Breastfeeding Petition

What's in The Mother's mailbag

In the mailbag of TM29 - 2008

Huge congratulations on how well you've been doing with TM. What a journey!!!
Jo Rayner

A truly inspirational magazine. When it arrives in the post, everything else can wait!
Natascha

Spring greetings from sunny south Cumbria. Our family would love to meet The Mother readers and their offspring. Will you kindly add our wish in the next issue? We’re looking forward to your email. Thank you very much. Happy April/May - whatever!
Love, Hrissoula

Hello all ~ the team of The Mother,
I really just want to thank you for such a brilliant mag. I find you my support network. I'm a single mum to Teddie (1 year).
Every time TM drops on my mat, I get a cuppa & biccie, and read it cover to cover whilst Teddie takes a nap, feeds, sits, cuddles or plays near me. It confirms all my beliefs in bringing up Teddie the 'right way': bed sharing, breastfeeding, sling carrying, home education, and so on, including a marvellous drug-free home birth.
There seems so few of us about, but The Mother brings us together in this crazy world of fake milk, animal pens (known as cots!), day-care from six weeks old, and so on! A study on the way we bring up our children versus the main stream would make a great tv documentary. Maybe it would prompt parents to love and care for their children in the natural way, following their gut instinct not how the books and the health professions dictate. (Dare I say my midwife said a five month old should be fed fried egg to put on weight?) It takes a strong person to stand their ground and say “NO” to injections, “no” to weaning bang on six months, but when your child is ready. Teddie was 10 months. Now, at one year, he eats everything, but in small amounts, and some days he still just wants milk. I'm sure this is what has kept him ‘bug’ free. He knows what he wants and needs.
With lots of love, inspiration and thanks for your wonderful mag. Keep up the brilliant work.
Nicola xx
p.s
If anyone lives in Newcastle, I run a breastfeeding support group for all ages, not just babies! Tea, coffee, fruit and a chat. The group is free.

E-mail: littlemisferrit@yahoo.co.uk for location & info.

Thank you so much! I have been absorbed in The Mother all day today. So nice to feel as though I’m not in “Lala Land” after all, as I am so frequently accused of being by people in “the real world”. I am not alone when I hold a copy of The Mother in my hand! The words of The Mother speak to me on such a deep level. It is food for the soul indeed. Love and light, smiles and sunshine,
Michelle J

We love the magazine, keep up the great work. Best wishes,
Louise & Chris Righton

Can you put a notice in TM about baby clothes and stuff? I still have stacks of it. Visit www.vaccineriskawareness.com on the second-hand baby clothes and cloth nappies page. I've got organic baby clothes and tots bots nappy covers, rainbow stripe and polka dots. I've got some slings my friend gave me to sell, etc.
Joanna. e-mail: greekgoddess472@hotmail.com

Dear Veronika,
It has been a long time since I read The Mother magazine. A lot of the things I love about life went by the wayside for a bit, and I'm doing some rediscovery these days. One thing I'd like to bring back into my life is your beautiful magazine! I'm including a few poems that I hope you'll consider including. Maybe they will fit with what you are doing with The Mother these days. Your current website sure looks beautiful! And I especially appreciated this footer: *We are an animal-aware publication and do not take articles or adverts which involve the use or abuse of animals in any way.
Warmest wishes,
Rachel Westfall. Canada

This was me - failed breastfeeder to my first two babes both born before The Mother magazine. Lewis & Katie, I am so sorry, if only I knew. Both were fed from my breasts for only a few short weeks.
This is me now - feeding Oscar, aged eight months.
This is me - thanking every Mama who ever took the time to write their Breastfeeding Career for TM; Lynda Cook Sawyer for her amazing articles, and every Mama who ever wrote a breastfeeding article in TM - know your words held me in the middle of the night, encouraged me to go on when I doubted myself, doubted my breasts, my milk. All the beautiful Mamas who feed their babes anywhere and everywhere - please know that sometimes the person who is staring, is in awe, watching, taking note, learning. To my Mother Friends - who held me when I needed them most, Veronika - thanks is never enough... I love you xx. Together, this is what you have given me, my family... and most importantly, what you have given my son.
Denise Ridgway

In the mailbag of TM28 - 2008

I subscribed to your magazine from the first issue, when I was pregnant with my first child Helix. After my second child, Lila, and on leaving the UK in June 2006, I stopped subscribing feeling 1.) I had grown out of it, my children now being older; and 2.) not having an address, as we planned to travel around Europe.

