Hi All, I was hoping one of the other Brits would discuss this, as I didn't hear the radio program myself, but I have to comment. My mother phoned me up with what she considered some useful "information", regarding breastfeeding, after hearing a phone-in program on BBC Radio 4. Women were talking about their breastfeeding experiences (which I *should* be happy about). However, from the report I received from my mother, it does sound as if quite a few myths and untruths were exchanged. My mother said that a lady had phoned-in to say she had breastfed her baby, but her nipples got covered in blisters. She couldn't cope, so was going to put the baby on the bottle (this was about day 3). The midwife did a home visit, and found her in this state and immediately took the bottle teat off the bottle and placed it over the woman's nipple. "Try it now," she said. The woman did and said it was totally painless. Then the midwife told her to go out and get silicone nipple shields ASAP, which she did. My mother was under the impression that nipple shields were this miracle treatment for sore nipples that the medical profession was keeping secret for some mysterious reason. "Your sister could have used them when she got so sore with her first baby" said my mother. <Groan> My sister's problem had been good old fashioned positioning and was fixed in 5 minutes when she actually held the baby properly. I cannot imagine what harm nipple shields would have done in that situation. We discussed several other issues, including the theory that fairheaded women were more likely to have inverted nipples but my mother had at least got the point that the "support" I am always saying is lacking, is not about saying "Breast is best", but actually helping women with the practicalities. Is it just me, or do others cringe when they hear breastfeeding mothers perpetuating all kinds of myths? Maybe someone heard the program and can give me an informed opinion. -- Anna H. mailto: [log in to unmask] http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/ *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html