MC Acton: Hi Juliet. I had a girl at 12.07am on Saturday, she weighed 2.94kg. Thank you so much for all your labour tips - they really worked. I had 4 hours active labour, all natural. I didn’t tear either! She came out in 4 pushes, me leaning over a bean bag! Will see you soon.
CQ Dagenham: Had baby Thomas at 8.51 yesterday morning and he weighed 8.5 pounds. Thank you for your classes, they have really helped. Had natural birth, gas and air and pethidine.
SB Hampstead: Hi Juliet, just to let you know had baby Talullah last Friday. Just back from hospital and both doing well. Breastfeeding notes you gave me have been brilliant.
SA NW10 (Breastfeeding): I think it is really important for other women to know this in case it helps them, because I was made to feel that if I was doing it right it shouldn't hurt. Everybody who observed my feeding her (about 4 professionals in total) said that she was well-positioned and latching on well. You were, however, realistic about the fact that it can and often does feel uncomfortable/painful for a while.
I found having you to talk to about the feeding more generally, as well as Eden's weight etc. very helpful, and reassuring, and I really valued having you at the end of the phone.
KM NW10 (Weaning): Juliet Albert came to advise me on my children's diet as my son in particular was incredibly fussy and would only eat toast and cream cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner! I was very stressed about his eating habits, but couldn't seem to find a way to break the pattern, so I was over the moon when my cousin told me about Juliet.
Juliet came round to my house to meet Toby (my then 18 month old little boy), and very quickly seemed to understand what the key issues were. She had a very relaxed and non-judgemental manner, and gave me some really useful tips to try and encourage Toby to eat some new foods. I'm glad to say that, while Toby still has his fussy moments, he now eats a much broader range of foods, and as a result both of us are much more relaxed and much happier.
SA TW7 (Private Antenatal Classes): I gave birth to a little boy on 03.11.08. Prior to that I had 2 parent education sessions with Juliet, and one after the birth.
Juliet tailored the information to meet my specific needs. Her sessions were well organised, informative and relaxed. Her friendly approach meant that I was able to ask her all of my questions, no matter how silly they seemed to me. She used both written material and a video in her teaching to back up the information she gave me. I found this helpful, as I could then share the information with my husband, and remind myself of things that I had forgotten!
I particularly found the breastfeeding sessions useful. She gave me the confidence to carry on breastfeeding when I was on the verge of giving up, and I can happily say that 7 weeks later I am still fully breastfeeding my baby. She also gave me the knowledge that I required to start my journey in parenting for the first time. From a practical point of view she suggested a structure for getting the baby into a regular sleeping and feeding routine. This has worked for me and has meant that I am enjoying being a Mummy.
Overall I found her approach flexible, open-minded and non-judgemental.
VS NW2: Juliet was an invaluable source of knowledge and good advice during those critical early few months of my new baby's life, when everything seemed so complicated.
Her suggestions about establishing daytime sleep patterns helped me to create a much needed structure to my day, and ensured that my baby was both refreshed and ready for a good feed when he woke, and also was ready to settle at 7pm for the night.
It was Juliet, rather than the doctors I spoke, to who diagnosed the reflux that later on made it painful for him to feed and Juliet who helped me through a difficult and trying time - now there's nothing that stands in the way of him and his food.
Thank you for all your help. I hope your book will give other new mothers the clarity they need to enjoy their babies as much as I am continuing to enjoy mine.
EK NW11 (Routine & Weaning): Thank you so much for your help with weaning my baby - the amount of advice and views are overwhelming at this time, and I found your guidance practical as well as encouraging. The most natural approach possible. Miriam's nap routine also changed, which made life a lot easier for us as well as for her! I really appreciated your support, the way you listened, used your own experience and took in to account my personal needs.
P.S. You were doubtful at the time about whether I would be able to feed just twice a day at 6 months, but just to let you know it worked really well, and the milk supply maintained as required - I have also found this with my second baby, who is now 8 months and breastfeeding at 7am and 7pm.
MF: We found Juleit's help prior to the birth of our daughter invaluable. She was attentive, inspired confidence and was very personable.
After our daughter was born, Juliet was a dream. Those first few weeks were really hard, but Juliet gave us the reassurance we needed. We now have a happy, contented baby thanks to Juliet!
KJ N22: I wish to thank Juliet so much for her advice. I consulted her after both of my children were born. I was coping well, but had so many questions, and had been given so much conflicting information. Juliet was able to give simple to follow advice that was tailor made for me, my babies and our specific needs and requirements. She was caring, reassuring and practical, without being judgemental or patronising. Her follow up service was superb, I was able to consult her whenever I had a question or concerns. The early days of motherhood are so precious - I was able to enjoy it, and trust my maternal instincts.
I have recommended Juliet to many friends with worries about routines, breastfeeding or sleeping and I will continue to do so.
TB NW10: Hello, we are very well and believe it or not still breastfeeding (I year on).
Thank you for your help in my first few weeks. You were very supportive, warm and generous with your time. I valued your help at supporting my desire to breastfeed only.
One thing I can reflect on in hindsight is that early on I found it impossible to implement your routine that you suggested i.e. feed-play-sleep. I was only able to start applying this 4 months into Josef's life. In the first few months what I felt most helpful was to feed on demand. Josef did not want to be separate from me early on, so he did not tolerate the away space before sleep. Perhaps other children can tolerate that more. I don't know if it's a boy thing, but my friends with little girls seem to find it easier to feed, play and put their babies down.