What's in The Mother's mailbag ~ 2006
In the mailbag of TM18 - Summer 2006
I'm so happy The Mother keeps dropping through the letter box.
I've just been through all my back issues looking for a particular
photo I'd remembered, and I've discovered the joy of reading all
the old issues again!
Sarah, Birmingham, UK
This Spring 2006 issue is my favourite issue yet ~ I find it astonishing
how you keep on making these magical pages more and more nourishing,
soulful, informative and rich. I got an ever greater vision of just
where you are taking this wonderful magazine, and indeed, where
it is taking you ~ while reading the Spring issue (TM17).
It's very exciting to witness the wonder and richness grow. Thank
you for making this gift available to me and to us all, our world
is a better place for its clear and vibrant message and for your
beautiful, radiant presence. I feel very grateful.
Shona, UK
Thank you again for the inspirational magazine. Much appreciated
out here in Portugal where home education and parenting from the
heart can be a lonesome journey at times. All my various readings
help me to remain on my path but nothing quite matches the articles
in The Mother.
Light and Peace
Parvine. Algarve, Portugal
I really enjoy the magazine. It's a lifeline to like-minded families
and a relief not to be judged for our decisions to co-sleep, breastfeed
for as long as we feel is appropriate, and not to vaccinate.
Helena. Tweeddale, Scotland
It would be good to talk to other TM readers who live in Scotland.
We live outside Glasgow and love the freedom of country living.
Our boys don't go to nursery school, are full of fun and very sociable.
The Mother is wonderful, inspiring, personal.
Fiona by email
Keep up the good 'work'! Your magazine can sometimes feel like
finding a stream of water in a desert; I find it empowering and
inspiring!
C. Caselli. Hove, UK
I'm glad the magazine is evolving so much. As my girls are growing
up, your articles seem so timely with things going on in their lives.
I love Rachel Strauss's column. I've loaned my back copies to a
friend training to be an NCT teacher. I think the recent articles
on lotus births were well received by other trainees. Needless to
say it was the first time they'd heard of lotus births.
Tina. Folkestone, UK
Reading The Mother is like entering into another world. I look
forward to receiving it every quarter with bated breath. Thank you
for such a ray of sunshine.
Sara. Wimbledon, UK
Carry on expanding! I just wish TM could be found in every high
street bookshop, WH Smith and Newsagents instead of the other rubbish.
Alexandra. Forest Row, UK
Ed: We've made a conscious choice, for ethical and particularly environmental reasons, to only stock with independent shops and business rather than High St. chains and supermarkets. Operating under the sale or return guidelines of large chains often means a lot of environmental waste as unsold magazines get dumped rather than sent back to the publisher for resale.
Your magazine is a beacon of light for families throughout the
world. It helps us to connect with the truth of how to 'grow' our
children on so many levels.
Name withheld
I enjoyed the breastfeeding documentary on Channel Four. Nobody
came across as weird at all. What a relief!
Gillian. Cheadle, UK
Still love TM. Colour cover great ~ colour, but not glossy. I
though you were great on TV (Breastfeeding programme).
Sandra. Totnes, UK
Thanks to Rachelle Strauss for her Reverence for Winter article
which I found echoed so many of my unspoken feelings for this season.
Jane. Herts, UK
Dearest wonderful Veronika and co-creators! Thanks from my heart
to yours for all that you inspire, hold, model and forge. With my
love and deepest respect and support
Rev. Coombe. Kew, UK
Thank you for keeping me inspired ~ love getting my magazine every
time it arrives!
Angela. Shepperton, UK
Recently I became a single mum. It would be fab to have a contacts
section for like minded mums/dads to get in touch. Us natural parents
do feel isolated. Magazine is amazing!!
Kym. Wimborne, UK
Ed: Anyone can write in with their contact details to The
Mailbag inviting other TM readers to contact them.
The Mother gives me a warm fuzzy feeling every time I read it.
It feels like a dose of loving sanity in this current Gina Ford
infested climate. I always feel inspired by the contents ~ I'm now
seriously investigating 'unschooling'. Hooray!
Lucy. Manchester, UK
I felt as if I was drowning amidst the mainstream deluge of 'routine bottle, dummy, control, vaccinate' when I stumbled across your magazine.
