Miscarriage guidelines - fabulous - but...

[hunkermunker]

mumsnet.com/miscarriagecodeofpractice.html

..will you be putting together some breastfeeding support ones?

[CountessDracula]

and bottle feeding support too I hope

It is blardy hard to get info on and if you can't breast feed you need it.

[hunkermunker]

I knew someone would say that.

Better breastfeeding support would facilitate better bottlefeeding support, should it be necessary from the outset or become necessary after whatever length of time, because there would be more understanding of the issues and greater sensitivity for the feelings of the women involved.

[CountessDracula]

I found I could get oodles of info on breast feeding, really, tons
but NONE on bottle feeding

[poppy34]

as someone about to enter into this whole new world would definitely welcome any kind of no nonsense practical feeding guide

[CountessDracula]

in fact when I asked at the hospital in ante natal classes (I knew in advance that I couldn't breastfeed) they told me they refused to discuss bottle feeding as they were a "baby friendly hospital"

When I pointed out that it would not be very friendly to my baby if I breast fed, nor if I hadn't a clue about bottle feeding (and the rest of the class agreed) they capitulated.

FWIW I think that better education about bottle feeding would make more people likely to breastfeed.

If they realised what a FAFF bottle feeding is in comparison to breast feeding, if they realised that in fact they would have to get up in teh night, go downstairs, warm the bottle (while baby screams in frenzy, awakening itself to a degree where it won't go back to sleep for bloody ages) rather than just grabbing baby and breastfeeding at the first peep, don't you think they might have second thoughts??

[FAQ]

Sorry Hunker I disagree - I don't think good breastfeeding support would support bottle feeding...

We're lucky round here that the BFing support (in RL) is very good - but when I switched to FF with DS2, and again when I switched DS3 I was at a complete loss to know what to do.

And those breastfeeding support groups, leaflets, posters and helplines weren't really going to help me.

[hunkermunker]

Your experience, I would say, was pretty unusual. Yes, there is some excellent breastfeeding support out there, but there are also women who have better treatment than others following a miscarriage, yet these guidelines have been produced.

I'm not arguing though - I want women to have access to decent information, however they choose to feed their babies. I do know, however, that so many women don't feed their baby the way the want to, given that 90% of women who stopped breastfeeding before six weeks wanted to continue.

[CountessDracula]

So you don't think that if they knew what bottle feeding was really like (ie a faff) they might not re-consider?

[hunkermunker]

I should've known better, really.

[hunkermunker]

Post a thread in breast/bottlefeeding called "bottlefeeding's a faff, you know, so you're better off breastfeeding" and see what responses you get.

[CountessDracula]

Why?
What is wrong with those of us who have to bottle feed getting some support too?
What skin is it off your nose?

We are not saying that you shouldn't also have the breastfeeding support guidelines too

[hunkermunker]

You are spectacularly missing the point, CD.

[remembers why not posted lately]

[CountessDracula]

I mean at ante natal classes etc
just present them with the facts
it's a no-brainer if you can breast feed!

If you can't then you do still need support despite what some people might think

[CountessDracula]

Funny
I was just thinking how you were totally missing my point!

[hunkermunker]

What do you want said at antenatal classes?

[hunkermunker]

If you can't breastfeed and you need help, of course you ought to be given it. I'm unsure how you'd have been better off had antenatal classes contained "Bottlefeeding's a faff" though?

Group demos of how to make up a bottle may take place a couple of months before you have a baby and use equipment you don't have at home - so pointless and potentially lethal.

[CountessDracula]

Why can't they just tell the truth

Tell people what you have to do to bottle feed

IE
you have to sterilise
it is a mare when you go out and a faff
you have to get up in the night as in my scenario below
it is expensive
etc etc

All at the same time as showing people HOW to actually go about doing the above (ie what equipment to buy, how to sterilise, what to do when out/in the night, how to choose formula...

Having first talked about breastfeeding, hopefully people will think "OMG bottle feeding sounds like a nightmare" and will breast feed

AND - (Added bonus) - those of us who really truly can't breastfeed will have been given the info we need.

Win win situation

(clearly the msg should also be BREASTFEED IF YOU CAN)

[FAQ]

sorry I don't know of anyone who's switched to FF from BF'ing who's managed to find advice/support/etc of any description , whereas most people I know have had access to some sort of BFing help - even if it was shit......

It's not just how to make up a bottle, how much, how often, etc etc

[CountessDracula]

I don't mean actually SAY it is a faff
but surely if you go through all that palaver anyone with half a brain will think that

[hunkermunker]

My antenatal class did just that, CD.

Breastfeeding rate lamentable at the hospital.

Something not working.

Thought the collective brains of MN could do something to make it better, but no, mired as it is in microscopic personal experience, no such luck.

[CountessDracula]

it is not microscopic personal experience

Lots and lots of people have this problem

You are being blinkered about it IMO

[hunkermunker]

FAQ, if it's shit, it's not breastfeeding support, ffs!

And everyone you know has had access to bottlefeeding support - everyone - whether it's any better than the shit bf support you say about is doubtful, but there's a careline you can ring on each tub of formula you buy.

[CountessDracula]

Also why are you the only one who can decide which groups of people should have support codes put together for them?

I couldn't breastfeed yet I don't object to guidlines for those who do

I have never had a miscarriage and again I don't object

...

[FAQ]

and IME it's not so much before you have your DC, but afterwards.

Go to the HV - I'm FFing now, he's having x numbers of Xoz bottles a day, but doesn't seem settled......., should I try to spread the feeds out and give him more at each feed, try a different milk?

"oh just give it to him when he wants it" (so upwards of 10 times a day I was giving DS3 a 4oz bottle.........)

[hunkermunker]

I am getting abuse for wanting better breastfeeding support?

Hokay.