It's not just us who find Aptamil's campaign thoroughly shameful.

maybe just feeding advice regardless of which B you choose to use!!!

But breastfeeding is much more complex. I've done both with ds. You can see how much they are taking, you don't get mastitis, thrush, malpositioning....it's a totally different thing. I sound like I'm promoting formula here
The decision to give formula may be hard, but surely not the feeding itself?

Then toothache needs to describe to us what suport bottlefeeding parents do need. I am interested, in a constructive way!

Agree WWB

Also my health visitor and midwife are wonderful!!!
So I am a real outsider here!!!

yes but blu, all those questions are about your baby and more general feeding questions. You dont need as much help with the actual process of bottle feeding, surely??

I also think that the difference with those sort of Q's, Blu, is that another Mum can help you out with it. Another mum who has not trained to be a BF counsellor, may be able to help you bf, but probably won't be able to.

in your experience

I have never used a bottle and found breastfeeding a breeze, so I could say the same thing..but wouldnt be so insensative!

Trouble is, the trained bfcs can't help with the emotional side of feeding - and I think that's what Toothache felt she needed. The problems that they can help with are physical - positioning, latch, pain - none of which apply to bottle-feeding. There's no emotional support for breast-feeders either, apart from the feeling that at least someone is there to try and help with the physical stuff.

What was probably needed was an ounce of sympathy from the midwives ... and once again, we're back to the huge lack of support for women once their baby is born.

It's not about deserving support,but about identifying what support is needed - and tbh when I first read Enid's comment, I agreedd. But then I thought about the many many q's from people worrying about how much, how often, babies who won't feed all at once, babies who don't like a bottle, how to drop feeds, add feeds, etc etc.
None of that is on the box.

But either way, it doesn't have to be a value udgement about the bottlefeeding per se, nor does it have to be taken as one.

enid
What is wrong with you?

No that's not true and good bf counsellors know that.

Lots of HV's and MW's otoh, don't.

And that's why more bf counsellors are needed.

no not in a mood

just have come into this debate late!

and I am sorry, I dont understand why bottle feeding takes as much support as breast feeding.

I have done both btw and I know which was harder!

caligula - oh I 'C'

wouldn't have thought breast feeding was rocket science either - well its the most natural thing in the world surely?

once you've got the latch right you're away.

but thats because they are not the same and do not involve the same kind of effort and skill

Enid, i think you are in a mood today or just out to cause trouble!!
Is there something you need to talk about?

"but its not rocket science? Bottle feeding?"

Just proves my point even more. Change bottle feeding to breast feeding and see what the reaction would be.

But ws, what support do you need with formula that is as time intensive and specialist as bf support?

I'm a bit shocked by Enid's comment. Hope she didn't mean to be so insensitive, but it just proves the point I have been making on other threads: in some people's eyes, if you choose to bottle feed you are beyond the pale and not deserving of support, whereas if you breastfeed you should have trained counsellors on hand 24 hours a day ready to come to your side at the drop of a hat.

A bit one sided isn't it? The truth is any mother may need support, whichever route to feeding she chooses, and she shouldn't be demonised for taking the formula route.

Jools believe me, there is no gap in that market.

It's already being filled by midwives and HV's. Hence the appallingly low rates of BF in this country.

The gap is supportive bf counsellors who know how to help women overcome the bf problems so that they can continue to bf.

sorry toothy

but its not rocket science? Bottle feeding?

maybe there's an opportunity for you there toothache - a yawning gap in the market -eh?

Women who have had a bad time breastfeeding and turned to bottle advising women in a similar position?

It's a thought

No you can't have done - someone will be along in the minute telling everyone to stop talking about this.

Good grief have I killed the thread!!!?