Since reading my first issue I have connected with my instincts as a mother. Your articles have reassured me (I'm not being irresponsible by co-sleeping with my daughter, nor at a year old will she starve to death on breastmilk alone if I don't force her to eat solid food ~ despite my health visitor's scaremongering).
Your articles have also challenged me to find out the facts behind so much propaganda I had never even thought to question. (I'm still reeling from finding out what is in vaccinations). Thank you so much.
Keep doing what you are doing ~ you are making a difference.
Much love,
Katrina
Salford, UK
In the GRIP of the CULTURE
Typical story: this time a mother with daughters having the usual
problems and finding life very difficult bordering impossible. She
is one of the several women serving in a big newsagent's shop where
I do my photocopying. I have written out several things to try and
help; it is a tragic situation about which Martin Jaques has written
a very fine Guardian article: The death of intimacy: a self, market-driven
society is eroding our very humanity. I'm happy to send a copy to
anyone interested. Phone me on 01274 568973. It really gets to the
heart of the problem. Our children ~ unless they are especially
blessed ~ are in the grip of the culture!
After a certain age ~ very young ~ "the culture" takes
over. Clearly the culture is, or becomes, much stronger than we
are in the formative years ~ but later the children will begin to
listen and respond to their parents. Perhaps the solution for many
who are wise enough (between a child's age of about 4 - 16) is simply
~ to wait
~ to listen
~ to encourage
~ to love (Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians, Ch. 13)
~ not to argue or have 'issues'
~ provide a largely non-tv culture
~ find and experience nature as much as possible: parks, fields,
woods, hills, sky, rivers, streams, trees, real people and real
face to face talking.
~ holding, where and as often as possible
Graham. Bingley, UK
Firstly, thank you for your work in the Extraordinary Breastfeeding
programme! I've read your writings on the experience, too, and the
feedback you've received. Thank you for your courage in sharing
this part of your life via TV. Your family is beautiful, and no
one could say otherwise, no matter how biased against nursing. The
peace and conscious living come through so clearly from you and
family. Your mum - wow! A crone in all her glory.
Stephanie. UK
Inspiring as ever ~ I'm never disappointed and always uplifted by
The Mother dropping through the letterbox.
Keeley. Haslemere, UK
In the mailbag of TM17 - Spring 2006
I am writing to say thank you for your magazine - I have read it haphazardly over the past few years, but have just been blessed with my very own copy by a dear sweet soul-sister to honour my emergence as a midwife.
I wish to thank all the women and babies who have shared their stories in these pages over the years. While every birth story shines with the magic of new life, I am saddened to sometimes see the disruption of birthing rhythms caused by so-called 'midwives' - fear-filled practitioners who continue to colonise the role of midwife. The sacred path of midwife, as an initiate of ancient women's mysteries, personifies love, not fear, and the difference is palpable at birthings!
All readers of The Mother, please be discerning in your choice
of midwife or care-giver. Please do not underestimate the potential
impact of fearful attitudes on your pregnancy and birth, especially
if your or your baby's physiology differs in some way from an arbitrary
'normal' standard - in length of pregnancy, length of labour, size
of baby, position of baby, number of babies etc,!
If you do not find a midwife with whom you are TRULY aligned, please
deeply consider the possibility of freebirth, or unattended childbirth.
What kind of birth is your baby asking for? I would be honoured
to offer long-distance support or answer any questions to mothers
and families considering freebirth.
I would also like to respond to Tracy Donegan's article Hypnosis for Childbirth (Autumn 2005). While I absolutely agree that hypnosis can be a brilliant approach to achieve clearing before birth, I challenge the statement "Since time began most of us have believed that birthing a baby involves many hours of painfully agonising work, to be faced with fear." I would argue that this attitude developed after patriarchy was born, as women all over the world learned to fear their sexuality and lost contact with the understanding of birth as a sacred, ecstatic life event. Fear of birth is conditioned, not inherent, and our pre-patriarchal foremothers knew this.
Cecil Tamang, Dunedin, New Zealand
Thank you so much for this magazine - it inspires me to live the
life I know is right for me and my family. Peace and love to you
all.
Emma Okada, Japan
The Aceh Midwife Fund
I have an opportunity to volunteer in Aceh, Indonesia, as a midwife. Robin Lim who runs a clinic in Bali has been out in Aceh for a year now and desperately needs equipment and volunteers. Thirty percent of Acehnese traditional midwives died in the tsunami, and most of everyone's equipment got washed away. Tetanus is rapidly killing babies for lack of clean equipment and water, and as ever, 'women's needs' seem to be last on the agenda.