On returning to the UK recently, a friend gave me back issues that I hadn’t received. What a joy! Delighted by the colour on the front cover, and by the new frequency with which they came out, The Mother again did seem relevant to my life as a natural-living home educator. So, at last, after years of ideas for articles for the magazine, I am finally sitting with enough head space in our warm yurt to write.
Maryjane
France

Dear Barry, another wonderful issue! I continue to be impressed, and have just enjoyed seeing you through your daughter's eyes.
Warmly,
E. Naomi Sandoval

As a single, breastfeeding, baby-carrying mother of my beautiful 14 month old, I know no-one else with the same beliefs except for The Mother. You ease my isolation.
Sarah

Dear Veronika,
Just had to email you! Received my latest copy of The Mother, and am always inspired. Our six month old daughter, Tara Devi, has benefited from all the shared wisdom in those pages, and in your book The Drinks are on Me. All of it feels intuitively right; it's just good to have it confirmed!

I notice you also published Babaji's words in TM27 - I wonder how these words came to you? My family are Babaji devotees, and my husband tours around Europe and the UK playing Babaji's music.
I noticed that there is one mail in that edition from a woman called Sara, who is singing the praises of Mandy the midwife - who was also my midwife at our homebirth. We had such a beautiful birth in our Babaji temple/summerhouse at the end of the garden. Wishing you continued courage and love in your work.
Om Namah Shivaya
Thrisha xxxx

Dear Barry, I forgot to say how much I value and anticipate your and Winnie's articles in The Mother (and Anna's). Your family is a source of great inspiration to me, I salute you all.
Thank you again for the wonderful example of kindness you demonstrate in everything you do.
Name withheld

I would like to sing the praises of the independent midwife who looked after my family for the birth of our second son. I could not have found better care anywhere; she really is one in a trillion, and I will never forget the difference she has made to our lives. Her name is Susan Stevenson:

First born
Convention won out
Instinct suppressed
Fear
Intervention
Heartache

We met for second born
Support beyond expectations
Attachment parenting on a joy-filled journey
Confidence nurtured
Steadfast against doubt
Compassion, respect, trust

A mother's heart healed
A bonny boy so healthy
Revolution affecting generations
Your butterfly wings
Fulfilling hearts
You wonderful woman

As far as brickbats, I have run into them over vaccinations for my second son. "Selfish", "Unfit mother"; some doctors just don't like informed patients! A bit scary when they tell you your children could be taken off you, even though I know they legally can't. Turning to your magazine REALLY helped when I felt rather shaken.

I loved Veronika's book, which tallies so strongly with Mother Nature, tragically rejected in our 'civilised' society. It’s not easy going out on a limb, and I greatly admire her courage. If enough people take on board the message, she could lessen violence in forthcoming generations. What a difference to make! I have also been reading Primal Mothering in a Modern World by Hygeia Halfmoon - well worth a read if you haven't come across it yet. (Ed’s note: It is available from www.fresh-network.com)

Thank you so much for producing a magazine that is providing courage to follow our instincts when we come up against conflict from convention.
Love,
Amanda

Of course I will re-subscribe. How could I live without my fix of The Mother? Thanks and love.
Sophie

I'd like to say a very huge, sincere thank you to all of the Rugby Community Midwives - particularly, Marjorie Dalrymple - who assisted the birth of my son, Tom, in September of last year. Marjorie was my ante-natal midwife throughout my pregnancy, but was off-duty the day I went into labour.

