"I hear it's the closest to breastmilk" - a report published based on posts from MN and others

[hunkermunker]

Fascinating read, be interested to hear what you think

[moondog]

OMG, how fascinating!

Will digest and report back to base.

[Stretch]

I think it quotes VS!!!

You can tell which ones are from MN!

[foxytocin]

lolol

"It's all crap, I'm sure it's just a way to get round adsvertising!! Babies need feeding at night time, and they need milk, not these weird added things!! We'll be drugging our babies to get them to sleep through next!!"

deffo MN!

[hunkermunker]

Yes, it was! LOL!

[moondog]

Interesting though the way that so many articles and papers are not much more than a trawl through internet forums.

Even highbrow newspapers incorporate great chunks from such things.

[LupusinaLlamasuit]

I happen to think that such a use of internet forums is unethical, without explicit consent of forum members or at least notification that they will use comments in this way.

But good report anyhow.

[EachPeachPearMum]

There are highbrow newspapers left moondog?
Doesn't seem like it most days

[Flibbertyjibbet]

Iam just marking this thread to come and read it another time.

Its def a lot of mumsnet - just look at the list of abbreviations!

All there apart from mil fil bil and bilsgf!!

[hunkermunker]

FJ, the abbreviations are net-wide, not MN-specific.

I don't think it's unethical to use quotes from a public forum for research purposes.

[LupusinaLlamasuit]

Yours is a widespread view HM but the issue is one of intended use: if asked the same questions in a research format, would the same answers/comments have been given? Informed consent is a key principle of socially aware research and some people argue it isn't only unethical it might even be illegal.

The key question is whether it is like re-using a newspaper, or recording a private conversation in a public place? I don't expect newspapers to operate ethically but I do expect proper researchers to.

Anyhow, am distracting you from the much more important question of the outcomes of the project. So will shut up.

[foxytocin]

no 10 quote on pg 48 is mine

[lowrib]

Of course it's ethical to use our posts for research - this is a public forum!

LupusinaLlamasuit you say "if asked the same questions in a research format, would the same answers/comments have been given?" I expect the answer is no, but that's whole point - people act differently if they know they are being watched IYSWIM. I reckon it's a good thing that this lot can eavesdrop on our posts to get a different view not usually open to them researchers. Whether it is actually a truer picture is another argument altogether though.

[lowrib]

The report says "few women in the UK exclusively breastfeed their infants, and the majority use some type of infant formula during their infant?s first year.".

Is that true?

[lowrib]

Oops I meant "not usually open to researchers"

[tiktok]

lowrib, yes, it is true. The vast majority of babies get formula at some point. Only about one per cent of babies are exclusively bf to six months.

It's fine to use internet postings in research - not unethical at all. You get a different set of results if you sit people down and interview them, not necessarily 'wrong' results, but different. The posts are anonymous (though I recognise one of my sarcastic ones ) and when one posts on a public forum, one accepts that anyone can use what emerges.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

I was quoted in the telegraph from facebook's BF group. It was taken out of context and made me look very anti-FF which was misleading. I was quoted by name though - not sure if that's better or worse. (don't get m e wrong I'm chuffed to have been quoted but still)

[MrsMotMot]

Thanks for this hunker- will digest when DS allows. Do love MN spotting!

[Coochicoo]

Is it really only one percent Tiktok? I find that astonishing and quite sad.

I'd love to do a piece of research based on parenting forum conversations...at least it would justify all the hours I spend on MN!

[thedolly]

I'm with LupusinaLlamasuit - the value of such 'undisclosed' research as gleened from public forums will be very limited. All it really says is that this is what people are 'saying' - you cannot compile any meaningful statistics.

I don't think it's unethical to use the info gathered as we all know it's in the public domain but drawing conclusions on important issues such as ff/bf would be better done in an explicit manner.

I have bf all 3 DC for 2+ years but I don't think I've ever been an advocate for bfing on MN.

[StealthPolarBear]

Thanks for this - marking to read when I have time for 100 pages!

[scarletlilybug]

Fascinating - thanks for linking.

Seeing things summarised the way they are in that report make it so, so clear that so, sa many people have absolutely no idea as to what is normal behaviour in small babies (night waking, frequent feding, etc). It really saddens me that so many babies are given formula as the "solution" to a non-existant problem.

Also intrigued by just how Aptamil manges to convince so many consumers that it is "the best" and "closest to breastmilk". Their marketers are certainly doing a good job .

[LadyOfWaffle]

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant?s life, with breastfeeding continuing alongside complementary food for the first year, and beyond, if the mother so desires.

That's not true, is it? I have never seen anything about a year on the WHO site...

[LadyOfWaffle]

from WHO website

WHO strongly recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. At six months, other foods should complement breastfeeding for up to two years or more.

This year thing really bugs me, sorry!

[scarletlilybug]

WHO: "A recent review of evidence has shown that, on a population basis, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants. Thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond." Link

[islandofsodor]

Gosh it took ages to plough through thaT LOT WHEN i;M SUPPOSED TO BE TYPING INVOICES.

LOL at the yurts and fish oil (think thjat was one of tik toks)