breastfeeding problems resolved ....but shame about the negative response.
29 October 2009
What a sad world we live in when a mother posts a positive message to give hope to other mothers who are struggling to establish breastfeeding ......and is then accused of being a fake!
Earlier on this year, Annabel Karmel invited me to give breastfeeding advice on her website. Unfortunately this attracted a lot of critisism from a small number of woman who not only disagreed with my advice but who also posted many messages to express their concerns. These threads were viewed by several thousand other mothers, some of whom contacted me privately to book an appointment to see me and some of whom posted positive messages in support. It was sad to note that any praise about me, my books or DVD were often viewed with distrust and the suspicion that they were posted by me!! I can assure you that they were/are not.
I am writing this blog not to moan about the critisism (everyone is entitled to their opinion) but to point out that my advice isn't as bad as some make out and that these postings ARE genuine! I regularly get lovely letters and emails (sent via my publishers, DVD producers etc) from grateful mothers who have found my books or DVD to be the answer to their problems. Here is an example (with names changed to respect their privacy):
On 15th October James C sent a message using the contact form at
http://www.annabelkarmel.com/contactus.
Hi,
My wife gave birth last Friday to our baby girl, however is experiencing
on-going breast feeding issues. We have exhausted all recommendations
from our local hospital / mid-wife team, however are continuing to try with
some good tips taken from Clare Byam-Cook's book.
My wife is unfortunately close to giving up which would leave her devastated.
I understand CBC runs a private clinic providing guidance on feeding
issues.
I would be extremely grateful if you could forward Clare's contact
details to enable me to hopefully book an appointment for my wife.
Kind Regards,
John.
I responded giving my contact details and then received this email:
Clare,
Everything has fallen into place - after what seemed like the longest & most painful week of my life we seem to have cracked it (shame my nipples had to crack first!)
THANK YOU SO MUCH for writing the book. For the past 4 days you have been my best friend, I am so grateful to you. Flora is my third child & I have never feed successfully in the past - despite numerous midwives/ health visitors saying I had the latch right.
Thanks to you I fought for the drugs for thrush (which you helped me to diagnose) & they have kicked in & it's like a miracle. Thanks to you I have completely repositioned Flora (time & time again) until I got it right & that too is like a miracle. And I've discovered that I have white nipple (I'd never even heard of that) & so I am managing that too.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Julie.
This mother also posted a message on Annabels website (http://www.annabelkarmel.com/community/breastfeeding-bottlefeeding/14322-breast-feeding-hope.html) to say how helpful she had found my book .....and was accused of being a fake! What a depressing response to a nice message that was posted to give hope to other mothers.