Actually, there was a greater than expected number of home births on the day I went into labour, so Jane, who came out to me initially, was also scheduled to be off-duty. However, she willingly came out at 4am, and gently and respectfully allowed me the space to prepare for Tom's arrival. She stayed with me until the change of shift at 8am, when she contacted Marjorie to let her know I was in labour.
Marjorie gave up precious time with her daughter to be with me, and for that I am deeply grateful. She, along with the other attending midwife, Julie (a hospital midwife), provided humour, moral support and encouragement. My husband took a photograph of us at the bottom of our garden, about an hour before Tom arrived, as we were being shadowed by my daughter, who was dressed in a pink fairy costume. It was a calm and peaceful birth, just after mid-day, on my daughter's third birthday. I have so much respect and admiration for all of the midwives we met on our journey, and I thank them all for doing what they do with such love and care.
Lynne
Nr Rugby, Warwickshire

Dear Veronika, I subscribed to your wonderful magazine for four years, at first while my babies were being conceived, carried and born, and later when I (unexpectedly) became a lone parent to them. I often found The Mother challenging and thought-provoking, and I always found it inspirational and engaging. Your pages always managed to reflect the balancing trick that as parents we strive to master, that of offering support in testing times, in sharing joy in fabulous times, and in providing constancy and stability. During that time, my – and my children’s - experience of lone parenting taught us many lessons in sadness and anger, in love and in letting go, and most rewardingly in finding strength, joy and inspiration in each other.

I let my subscription slip from my busy life a year or so ago, and I often missed the sense of community that exists within The Mother. I have renewed for 2008, in celebration of the two amazing and precious souls that have come into our lives: those of my partner, and our beautiful daughter. Another lesson; that only when you truly and totally set free the hope of something, does it manifest itself. How wonderful!
I can’t wait to receive copies of your magazine again, and to see how it too has evolved, and I hope that all is well with you. Love, light and bright, bright blessings,
Nicola x

I love this magazine! If any readers in the Brighton & Hove area would like to get in touch my email address is :fmcveigh@yahoo.com
Namaste,
Franke

Kaia is six ~ the same age as your magazine, and your words have been beside me through these last six years ~ her baby days, and through my next two pregnancies and births! So yet again, I thank you.
Elwyn

Thank you so much for another fantastic issue of The Mother. I love it. It really does warm the soul on those less than perfect parenting days!
Gina

A few years ago, I took Maya on a demo against a Nescafé café in Bristol – she wrote these slogans. I kept them and thought you might like to use them somewhere - I think they are great!

Nestlé makes babies ill
just to put money in their till

The more Nestlé promotes baby powder
the more we’ll shout “breast is best” louder!

She was about seven at the time.
Love
Eva

Thank you so much for your wonderful publication. This magazine is, in large part, the reason for our peaceful home birth last summer. I never knew I had so many options. It feels wonderful to know I am not alone in choosing to parent responsively; wanting to meet the needs of my girls. Thanks again for the wonderful work you do.
Karen (USA)

I just wanted to mention that I noticed someone’s deodorant advice in last month’s issue. Although it all seems nice and natural, the recipe actually uses talc, which is toxic and dangerous to put on your skin. Talc has been shown to contain asbestos! And even talc that doesn’t, has problems. Therefore, I would recommend someone tells the lady asap, as she is putting it straight into her blood stream. Also – it would be sensible to print the info in the next issue. But – don’t take my word for it, see what the Environmental Working Group in the States says about it: http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/ingredient.php?ingred06=706427&nothanks=1
And some more: http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/cosmetics/talc.htm
All the best,
Elin Ross Pedersen
Director, Nothing Nasty Natural Skin Care
info@nothingnasty.com
www.nothingnasty.com

Dear Barry, Thank you very much for my copy of The Mother and The Drinks Are On Me. They arrived yesterday—fantastic service!
I have started reading Veronika’s book and I'm really enjoying it. She has a wonderful style of writing, and the pictures are beautiful.
I came across The Art of Change though the ABM. I received my magazine from them last week, and saw that there was a Continuum Concept tour coming to Bristol (I live 40 minutes away), so I was looking to book a place .Sadly it wasn't to be.
Whilst browsing I noticed The Mother magazine and recognised Veronika from Extraordinary breastfeeding, so I subscribed and bought a copy of her lovely book. I am a breastfeeding mother to a 16 month old boy and 4 "big" children.
Donna

