Six weeks is the standard UK NHS advice on introducing bottles.

"*Combining breastfeeding with bottle feeding*

Some women find that combining breastfeeding with bottle feeding is a 
convenient option for them. However, if you decide to breastfeed your 
baby, you should avoid introducing bottle feeding during the first six 
weeks of life, as it can confuse your baby, cause feeding problems, and 
can interfere with the establishment of breastfeeding."

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=641&sectionId=24

And it's what I was taught by my midwife and my HV. 

Also, what happened to trusting mothers?  I'm confused as to how we can 
recognise that medical professionals who have had some breastfeeding 
training, know nothing real or useful about breastfeeding...  but now a 
mother who has breastfed a toddler, isn't in a position to write a book 
about it, even when she's checking out the factual info rigorously?

I'd rather read a book by a mother who has actually breastfed, any day.

Also, Pat, I'm confused as to your point about bottle feeding prior to 
the 3 months reducing milk supply?  I had assumed the bottle feeding 
advice being given was about EBM?  If so, she's expressing to fill the 
bottle, so supply would not be reduced?  The bits you copied didn't 
mention giving formula... is that what the book was saying, giving 
formula before six weeks, or was it saying using a bottle at six weeks?

If it is about giving EBM, as opposed to formula, I'd be hoping to see a 
section on how to hand express for the occasional EBM bottle feed, clear 
instruction on how to bottle feed safely and make it baby led, and some 
discussion on the risks as some babies can refuse the breast after even 
one bottle feed.  If it was about formula, I'd be hoping to see a 
section on the risks of formula prior to six months in terms of the gut 
etc, allergies, all that jazz, and then some fluid points about impact 
on supply etc etc, followed by how to do it safely and make it baby 
led.  And a strong section on bacterial contamination and how to follow 
WHO guidelines on not feeding PIF under 8 weeks, and how to make up PIF 
according to WHO guidelines. 

In other words, was she supporting exclusive breastfeeding for the first 
six months, or not?  If she was, the supporting info needs to go in one 
direction, if she wasn't, it needs to go in another.

Hope that helps!  :-)

Morgan Gallagher

Pat wrote:
>> 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.
>
> heather wrote:
> This makes me cross!! There is far too much written about bf by people 
> without training in it and training in the support of mothers :(

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