The Aceh clinic functions as a holistic practitioner clinic and has homeopathy, essential oils and massage practitioners also volunteering. The clinic recently moved from a tent to a building, and is itself independent from any government organisations although it is linked to one NGO (IDEP—Indonesian development , education and permaculture).
Due to the huge loss of women's and children's lives, there is also a disproportionate homeless and traumatised male population, which makes venturing out of the safety of the compounds a real issue for unaccompanied women. Due to the intensity of working with highly traumatised women, stints in Aceh are for a month, with plenty of briefing and debriefing on each end. There is a real need for more volunteers, not just midwives but alternative practitioners. So if you think you have 6 weeks to spare, and live in the UK, please contact me.
I am trying to raise £3000 in the immediate future, but intend to keep the fund open so that more midwives can be sent to Aceh to help.
Aceh Midwife Fund
Please consider donating via paypal to the fund:
AcehMidwifeFund@aol.com
or cheques made payable to:
Aceh Midwife Fund
1 Marsh Dairy Cottage
Mapperton
Dorset
DT83NP
www.Acehmidwifefund.org | www.robinlimsupport.org
Thank you,
Tania Berlow
May I take this opportunity of thanking you for such an incredibly inspiring, thought provoking, and soulful magazine…I just love reading all your articles. Thank you so, so much for all you put in, your enthusiasm, and positive energy. It is very contagious, when reading your special articles…!
With happy thoughts,
Caroline Blatter, Antigua
Extraordinary Breastfeeding
Richard and Judy show
Channel Four (February 1st)
It just gets better…of course Richard and Judy could find no expert to come out against full term breastfeeding, just as on the programme they could find no-one who gave any argument against breastfeeding in public that didn’t come from their own feelings of discomfort. Let’s just keep plugging for that debate to really get out there and start confronting some myths and fears about real and conscious alternatives to the narrow band of the norm. Although I can only guess what other snippets were actually filmed, the editing, for me, went a long way towards the aims (of it being a campaigning documentary). As you say, it was mass-market and had to appeal. It was ‘in your face’, yet very supportive of choice and the variable understandings of ‘full term’. Most of all, you and yours came across as a really loving, humour-filled family. Bethany & Eliza were just fantastic, honest advocates for everything that was shown.
John
I just saw Veronika on Richard and Judy and wanted to say that's most sense I've heard anyone talk on TV! Loved the plant analogy. I hate the way people think you a spoil a child with affection and love..they just don't seem to realise a secure start when your child learns they can trust you is the best way to bring up a confident child. Forcing separation and independence is just going to do the opposite! Society needs more foresight! "Spare the cuddle, spoil the child" is my motto! Anyway the interview persuaded me to watch the programme. I was worried it was a sensationalist kind of programme that I'd get cross at.
I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the programme, and I know of a lot of breastfeeding mums who are raving about it being so positive. In fact, I had a lovely conversation with my midwife this morning about it (she fed hers until 4).
I was really worried they would portray you all as freaks (as the publicity seemed to, in fact that seemed like rather clever PR to me...get people to watch with publicity and then try and win them round!) But instead you all came across as intelligent women with very good reasons for still breastfeeding; and that any negative comments were seemingly without any actual reasoning behind them (and came across a little stupid). Not their fault really. I guess not many people are faced with the issue (I was the first person I saw breastfeeding!) and we obviously have this western sexualisation of breasts problem.
I also loved the way they had the young mum from Little Angels
on. I often feel somewhat different about my views on parenting,
having started my family at 20...breastfeeding wasn't the kind of
thing a girl of my age did!
I imagine there are still people shocked by it, but all the families
came across as so loving and happy (rare on television these days...it's
usually all about how "bad" they are) that some minds
were changed. Problem is it can take a generation or two to change
society’s views on things, but hopefully things are getting
that way!
Best wishes,
Tracy ~ mum of 2 and a bump! moogyboobles.blogspot.com
I've just watched the program and I am SO proud of you. Thank you for continuing to do what you do. I'm so incredibly happy to see extended breastfeeding so publicly championed and the issue kept open for public debate. Challenging misconceptions is what you do best because you do it in such a gentle way. I send my admiration and appreciation for all that you do, and all that you are.