In the mailbag of TM26 - 2008

I subscribe to The Mother and love it, so naturally, I was excited to see Veronika's new book on sale. I am about to complete my breastfeeding peer counselling training, and have found it tough some of the time as a lot of women don't share the same views as me on mothering, especially through long term breastfeeding. This is why I need The Mother for support.
Claire

Although this article (full-term breastfeeding) on www.shazzie.com is nearly two years old, I read it this morning for the first time. I hope this message can be passed along to Veronika Robinson. Her article has entirely changed my perspective on breastfeeding, something I did not think possible.

My background: I'm a nurse and lactation consultant (IBCLC) in the US, and I have two children. My first was weaned at two years, eight months. My second is still breastfeeding at three and a half years. I was breastfed until my mother weaned me at four years (against my wishes, I understand).

I am happily, VERY happily, breastfeeding my son, a preschooler. It is one of the most enjoyable things in my life, and in his. I have already started to feel a sadness because he is getting older, and that because of his age and size, it will be time to wean him, or that he may self-wean, soon. Even though I am accustomed to shrugging off the odd looks and comments while breastfeeding a toddler, I did not think I would be able to handle odd looks and comments while breastfeeding a preschooler, and especially not for a school-age child.

However, after reading your article, I have come to the startling realisation that it is not necessary to wean him. I know, you'd think from my profession and my own experiences, this would be quite evident already. I didn't even know how much anxiety was already present until I read the article, and felt the weight of anticipated weaning lift from me. To be honest, in the past, I was a bit upset by the thought of a six or seven year old breastfeeding. I can't imagine nursing my now six year old daughter. But I can't stand the thought of NOT breastfeeding my son for as long as he desires.

Thank you for writing this article, Veronika. In a matter of minutes, reading your story has changed everything for us.
Karen

May I say I love The Drinks Are On Me on YouTube…it brought tears to my eyes. Veronika, you are a fabulous woman, reaching out across the world - to express with clarity what many of us have thought. I spent many years feeling frustrated and angry about the reaction I got from some folks - when I breastfed my first child 15 years ago in Liverpool, and felt isolated and old fashioned. Thank God, instinct helped me to carry on. We enjoyed 18 months, my son and I.

Please remember daily that you are a Goddess of Light. The way you use your gentle, feminine side to relay information is lovely. The chip on my shoulder has taken some years for me dissolve. Blessings to you all at The Mother magazine
Angela, New Zealand

I am writing, firstly to say how wonderful your magazine is, and how much pleasure and security it gives me. Since discovering the magazine here in New Zealand, I devour each issue with its informative articles on subjects I feel so strongly about, all validated with scientific, personal or logical references. This clarity, amongst the onslaught of money-making, soulless, misguided parenting 'leadership', is just beautiful. So thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

Secondly, I am currently creating a website of positive birth stories aimed at countering the profit and fear-driven birth industry. It is my hope that the true stories reflected will give mothers-to-be the courage to follow their instincts, and have gentle, beautiful, empowered births. I would appreciate if you could somehow incorporate the request, with my e-mail address, into the next possible edition!
With warm motherhood solidarity,
Josie Vendramini
organicgirlproductions@eftel.com

I was shown your magazine a few years ago by a German friend. I photocopied some articles that grabbed me. Now I'm expecting baby No.3 (actually due yesterday), so I thought I'd treat myself to a subscription.
Louise

Dear Barry,
There are a few companies who could learn from your customer service approach. I am looking forward to receiving my first copy. I am hoping it will help me feel like I have options other than the conveyor belt of bureaucracy which is shrouding the beauty and miracle of birth in forms and fear for me. Love and light,
Claire

I wanted to drop you a line, this is not something I have ever done before, but I came across your article on full-term breastfeeding, and I wanted to write to you in support.

