Jennifer Ashcroft, Ibclc

What’s the most ridiculous diet you have heard so far in 2019?

Incredible! 👏🏻

If you are currently, or have previously been, a breastfeeding mother that has accessed hospital inpatient services in Northern Ireland, either for yourself or for your child please consider taking 5 minutes to complete my online survey.
Your help and feedback is greatly appreciated.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NXWGC9T< br>

When the evidence influences the policy makers 👏🏻

Hopefully this research will have the desired impact.
All too often families are given the advice...’give it a go, it won’t do any harm to do it for X amount of time ’ in relation to exclusion diets for infants and breastfeeding mothers, and various trials of different infant formulas.
There is naivety in this often well meaning advice whether from healthcare professionals, therapists or friends and family.
... Understanding and supporting families with normal newborn behaviour is crucial in identifying whether or not an infant needs intervention, and unfortunately this is something we are not very good at within our culture.
Being quick to suggest medicalised intervention, medications, or dietary changes unnecessarily can exacerbate a difficult situation for a family as it may not resolve the ‘problem’ leading to a vicious cycle of frustration.
Unnecessary dietary exclusions without appropriate assessment, support and follow up are labour intensive for the family, can be nutritionally detrimental to the infant at a crucial time of development, and can be the final straw for a breastfeeding mother having a difficult journey which may lead to stopping breastfeeding before she planned to.
The colicky infant can be an extremely high needs infant. If you have concerns about your baby seek professional help from relevant experts.
https://www.cochrane.org/CD…/BEHAV_diet -changes-infant-colic
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💯 accurate!
When I see lists with ‘things to get in preparation for starting baby led weaning’ I always notice ‘a large dose of patience’ is missing 😂
However, both little miss and pooch are loving it!👧🏼🐶

As a follow on to previous post about childhood eating behaviours...all too relevant in todays society!
https://feedingbytes.com/2013/02/like-mot her-like-child/

http://feedingbytes.com/…/05/healthy-re lationship-with-food/
All too often parents or other healthcare professionals refer to Paediatric dietitians for ‘a quick fix’ to problematic childhood dietary concerns.
Whether fussy/restrictive eating patterns/childhood obesity etc etc. shaping our child’s relationship with food starts at day one of life and is influenced by our own food choices.
... Food shaming and the elimination or focus on of single food groups can fuel disordered eating.
Teaching children mindful eating and recognising that food choices go beyond calorie counting or ‘sugar intake’/single health messages, is fundamental to building nutritional health for future generations.
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Whether you have a newborn or maybe a previous baby where feeding didn’t go as planned and you are anxious about a future journey this article is for you!
Seek peer support and professional help if you are struggling!

NICE - 1.2.2 "In breast-fed infants with frequent regurgitation associated with marked distress, ensure that a person with appropriate expertise and training carries out a breastfeeding assessment."
http://www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/…/ infant-reflux-nice-g…

🙌🏻 YES! None of this over complicated list of foods to avoid, or times of day when certain foods can and cannot be eaten!
Of course there are times when allergy or intolerances can be suspected but that’s when you should seek professional support to ensure you are not missing out on important nutrients unnecessarily!

And the research is ongoing as scientists discover the roles of each component! Fascinating!