'Breast is Best'

[OddSocksandRainbowDocs]

It's National Breastfeeding Week and I've seen the phrase 'Breast is Best' banded about quite a few times.

Whilst I agree breastfeeding is scientifically better, some mothers (myself included) physically could not breastfeed so chose to formula feed instead. I was made to feel like a failure by a midwife for choosing to do so.

My little one is now one and a half. She is happy, she is healthy.

I don't know who needs to hear this but 'Breast is Best' isn't always the case. 'Fed is Best' is most definitely the case. It doesn't matter how you feed your baby, as long as the baby is fed, that is all that matters

@theveg How am I not thinking through?

I'm not the only person who has pointed out contradictions and inconsistencies in your line of argument. It's happened time and time again. You have said x and someone has responded to it pointing out a logical implication of what you have said and you have been outraged "I didn't mean that!!"

@karmakameleon Nobody said you can't say it? That's what your opinion is (though opinions are not allowed on Mumsnet) but I still stand by my opinion that 'Breast is NOT best, a FED child IS best!'

I wonder why people who are worried about the mental health fallout for women who want to breastfeed and can’t, aren’t campaigning for better mental health support for new mothers. I’d be all for that. I still feel sadness about the fact I couldn’t breastfeed and my DC is six now.

But instead it’s all about shutting down any positive conversation about breastfeeding.

@theveg Give me an example.

You assumed I gave up at the first minute. I didn't. During pregnancy, I said 'the minute' it gets hard, my daughter will be on formula. Yet you changed that to suggest I gave up at the first hurdle.

That isn't me not thinking through. That is you clearly not paying attention to something that has been written and changing it to suit your agenda.

@OddSocksandRainbowDocs yes thank you 😊

You’re contradicting yourself now.

@karmakameleon I wonder why those who successfully breastfed can't support those who chose to formula feed. But hey ho, can't have it both ways.

You don’t agree with that either though, or you wouldn’t have given your kid formula over say, pure cows milk or started weaning from two months. Fed isn’t best.

👏

@karmakameleon If I am contradicting myself, give me an example.

My original post was to tell people it is fine not to breastfeed but a fed child is the best. How is that contradicting myself? Have I changed my mind? No. I stand by that.

Whilst I agree breastfeeding is scientifically better

I still stand by my opinion that 'Breast is NOT best, a FED child IS best!'

I wouldn't give them alcohol or feed them Maccy D's either but I thought that was common sense so didn't feel the need to mention it.

You wanted people to agree with you that breast isn't best & now don't like it because a lot of the posters don't agree with you. That was the chance you took 🤷‍♀️

@karmakameleon

Breastfeeding is scientifically better. However, it isn't the BEST form of feeding. Any way of feeding a baby is just as good as the other.

Ok, I am sorry that when you said "the minute" I assumed you mean "the minute"

Your OP was based on the fact that is is the awareness week that has triggered this objection to the phrase "breast is best" but you later state you are not objecting to the awareness week.

You object to the phrase "breast is best" but later you deny that you are saying that people shouldn't talk about the benefits of breastfeeding.

Also the idea that breastfeeding benefits are 'rammed down women's throats' isn't true for all women at all. I was told by a health visitor (of all people!) that I should ff and not bf otherwise the baby would 'never have a bond with daddy'. And the endless 'am I still breastfeeding?' questions and suggestions that I'm creating a poor sleeper and thousands of other negative comments. I have actually been made to feel pretty crappy for breastfeeding by so many and now apparently even saying 'breast is best' is wrong / not allowed just feels like the icing on the cake to be honest.

What support is needed? They probably can’t give advice on making up bottles. When I formula fed no other mothers took any interest. Should they have been praising me? I certainly wasn’t congratulating the breastfeeding mums.

@Bettyboop3 😂the posts on this thread get even stranger as it goes on!

I didn't want people to agree it was best. I said it is fine to formula feed if BFing fails. Maybe read the full thread before you comment?

i think many of u support you. It was your decision so whatever works for you. I’m a laid back person and think whatever is best for a family with the access to right information then that shall be good. My sister ff. i have never told her she’s a shit mother for not bf. Yet people bat an eyelid because I’m nursing a child that is older than 6m

No other mothers were bothered by my formula feeding either. So why should they about breastfeeding?

Why not? If fed truly is best, what does it matter what you feed them?

Breast is best in comparison to formula. Both breast milk and formula are ways to feed babies and for them to grow and thrive.

Fed is best in comparison to not being fed. Not feeding is criminal abuse.

As a slogan' Fed is best' is a just daft.

@Pumperthepumper

Breastfeeding is scientifically better. However, it isn't the BEST form of feeding. Any way of feeding a baby is just as good as the other.

Do you realise most people agree with that? Of course it doesn't suit every single person. Nobody is advocating starvation as an alternative to breastfeeding, of course formula is ok. Just that breastmilk is better.

Nobody is this militant in real life, or even on this thread. But if you argue something ludicrous like 'don't say breast is best because it makes me feel bad, even though I don't think breast is best' people are going to want to respond to that.

Nobody is that militant? This thread is full of BF militants