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Have separate bf and bottlefeeding sections ever been considered?

31 replies

SamJamsmum · 30/06/2008 10:57

I spend way too much time on parenting sites generally but I'm a relative newcomer to mumsnet. I joined a while ago but I haven't visited/ posted much. Apologies if this has been covered before but I'm curious.
Compared to other parenting sites I've noticed the breastfeeding and bottlefeeding board here has an unusual vibe. Some conversations seem to get unhappy relatively quickly and there is a real tension between breastfeeding advocacy and mums who formula feed who sometimes feel they are pushed on the defensive.
I just wonder whether it might be easier to support new breastfeeding mums if their threads weren't surrounded by some of these discussions. And similarly a mum who has chosen to formula feed and is seeking advice may not wish to do so surrounded by threads on breastfeeding advocacy.
As this board is a very popular one and there are separate sections for chicken owners/ forces sweethearts/ ebay, I wonder why it's felt better to keep them together?

OP posts:
andiem · 30/06/2008 12:19

perhaps it could be changed to infant feeeding in the title instead of breast and bottle feeding then there wouldn't be this divide from the very beginning
cross fertilistaion of threads is very important I think as many infants are not fed solely by one method or the other

mears · 30/06/2008 11:44

Yes it has been raised in the past - I suggested it myself because I was sick to death of getting pulled into arguments over the issue and felt that it would be better to be separated.

However, the general consensus was that they should stay together because, despite arguments between posters, mums could gain useful information that they otherwise would not see whether it was about breast or bottle feeding.

You cannot legislate for people's personal sensitivities surrounding infant feeding. What I have learned is to not keep coming back to the debate when it has got ridiculous

Segregation is never a good idea so I think the topics should remained combined because they both address Infant Feeding issues.

WigWamBam · 30/06/2008 11:28

I think it would make things even more divisive than they already are.

Plus things are often not clear-cut; mixed-feeding, mothers wanting to relactate, mothers wanting to change from breast to bottle feeding would have difficulty knowing where to post for the best support.

StarlightMcKenzie · 30/06/2008 11:26

This reply has been deleted

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StarlightMcKenzie · 30/06/2008 11:25

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AbbyMumsnet · 30/06/2008 11:17

Hi there, I have no obvious answer to your query... but will raise this point at next week's meeting!

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