook

[fussymum]

Originally Posted by rachaelmae

imperfectmummy found advice that worked for her, it may not work for everyone, its the beauty of children they dont always do stuff thats textbook

CBC seems to think they do though - at least according to her books. She is quick to sneer at BFC's and Peer Supporters and the irony is that the role of a BFC is to give mothers evidence based info to enable them to make an informed decision about what is right for their baby.

FWIW, I wasn't asking anyone to justify themselves, I am genuinely interested. I'm not sure if she had a perceived problem or whether the baby was behaving normally and mum just needed a bit of support rather than a solution. I actually suspect (though could be and hope I am wrong) that this problem is not solved yet as she is still using formula top-ups. The expressing after a feed will help, but you can't beat a baby for upping supply.

If there is a genuine supply problem then there are other alternatives - duvet days with baby having free access to the breast, fenugreek tea, even checking baby's latch (which to be fair, CBC will probably have done) can make a difference. Sorry to add a link (know you like them ) but this link from Kellymom is helpful kellymom.com :: Increasing Low Milk Supply.

TBH I am just a bit concerned with some of the advice given and whilst it may appear to be helping so far may not be a permanent solution and it may be worth looking at the causes to prevent the problem occurring again. I hope I'm wrong and this is the solution for her and her baby.

I'd just feel more comfortable if imperfectmummy had posted after the problem had been completely solved and had been exclusively breastfeeding happilly for some time.......which is what I do genuinely hope *is* the outcome.

[jewel]

Originally Posted by Imperfectmummy

Hi all

My sister contacted this site on my behalf last week as I was at breaking point. I was breastfeeding my beautiful daughter all day everyday and she was still very unsettled. I had got to the point where I felt my only option was formula and was devastated.

My sister had read CBC's book (my sister became aware of clares advise after she suffered with baby blues due to difficulties feeding and poor NCT advise who failed to notice her sons tongue tie and the fact the she started having periods meant she had low milk supply - as a result both mum and baby were unhappy) She always wished she had know about Clares views and advise at the time.

The Annabel Karmel team kindly put me in contact with Clare who has been wonderful. She speaks the truth and gave me practical advise that works.

Yes Clares advise does differ from other breastfeeding advise groups but all I can say is that from my experience she is right. She base's her advise on actually learning from BF mothers and you can tell.

I started by finding the route cause of the problem. Does she settle if full or if not could my baby have colic or reflux. I decided to go all out and express only and feed from a bottle only for one day - if my expressed milk was low I fed her formula and then expressed whilst my husband fed. When my little girl was full some times from expressed milk 5oz (which I could not get in one expressing session) or formula 5oz she would settle she was happy, smiley, alert - A very different baby. So in a nutshell she wouldn't settle for the first 6 weeks as she was hungry bless her- when full she is so content. And so am I!

I could only express about 3 oz, which I expressed easily in 10 mins after that nothing. This mirrors how she fed off me - after been on my breast for 15 mins she would fall to sleep or get frantic - I would always wake her to keep her sucking for 40 mins to find that with in 20 mins she was hungry again.

So you see some mums like me do have a low milk supply. I am now with Clares help building up my supply by expressing after feeding her for 15 mins and I am not ashamed to say topping her up if needed with formula until my milk increases. Just the fact that I am getting more time between feeds seems to be helping my milk already.

The reason I am writing this is that I understand there had been a slight back lash in regard to CBC's work and I want others to know that from my experience this is wrong. CBC offers another solution and a different way of looking at BF - without her help I may not be still breast feeding. I would recommend her book and advise to all mums in my situation.

My sister gives Clares book to all her friends when they become pregnant. Do the same for yours! If you are one of the lucky ones who can express lots and your baby settles happily between feeds it is still worth a read as she offer great advise on all aspects of feeding. I honesty believe if more people follow clares advise less mothers would give up breast feeding.

Sorry that this is a long post!

Thanks to Clare again.

Ah i'm glad things are working out for you and well done for doing so well. T x

[isabellasmum]

Glad you were able to continue breastfeeding ImperfectMummy xx

[Ellie H]

Am bored of this now.

Don't need to be reading stuff like this on a 'meltdown' day.

Well done Imperfectmummy.

I'm with Rachaelmae, why is it sooo important to over complicate and medicalise this issue? All babies are different. Fact.

xxxxxxxxxxxx