Anyway, I just want you to know that I think about you often, and I was so happy to see you and the girls tonight. I want to encourage you to continue. I'm so happy that you are still raising awareness in your own gentle, wonderful way. I feel so proud of you and everything that we believe in. Don't ever stop, sweet sister.
Blessings,
Lisa
What a great programme last night. And you looked fabulous on Richard and Judy!
Lots of love, Eva www.borndirect.com
I watched the documentary and felt it was very good. I have always been an advocate of breast feeding and I feel you made some excellent comments. One was that if people were in Africa no-one would take a blind bit of notice - that's absolutely true, no one would. The other comment which I felt was profound was (can't remember the exact words) that you believed when children suckle they felt connected and had a sense of who they were, whereas most people don't and that is why they have so many problems. I already knew this but it came over so well. This brought back a memory when years ago I was doing some inner child work, and I knew I had been taken off the breast before I was ready. I did some visualisations on this, connecting back, and it was so real an experience! I was able to heal myself. As a person, I felt you came over very calm, grounded and sure. I am sure that you will have tapped into a lot of women wanting to make that change. Brilliant! Warm wishes
Sue
Veronika, you were all BRILLIANT!!! Well done all of you.....I was so proud I was almost bursting with joy! I have only read your work and it was so lovely to see you and your beautiful family 'in the flesh', so obviously happy and balanced and REAL! Both me and Steve thoroughly enjoyed the programme and thought it was extrememly well presented, and very much pro extended breastfeeding. Hurray!! I dreamt about boobies all night(!) and had the loveliest hour of feeding this morning, treasuring such a beautiful gift that we share. I am sure you will be inundated with calls and emails after such an amazing programme. I just needed to send you an email simply to say thank you and your gorgeous family for being, and inspiring me and my gorgeous family more then you could ever imagine.
Much love and light
Nicky
We just saw you on channel 4—you were wonderful!! You came across just like you are - ultra-sane and beautiful and humorous and wonderful, as did your lovely family. You're an inspiring woman in so many ways, and I love you.
WELL DONE!
Siobhán
We just watched the whole programme. You came over wonderfully and we were delighted that the programme presented the subject matter with a pretty good degree of sensitivity.
All the mums did a great job - and what a great message to get out on national TV. Awesome work - mums will be standing on your shoulders for years to come. Congrats to all your family
With all our love The D-H's
www.artofchange.co.uk - the smallest steps lead to the biggest changes
Having seen the programme and read your subsequent article, I just wanted to say well done. I breastfed my previous two children until they self weaned at 2 1/2 and 4, and I must say "swimming against the tide" (11 years ago), but am still currently feeding my16 month old and will continue for as long as......
Your article, in particular, is very inspiring and incredibly informative and true.
I've been approached by many, many people since the programme aired, as everyone everywhere seems to be discussing it, which is great. The fact that it was on prime time mainstream TV is a massive step forward. A lot of people have since altered their views. Let's hope it continues to challenge those in this country.
Again, well done, it was very brave of you.
Regards
Nikki
member of www.iwantmymum.com - progressive parenting site.
My husband and I held hands whilst watching Extraordinary Breastfeeding with our daughter (aged 4) sitting next to me, whilst she breastfed. It was lovely to see breastfeeding highlighted in such a warm and wonderful way, and your story brought us tears, laughter with (not at) our shared experiences, and much happiness. I remember our struggle at the beginning of latching on, a blocked nipple duct and the goal of the "minimum 6 months" seeming so far away, especially given the lack of support from certain family members, who kept trying to "push" the formula.
My breasts were alien parts of my body. Then 6 months came and 1 year became the goal, and then "natural weaning"; and then 2 years seemed to be the number. My breasts really feel part of my body now and our daughter is a delight of milky sweetness (mostly - occasionally other food temperaments seem to get in - like hot tempered ones). It has been 4 years, and hopefully not going to stop until our beautiful daughter is ready to. People like you help us to accept our natural selves. We've all been on a journey along our river of breastmilk (occasionally riding the rapids and hitting a few rocks). Seeing your daughter still loving her milk at 7, and knowing that my daughter at 4 still loves it, and that most of the time I love breastfeeding, makes me so glad that we have let the wisdom of our children shine, (even when you have no idea what to do with their dangling legs).
