Well done, Heather.  That letter should be used as a template for all of us 
responding to stupid media articles like those mentioned.
Yes Carnation milk was recommended well into the 60`s although formula was 
available. I think we have quite a battle supporting women when their 
mothers, aunts, grannies, sisters-in-law did not breastfeed and are trying 
to sabotage the new mum`s efforts to do so.  I always confess that when my 
first son was born in 1964 I knew nothing about NCT, my prenatal class in 
the local hospital only covered as far as the birth and I had absolutely no 
support for or knowledge about breastfeeding except that I really wanted to 
do it.
In those days we were in hospital 10 days (yes after a completely normal 
birth) and babies were brought to us mums every four hours for ten minutes 
each side.
Sleepy or not, babies were thrust on to the breast on schedule.  In the 
middle of guzzling, they were yanked off the breast after ten minutes each 
side. I  got engorged and had no idea what that was and I was given a pill 
to reduce fluid.
So with the infrequent feeds and incorrect treatment of engorgement I was 
puzzled that on coming home my son was crying night and day for food - but 
they told me to feed him every four hours, didn`t they!
He lost weight and cried all the time.  I lost weight and cried all the 
time.  My GP who was wonderful and actually very supportive of breastfeeding 
did try to help but eventually the baby`s weight loss scared us all - and I 
was told to give him Carnation Milk.  He loves Carnation Milk to this day 
but has always been underweight and suffered all these years from asthma and 
other respiratory problems.
With baby No. 2. I had discovered NCT, went to a refresher prenatal course 
with hubby as I planned a home birth and he could attend. (Don`t forget 
these were those dark days of keeping hubbies out of the delivery room).  I 
breastfed my second son for a year and went on to breastfeed my other two 
children for an extended period.
So my tip to expectant parents and new mums is:
be prepared; go to a good prenatal course which will discuss breastfeeding 
in depth; if birthing in hospital demand rooming-in and zero separation; 
ignore family and friends who have horror stories about breastfeeding; book 
a home visit from a qualified breastfeeding counsellor; trust your own body.
My story is that of countless new mothers.  I am the same woman with the 
same body who stopped breastfeeding after a few weeks with first baby and 
went on to feed the other children for nearly a year.  What was the basic 
reason? Lack of preparation, lack of knowledge, lack of support, outdated 
hospital practices and NOT poor diet, poor motivation, insufficient 
lactation hormones, small/large breasts/ small/large nipples.
So it was not surprising when I decided in the early 70`s to train to be an 
NCT teacher and Breastfeeding Counsellor.  I think that many of us who have 
worked for years in this wonderful profession had a difficult first start 
and perhaps we can be more empathetic to our clients who also do not find 
those first weeks so easy.
Wendy Blumfield
Haifa 

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