>
>. Dear Heather,
>
>You are to be commended on your contribution to the UK Guardian.  My
>question is who in the dickens is Clare Byam Cook.


Hi, Royce. She is the author of a book called What to expect when you 
are breastfeeding and what to do if you can't, and she also has a 
DVD/video called Breastfeeding without tears. I have a feeling the 
book is available in the US. You can read more about her here:

  http://www.contentedbaby.com/team-Clare-Byam-Cook.htm

She has no breastfeeding teaching/counselling/clinical qualifications 
as far as I know, though she is an ex-midwife. If she was still a 
midwife, she would be obliged to update her practice (not necessarily 
in bf) and to be accountable to her professional body for 
re-registration,  and if she was working within the health service 
she would be accountable to her employers.  However,  she has built 
up a private practice in London and as far as I can see, works 
entirely independently.  You need to remember that healthcare is free 
in the UK, and it is very unusual for someone to engage private care 
for breastfeeding...though it is  not surprising that some people 
seek it out, as they may not get good care from the health service.

When she appears in the press (which is quite often - if you Google 
her, you'll find several references) she often lists the names of her 
celebrity clients. I assume she has their permission to breach 
confidentiality and to use their names in this way.  It is of course 
important for her to have publicity to boost sales of ber book and 
DVD, and it will also help her get new clients.

She is Gina Ford's breastfeeding person on the GF website - Gina Ford 
is the UK's 'queen of scheduled baby care', and indeed, CBC advocates 
scheduled feeding, and given that standpoint, it is probably a good 
thing she is very relaxed about using formula when breastfeeding 
isn't sufficient.

>  Note that I copied &
>pasted from the Guardian below.  Her comments made absolutely no sense to
>me:
>
>Clare Byam-Cook Former midwife, baby-feeding consultant and author.
>
>The simple fact is, most mothers don't understand the practical knack of
>getting a baby to fix on to a nipple and feed, and what they need is a
>midwife or health visitor who will show them how to do it. It's not rocket
>science: what you need to do is shape the breast so it's doughnut-shaped
>rather than apple-shaped, and when the baby's mouth opens you shove her on
>and she starts feeding happily away.
>
>What does she mean, "doughnut-shaped breast"?  I can't visualize that at
>all!  And I REALLY can't see a baby feeding happily away after she's been
>SHOVED ON!  And, there are times when I feel like it is Rocket Science.  You
>know, when there are multiples, or neuro problems, cleft lips or palates,
>premature babes or babies that have been given bottles because the newborn
>nursery nurses wanted the mom to "have a good night's sleep".


We are mystified over here, too.....I  *really* don't know what she 
means by apples and doughnuts. 'Shoving' is or should be anathema to 
anyone helping with breastfeeding.

As a journalist myself, I can understand why journalists return to 
her time and again. She 'gives good quote' - she uses direct language 
like 'shoving' and is vocal about the inadequacies of the help 
available to mothers (on which she is largely right). If you are 
colourful in your phrases and avoid pulling punches, we like you!

The journalist who did this piece is experienced and accurate, but it 
is possible CBC did not say this, I suppose....however, apart from 
the apples and doughnuts, I have read similar stuff from CBC on 
several occasions. She has a particular bugbear against breastfeeding 
counsellors, I am not sure why. I think it is possible that some 
mothers may become impatient with counsellors who use listening 
skills and person-centred counselling *instead of* rather than *as 
well as* helping the mother fix the breastfeeding. They then report 
their frustrations to CBC.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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