I remember watching the programme early last year (Extraordinary Breastfeeding), and was quite shocked by it. It was one of those programmes that is still talked about today within 'baby' circles! I have since had a baby who is now five months old. I have to tell you that I was very much in the camp of - I will try breastfeeding, but if it doesn't work for me then I won't pursue it. Well, I can tell you that I obviously didn't know myself all that well! Once my son was born we had immediate skin-to-skin contact, and I tried breastfeeding quite early on. It seemed to work a couple of times, but I had really bad problems with breastfeeding whilst I was in hospital. We only stayed for a couple of days, and the midwives topped up my son with formula milk, as they told me he was not getting enough food. I now know how wrong they were, because he was very sick after both top-ups, so this was (in my view) an overload of milk - my milk had been sufficient.

I was called back to hospital, as blood tests showed that my son was dehydrated, and we went back to stay the night. It was a truly awful night. The midwives didn't help me in a nice way at all - and I had to express my milk in the end. The following day, the head midwife actually advised me to STOP expressing, and to feed my son FORMULA only! I told her I was choosing to express, as I wanted him to have my milk.

I tried to latch him on time and time again, but it wouldn't work, and I had so many emotional problems with breastfeeding. I was obsessed with breastfeeding and everything to do with it. I read all I could, and expressed every three hours without fail - day or night! It was exhausting! I remember the night it all changed for me. My husband was downstairs sorting a bottle of expressed milk, and my son was crying, and I was crying too - just wishing he would latch on and again, I tried, and he almost latched on, and I actually felt that what I was doing was wrong. I honestly believed that breastfeeding was wrong, that I was doing something wrong. This makes me feel very sad now to think back to this time. My husband came upstairs and I quickly unlatched and gave the expressed milk bottle - and kept this feeling to myself. I did tell him the next day, and he supported me so much, telling me not to give up and to keep trying to latch him on.

Almost six weeks after I gave birth, my son FINALLY latched on. And I can honestly say we have not looked back. I absolutely LOVE breastfeeding. I think it is, without a doubt, the single most important thing I can do for my baby. I leak still, first thing in the morning, but it has never crossed my mind to stop just because I leak. Before he latched on, he would be very windy, and we would spend ages trying to get a burp up! My life changed once he latched on. He is so happy, so content, so trusting. I truly believe this is due to breastfeeding. I didn't realise how much I wanted to breastfeed until I couldn't do it. I am already feeling the pressure to stop breastfeeding, but I don't want to, and I won't let them get to me. I intend to breastfeed for a while yet, plus my baby is only five months old! A BABY!

Apologies for rambling on, but I wanted to tell you my story and how I am so pleased I came across your article. You have inspired me, and I thank you for that. I don't doubt your story was twisted by the media, and I will most definitely set people right when your story comes up. I am extremely pro-breastfeeding, and the hype from the latest media frenzy Bringing Up Baby has made me realise how much so. I was appalled by the comment to the breastfeeding woman "inflicting your breasts upon the public". Absolutely ridiculous! I myself have been at the centre of the disapproving looks, whilst out for coffee with friends, because I was breastfeeding ~ the most natural thing in the world. Because I so desperately wanted to breastfeed, and I read so much, I fully understand what you mean about it being the absolute best milk. I find it amazing that some mothers don't even attempt it. I'm afraid I don't understand why a woman would deny her child such a precious start. I would like to train to become some sort of breastfeeding counselor one day, because it is definitely something I am passionate about. Your comment, "Animal milks are made for animal babies. Cow's milk is designed to build a calf's body very quickly. Goat's milk is designed for a kid." I couldn't agree with you more.