Thank you Veronika and family.
Liz
I have just read your statement about the programme your family appeared in, and I feel compelled to email you to just say WOW.
It actually brought tears to my eyes, and has really made me miss nursing my children. You really ought to try and get this published, as I too read the incorrect article in the Daily Mail.
(Ed: my version can be read here ~ themothermagazine.co.uk/extraordinarybreastfeeding.html)
I am hopeful that the people of Britain may be more enlightened after watching this program, and instead of mothers having to constantly justify why they are letting their children wean themselves, maybe one day they may actually find it so normal that they might not even feel the need to comment! How many times I was asked if I wanted my life back. I didn't realise I was dead!!!
My oldest nursling was a tender 26 months when she self-weaned, and I would have gladly carried on for several more years. Everything you say is so true, and I have many, many friends who all understand that once you learn how amazing breastmilk is, you cannot help but feel passionate about it.
So congratulations to all the mums who shared their family stories with us, and thanks.
Best wishes
Suzanne nursingmums@groups.msn.com
Thank you so much for appearing in the Extraordinary Breastfeeding programme. Your family is beautiful, inspirational, shining with love. I hope one day my baby, Grace, will be able to articulate such wonderful breastfeeding experiences and memories. With many thanks and much love,
Katrina
I understand that the lady who was featured in the breastfeeding programme is involved in this magazine, and just wanted to congratulate her on being such a loving and wonderful mother to her daughters.
I have read a lot of criticism on message boards over the last few days. Personally I have nothing but admiration for you. If more people were as dedicated to their children the world would be a much happier place and children wouldn't feel as insecure as they seem to now. I believe that one of the reasons a lot of children and teenagers now 'cause' so many problems is because they have no real sense of belonging. I believe you home educate. We have a two year old (three next week) daughter and we are home educating her. If she turns out as well as your daughters came across (despite some of the editing), then we will be very proud parents.
Love
Michelle
I wanted to briefly add my voice to those you've already heard
- just to say that I saw the programme and personally I thought
you were an inspiration. I live in an area with practically 0% breastfeeding,
so at 8 months I think I count as an 'extraordinary breastfeeder'
round here. I can't imagine what they'll think when he's two, four
or seven! - I don't really care, but it is nice to know that there
are people like you out there. It was on a discussion of the programme
on ivillage that I found a link to The Mother’s website - I
look forward to getting my first issue.
Sarah
I watched the programme last week, and having now read this article, I feel compelled to email my support. I am currently breastfeeding my 10 month old son, who I fully intend to feed for as long as I can. I have met with many comments regarding the programme, mostly people describe the practice as sick and wrong. I have argued and debated this over and over with many other 'long term' breastfeeders on the baby forum attached to.
I have no idea if I will continue to breastfeed until my son self weans. In an ideal world I would love to, however, I need to work, and while my husband is very supportive, he seems unable to come to terms with the idea of feeding an older child. I have had to defend my choice to continue feeding beyond a year (not to my husband, as I say, he has been supportive of my wish to feed for longer!) by uninformed people who claim that feeding beyond a year is purely for the mother’s benefit.
I consider myself to be so lucky. I have had a relatively easy time with breastfeeding. Once I got past the initial pain it has been an easy run, even with the odd bite and pain when he is teething. I am seriously considering training to be a breastfeeding counsellor, I feel so strongly about breastfeeding.
I wrote to my MP to request the Breastfeeding act be introduced to make it illegal to stop a mother breastfeeding in public, and I wrote again requesting her support when David Kidney puts forward his Bill. I find it utterly disgraceful that a mother feeding her child can be asked to stop.
I applaud you for what you did.
Yours,
Kara
I heard about your magazine from a friend who recognised you from the Extraordinary Breastfeeding programme. If it was you, I’d like to thank you and your family for sharing the details of your breastfeeding relationship with us all. I truly hope the programme will go some way to increasing breastfeeding rates in this country. Kindest regards.
Lynne
Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the programme here in Canada. I'm a breastfeeding mum of a 2.5yr old. Like you, I never intended to feed for this long, but it's absolutely right for my son and we'll continue as long as he wants.
I've shown the program to many friends and have been pleasantly
surprised at their reaction. Hoping you're finding the same (but
am aware of the dreadful attitude to feeding in Britain...)!
