Dear Group,

Could someone enlighten me please?

A friend of mine (no breastfeeding training, but she nursed her baby till 
a toddler) is busy writing a book on breastfeeding.  She sent me a copy 
as a pdf file, and I am a bit taken aback by some of what she said 
(thought most of it is very good!)  So I queried it with her, and she said 
it has all been checked by an IBCLC, LLLL and my information is out of 
date.  (I admit I did my training a long time ago, and I'm not an IBCLC).

So may I run it by you here please?  This is some of what she has 
written:

" - It's best to wait at least six weeks before introducing bottles.  Any 
earlier and your disrupt the breastfeeding process and cause nipple 
confusion."

" - The occasional bottle from six weeks onwards shouldn't do any harm 
but them again, use only when absoultely necessary."  (She doesn't say 
how often "absolutely necessary" is).

" - When chooseing teats, etc..."

When I did my training we were taught that:

- For at least the first three months, all sucking should take place at the 
breast (no bottles, and no dummies or "pacifiers"). If fluids have to be 
given it should be from a cup, teaspoon or dropper).

- If the mother had given a bottle she should be made aware that it can 
(a) cause nipple confusion and (b) that her body might make less milk, 
so to feed more frequently for the next 12 hours or so.  After that don't 
give any more bottles till at least 3 months, and if possible much longer.

I am concerned that this book could undermine women's ability to 
breastfeed successfully.  But she assures me that all her stuff has been 
thoroughly checked and it is me who is out of date.  I know I trained 
long ago.  Am I out of date???

By the way, I think this girl may be a bit confused herself as she keeps 
recommending the site and info from a local parenting celebrity 
(midwife) who is excellent at midwifery but keeps publishing 
misinformation about breastfeeding in a local parenting mag she writes 
for.  We were trying to set up an agreement with a local IBCLC to check 
all this midwife's writings, but haven't succeeded yet.

I am sure if an IBCLC were indeed checking "all" her work, she would 
have suggested taking out the links to this lady, so I am not sure what is 
going on (and can't reach the IBCLC).  The book is still in "final draft 
form" so timely action could take any mistakes out.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Warm regards,
Pat  (South Africa)

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