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.

[rachaelmae]

Glad it worked for you, and things are going well.xx

[fussymum]

jghjghjghjghjg

[Claire76]

A bit uncalled for FM. Just let someone be pleased with their results before staring yet another attack on a new member. you're being really insulting now. Just go away if this is all you're going to keep doing. I tried to be nice but you're doing it again. It's just bullying IMO Am so not in the mood for all this crap today so don't start again please, it's not nice

[fussymum]

had just come back to delete this actually - am currently doing a more constructive reply on her second thread