Best wishes to you and your gorgeous girls.
Jeni, Canada
I just wanted to say congratulations and well done for the wonderful
documentary on C4 - I've finally got around to watching it (didn't
help my not watching the tv resolve!!). I laughed, cried and rejoiced
while breastfeeding my beautiful daughter as I watched.
Thank you so much for bringing full-term breastfeeding to the attention of Britain as a whole. I just hope the message gets through and at least a few people consider breastfeeding their child beyond a few months/weeks.
Your daughters are beautiful, you must be so proud of them. My son (7) also remembers breast milk fondly - as tasting sweet and lovely, just like apples!
Thank you to both you and your husband for talking to the wide world about men sharing the breast with their young. My husband was abused and neglected by his mother as a child, and I think sharing the breast with his daughter on occasion has done wonders with healing the wounds of his childhood.
Once again, thanks for sharing your breastfeeding story with us.
Looking forward to the next issue of TM!!
Love
Anne-Marie
Just wanted to say a huge thank you for being you, and as a breastfeeding mother of a two year old how empowered and proud I felt as I fell asleep next to my little one last night having just watched you on Channel 4. Wonderful, big thanks,
Melanie
I watched Extraordinary Breastfeeding on Wednesday. I didn't realise you and your family were on it until I started watching. You were wonderful. You have a lovely family, and it made perfect sense to me about how children lose their suck as nature intended. I have no qualms about feeding my daughter, who will be 4 this summer, until she is ready to stop.
Beatrice
Veronika Robinson's commentary on Extraordinary Breastfeeding
www.themothermagazine.co.uk/extraordinarybreastfeeding.html is really quite spectacular stuff, obviously written by a woman who knows exactly what's going on and who, on top of it all, knows how to communicate both her knowledge and her feelings.
It is all the more striking for me personally after having just returned from my two-hour stint as guest lecturer on breastfeeding this morning to a combined group of 30 students - ranging in age from 19 to 25, 27 of whom were women - at a school for the social and health professions, located nearly 3 hours from Geneva in the Jura mountains.
The ever-breastfed rate in Switzerland is remarkably high - 94% according to the most recent study by the University of Basel - but the rate for six months of exclusive breastfeeding is predictably low. http://swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=107&sid=6377171&cKey=1137059875000
Among other things during this morning seminar, not surprisingly, I could not find a single participant who knew anything at all about breastfeeding's protective effect on women's health. It is a sad commentary that otherwise educated young women, concerned with health, and their own in particular, are arriving in early adulthood and the beginning of a professional career in the health field, with a serious blind spot like this in their knowledge base.
Thanks so much for sharing this information on full-term breastfeeding.
James Akre, Geneva, Switzerland
I so enjoyed the TV programme and want to applaud your courage - and your daughters' - in giving so much information and personal insights, and also in the online article I have just read which gave me the fuller (and more truthful) picture! I'm a midwife, and IBCLC, and work in St Peter's hospital in Chertsey as Infant feeding adviser. I run 3-weekly BF workshops for staff and antenatal mums, and there was a fair bit of discussion y'day about the programme. Most people I've spoken to found it very positive and thought-provoking, if mind-blowing. I pointed out to them that 7 is a very understandable max. age for weaning, anthropologically speaking! If only more women had mothers/sisters/friends like you to help them view their breasts as the wonderful things they are! I write songs about BF, and will now have to write about the 7 years of nursing!!
best wishes
Alison
I did enjoy the recent program on channel 4, on breastfeeding, but found some of the weaning methods used utterly brutal, ie the lady with twins, tandem feeding. I am still feeding Ruaraidh, who will be three in August, he will probably inform me when he wants to be weaned. Thank you so much for The Mother magazine, I look so forward to every new issue.
Eleanor, Scotland
We were so proud to see you on the Breastfeeding programme this week. You did the most amazing job, and I know that people (mothers and mothers to be) will be think twice now before plugging a bottle in to ‘nourish’ their offspring. Whatever negativity may come your way is immaterial; you are fulfilling your life’s work and that is always the right way to go. Those who get left behind, well, that’s their lookout. Paul, Bethany and Eliza; you too did a great job and all came across very well indeed. Bravo!