I am so pleased that the programme was aired, and that breastfeeding is being pushed to the forefront of people's minds. Breast milk is the best milk, and I do believe that it is too important to not do it. Thank you for sharing your story, and I hope that I am one of many, many people who you have inspired to continue to breastfeed.
With best wishes,
Name withheld

The Drinks Are On Me

This book is like a warm hug from a close friend. I couldn't put it down. It's gone straight to the top of my pile of books!
Lorraine

Thank you, have received, and am devouring, my copy of The Drinks Are On Me.
G Sayers

I just wanted to say congratulations to Veronika, and all at The Art of Change, for a fantastic book. I'm halfway through and really enjoying it, and will recommend it to anyone I know who happens to be, or thinking about, breastfeeding. I'd also like to say thanks for the excellent customer service. It's really nice to find people who really do put their customers first and keep you up to date on what's happening. Thanks again.
M ichelle

Hi Veronika
I wanted to write and thank you for the latest edition of the Mother, which I thoroughly enjoyed as usual, and especially for your new book, which arrived today. It’s the best breastfeeding book I've read (half way through!), so real and passionate.

I really love the section on NAK (nursing at keyboard). We didn't have a computer when Kyran was a baby, but there were times I did NAK with Jonah, before I knew of the dangers of electromagnetic radiation, and before I started to understand the true intimacy and sharing of knowledge that breastfeeding provides (thank your for recommending the Anastasia books). I think it is SO important to raise awareness of these issues, and I am glad that I am now able to protect him from this and thoroughly enjoy every breastfeeding moment we share.

Kyran was so excited to see the pictures of him and Jonah in the magazine. Thank you for publishing them. If you ever want to use any more of my photos please don't worry about extending my sub any further, we are just happy to see ourselves in our fave mag :)

It was wonderful to read that your girls have chosen to return to home education; selfishly I'm hoping it means the return of the Radical Unschooling column in TM!
Thank you for being such a beacon of light and an inspiration for natural living and natural childhood. Love to you and your family.
Carrie & fam x

You have just made my day!! I just received your book, with your lovely note on the inside – that was really kind of you, and makes me wish even more that we lived near each other!!!
It looks great, and I love the pictures and art work. I am excited to read it! Sorry for all the !!!! marks, but it’s nice to feel good about something – you should really be proud!
Meg

A friend of mine lent me three copies - that was it, I was hooked!

Being a home-birthing, breastfeeding, bed-sharing, baby-wearing mummy, it’s lovely to find a magazine that is supportive, which also has valuable, informative, interesting information. Keep up the good work. Congrats on a fab mag.
Nicola

We just had our first baby and we love your mag!!
Thrisha

It's such a fantastic magazine. When friends and family sometimes look on my ideas as being a bit weird and silly, it's nice to read The Mother and know that they are not.
Michelle

I just wish more people could be made aware of the magazine and what it stands for, and that the people who read it/write it/publish it are NOT just a minority bunch of oddballs, but just give a damn about their children and the world as a whole. I also think Anna Durdant-Hollamby is wise beyond her years, and if that is what home schooling can do - fantastic!
Antje

Many thanks to you all at The Mother - I would not miss my magazine for anything, and have learnt such a lot from you all.
S.M.

Your article (Words that Change Lives).... AWESOME in that I picked it up just when I needed it, and the words just HIT ME....So I keep reading it, reading it, reading it,..and I DON'T THINK, but let the words sink in and see what happens...
Caroline

If we all keep singing the same song it will become a chorus. I look forward to each copy and feel it validates me as a mum.
Jan

I'm “supposed” to be focusing on homeschooling my beautiful girl this morning, but oh no - “you” have to come and land on my doormat and have me in floods of tears with your editorial column about cuddles being compulsory. (I'm thinking about buying that as a dot com.)

I love those girls of yours, and I love that you give voice to my thoughts. I have been on such an amazing journey these past two weeks; most of all I've realised that my daughter needs to be allowed to slow right down, be collected together, and held. School has scattered her, confused her, and filled the space between her ears with economic crap.
Thank you for just knowing what I needed to read this morning. <wipes tears away>
Rae

Hi, just a quick note to say I received your magazine a few days ago. What a fantastic read it is. I shall definitely be putting in a subscription very soon, postal strike or not. Well done. What wonderful people you are. At last, someone on my wavelength!
Blessings,
Jo

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