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Midwife slams modern parenting experts — saying their strict and harsh routines were a “load of bulls**t and a fear campaign”.

Cath Curtin, widely known as Midwife Cath, says the rise of mummy bloggers and cutbacks in maternal child health services has created a raft of so-called “experts” without the experience or knowledge to help first-time parents, reports Herald Sun.

Midwife Cath has delivered more than 10,000 babies and she said many things had changed since she delivered her first baby in the 70s — and she has had enough of the new form of judgment mums cop.

Now it’s all about “what pram you’ve got, how skinny you are, how the baby’s sleeping and if you’re breastfeeding”.

But one of the biggest problems, she says, is that mums aren’t being taught how to parent, due to reduced maternal and child health services.

“You need to be taught how to parent but (new mother’s groups) are leaving you to teach each other,” she said.

It’s a great feeling ????

A post shared by Midwife Cath (@midwifecath) on

Midwife Cath wants to see less mums Googling parenting tips.

“You’ve got to actually think about what these professionals are telling you — it’s a load of bulls**t, and it’s a fear campaign.

“We’re told that if you rock your baby to sleep, they’ll never learn to sleep on their own but I’m telling you, I fed my baby to sleep and now he’s 24 and sleeping (just fine).”

“So you go online and Mary-Lou from Minnesota is telling you what to do, or someone with two or three (kids) or just a bit of bravado says you’re doing the wrong thing and that’s a big problem.”

Cath is urging mums to “get back to the basics”.

“I’m all about getting the baby on the floor and having no bouncers, swings or gadgets because they just cost a lot of money and stop progressive development,” Cath said.

“The (hardest thing for mums these days) is the pressure to get your baby to sleep and sleep all night,” she said.

“The anxiety is out of control and it just wasn’t there when we raised our children.

“If your baby doesn’t sleep, rock them or put them in the bed with you.

“Babies need to be loved and that’s really it.”

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Midwife Cath is an Australian Midwife, MCH nurse. Expert in newborn & toddler feeding & sleep. Author of ‘The First Six Weeks’ and ‘After the First Six Weeks’.

I hope you enjoy my book ????

A post shared by Midwife Cath (@midwifecath) on

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  • These days when you put a baby on the floor in 98% of the time you are basically putting them on cold concrete with carpet or vinyl attached to it. Some babies will fall asleep while feeding through no fault of the Mum. Bouncers or swings get your baby up off the cold floor and are ideal for babies who stay awake for longer lengths of time. You can attach age appropriate age toys to them to amuse your baby. Would you lie on a cold floor for as long as your expect your baby to???

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  • I feel super lucky in the fact that my mum is a midwife so if I ever need any advice or have any worries I just ask her.

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  • I had a great GP during my pregnancy and followed his advice – no problems.

    Reply

  • Yes. Okay googling or asking social media is fine with some things. But if you’re generally worried about you’re baby then go and get professional help. There is a hotline number for any questions you have. They can tell you whether or not if its wise to go to the hospital or doctor for medical attention.
    We need more midwives like Cath.

    Reply

  • I agree with getting back to basics

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  • I think that google is fine as long as you take it sensibly and see a real dr when needed.

    Reply

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