Elizabeth, Craig, Felix, Andorra
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed you on the breastfeeding tv programme - I so enjoyed and appreciated your non-defensiveness and openness. I think you are very brave, and obviously committed to a depth of integrity.
Hélène Demetriades - Mother subscriber and mother to happily breastfeeding two year old Kaia
I truly love the sample issue I received months ago and feel like I have finally found a magazine that voices my thoughts and feelings, while challenging and opening my mind. I'm grateful that all are doing this work and hope it makes its way to more American homes.
Warmly,
Brandy Lance, USA
I thought I would let you know that our second daughter has been born very peacefully at home in water. I feel so wonderful right now....the birth was so truly beautiful. I really feel like TM had a huge part in my journey to this wonderful birth experience - without it I wonder if I would have found the path of natural parenting that I am following? Maybe - or maybe not? But I would like to sincerely THANK YOU anyway.
Thanks
Sarah
I would like to stand up and applaud you! I come from a breastfeeding family. No woman in my direct line has ever tasted formula or given it to her children. In fact, my mother had to "share her milk". (A cousin of hers was born prematurely, and the child's mother couldn't nurse it for some reason -- I don't recall the details. So my grandmother nursed the baby, alongside my mother.)
My first son turned thirteen months yesterday. It never occurred to me to do anything besides breastfeed him when he was born. And with all that I've learned about formula since (including the fact that powdered formula cannot be sterilized, and is often contaminated), I would not consider giving him a drop of that garbage even now that he's old enough to eat and drink things that don't come directly from my body.
As a nursing mother, I realise just how UN-selfish you have been in your nursing. Although there is nothing more wonderful than the sight and feel of my sleepy son at my breast, there are times when he's fussy, and I would give anything to NOT have him grabbing at my chest. I've come to understand the mother wolf nipping at her nursing pups... I've felt that way more than once!
But Arthur still needs to nurse, and as long as he has that need I hope to provide for it. I wanted to applaud you for having the courage to do something considered "weird" in industrialised Western society, and to stand up and tell the world about it.
I truly believe that the key to changing opinions about breastfeeding is for more people to be exposed to breastfeeding. Not just the idea, but the actuality of it.
To see, as you did, the five-year-old nursing from it's Mamma. To see a mother nursing her newborn. To see a mother nursing her older baby (and realise just how futile "covering up" with a blanket would be). To see how much happier a baby is when nursed at need, instead of being allowed to scream until the bottle is ready (or until they're in a "suitable, private" place to nurse). To see how much cheaper it is not to spend thousands on formula.
In short, I think you are a part of the solution. And I thank you.
Arthur’s mummy
Great TV, thought you were superb and very articulate - felt proud to know you!
Deborah
I have to say how much I admire you for appearing on the Channel 4 show and showing the truth about 'extended' (full term) breastfeeding.
It was very interesting to be in the office when the whole discussion was going on about the programme. The usual small-minded or ignorant people had the usual small-minded or ignorant responses and I stood up and said “well, I am still breastfeeding my baby, so what do you think about that? The reaction was priceless and at the same time scary.
Sadly, I was lying, as my daughter gave up breastfeeding when she was 10 months old. She just seemed to lose interest (due to the fact that I was working three days a week. I was just feeding her on my days off and then always in the evening). She just seemed to be bored with it and bit me a few times and didn't latch on with the same 'force'. I was really quite upset by this and I really wish now that I had seen your programme as I would have sought advice, as I really wanted to carry on feeding her as long as possible.
It is so important to fight the general ignorance about breastfeeding and to guide new mothers as much as possible. Breast is so obviously best, and it actually breaks my heart to see bottle-fed babies. Just wanted to say thank you for being brave enough to spread the word in such a public domain.
With all good wishes
Name withheld
What a programme….what a woman...what a man...what children….what a family. Just wonderful. We all watched together; Lewis, Katie, Nigel and me. We were so proud, so excited. Nigel sang the praises of you all at work. We encouraged friends and family to watch who might otherwise have had negative views without even watching. Keep doing what you’re doing, ‘cause it’s great. We love you all,
The Ridgways
I'd like to say how wonderfully your family came across on the 'Extraordinary Breastfeeding' programme. Your daughters seem a delight and they made me laugh and smile. The love in your family was inspiring and heart warming, thank you for allowing it to be seen. It was very brave of you to put yourselves out there in the mainstream like that.
Lucy