Antibreastfeeding?

[Redebs]

Having just browsed some of the 'Help articles' on here, I'm shocked at how Mumsnet is discouraging breastfeeding.

There's one on how normal it is to wean off the breast at two months because of all the 'problems you will have'.

There's one on 'combi feeding', which is about giving formula feeds to breastfed babies - the surest way to reduce your milk supply in reality.

There's another one about packing dummies and bottles in your hospital labour bag. This is definitely going to interfere with newborns getting colostrum and learning to latch. If a baby needs anything, the hospital will provide it in reality.

I know some women choose to formula feed, but these are insidious, supposedly helpful, undermining tactics aimed at new mothers trying to breastfeed. Most of these are sponsored by the baby bottle manufacturer MAM.

If formula companies were promoting this, they would be, rightly, in contravention of advertising rules.

All medical and scientific advice is to give exclusively breastmilk for the first six months and to continue to at least twelve months or longer.

They should, but the point was made earlier that mixed feeding can often be the start of the end of breastfeeding - this should be clear so women can make an informed choice.

Why would it be the ‘end of breastfeeding’? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a post where somebody has mixed fed and suddenly their supply has just dropped off a cliff. Has this personally happened to you or are you just parroting other posts you see on here?

@Cuppasoupmonster Absolutely, introducing a bottle early on can and does impact on latch (not all babies struggle with mixed feeing but very many do) and also supply. Your post tells me you don't know much at all about BF and that you are possibly just trying to be contrary. You really sound quite rude.

Well what do you know about breastfeeding? Or mixed feeding for that matter? Have you tried it? Because I have real life experience, you’re just parroting things you see online.

It depends entirely when combi feeding is introduced and if mother introduces a pump session instead.
Of course if supply is well established and combi feeding is done properly (bottles pace fed, slower teet and not too many feeds and not over stretching babies stomach) then it's not going to be a issue. But if done too early, before supply properly established/growth spurt periods then it can be a risk for some mothers.
It's great you didn't have issue but that doesn't mean others don't and it should be approached with the right information so to reduce the liklihood of issues arising.

As for your comment about supply again this is dependent on how many feeds are replaced, when and even what time of day for milk production.
You only have to speak to a mum who has exclusively pumped to realise long term how hard it can be to keep supply up.

But your posts very much seem to attack women who wish to bf and wish to support others which baffles me for someone who bf their baby for 8/9 months as your posts on other threads suggests

Women should have information not adverts.

But good info on how and when to combi feed would be good. A lot of women would I think continue breastfeeding if they could combi feed.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I know several women this happened to, including my sister.

It’s a well known phenomenon, particularly if you start before breastfeeding is fully established. I’m pleased it didn’t affect you, but don’t assume that you are every woman’s experience.

It’s still a choice that individuals can freely make, but as breastfeeding can be such an emotive issue of course women should be able to make a fully informed choice, not just told “yeah it’s all fine”.

You seem quite aggressive about this. I’m not suggesting that no one bottle feeds or mix feeds, I don’t care, but if a woman is going to choose to do something why should she not have all the facts?

Honestly it’s so long since I’ve fed a baby I’d forgotten how awful BFing threads get.

This is where the issue lies with breastfeeding/feeding support and what's in local areas.
Our closest city NCT group has a baby cafe for instance its run by a breastfeeding counsellor but it covers all feeding support for new mums and they can give info on combi feeding. My local group also gives info on how to combi feed if you go along and ask. But many of the groups around here are run by or in support by the NHS and with volunteers. Breastfeeding rates have increased in Scotland in part due to better support and always local

After an emergency section and dangerously low iron levels followed by postpartum pre-eclampsia I tried to breastfeed. My baby lost 10oz over 10 days and was readmitted into hospital with failure to thrive. Have you any idea how it feels to be a new first time mother and to feel you have caused your much loved baby actual harm? I was beside myself. I pumped evey two hours even during the night, took fenugreek capsules, ate all sorts recommended to boost my milk supply and topped her up with formula. The truth for me was that my supply never increased. I'm one of that often touted 1% who can't breastfeed. If I see a post where a mum is breaking her heart over struggling with breastfeeding I will detail all the support I tried because perhaps that is what she needs , to be pointed in a direction to gain support. In the end I will gently suggest that her mental health is a priority and she wouldn't be failing her child by giving formula. Sue me.

I do agree that formula feeding companies shouldn't be allowed to advertise and any article should be scrutinised to see who the author is affiliated with.

You seem quite aggressive about this.

😂 I will refer you to my ‘you seem very angry’ thread from a few days ago…

Anyway, the countries with the best and longest bfing rates actually have the highest level of combination feeding. Letting mum get some sleep now and then in the early days, and not making her feel like it’s all or nothing, actually supports the breastfeeding journey and makes it less likely she will give up.

You sound like an amazing mam. X

Reading this thread it's clear that there is a woefully poor amount of information made readily available to new mums about feeding babies - be that via BF, FF or a combination of both.

I believe it is a woman's choice how she feeds her baby, and it has never occurred to me to judge another mum on how she chooses to feed. Some of the comments on this thread are eye-opening, genuinely.

I do however think that we can only make an informed choice when we are provided with honest, reliable and consistent information. This bit needs to improve significantly

I've got nothing against formula as i had to use it in the beginning because little man had tongue tie and it was so painful but never gave him much mainly carried on breastfeeding cause I didn't want to keep wasting my money on it as it wasn't cheap and didn't want to lose my supply so I battled on. What pisses me off is when no doubt formula feeding mams say the benefits from breastfeeding are bullshit. That they are so low. I'm sorry but that's bullshit. My son is 10 months in 3 days and only been poorly 3 times. He recovered so fast I was gobsmacked. And guess what you wouldn't have even known he was ill because he was still his smiley happy chatty self. And I know it was down to the extra milk I gave him. I've been poorly so much this year he only ever got covid and cold/cough from me. Because when I was poorly I fed him constantly to give him the antibodies.

And I also agree that formula companies shouldn't be allowed to advertise

Feeding*

What is your evidence for this? France has much lower rates

My son is 10 months in 3 days and only been poorly 3 times. He recovered so fast I was gobsmacked. And guess what you wouldn't have even known he was ill because he was still his smiley happy chatty self. And I know it was down to the extra milk I gave him.

Emma we’ve been over this. Your son has never attended nursery which is where they get sick. My daughter (breastfed to 8 months, bottle fed for the last 4) was never sick at all until she started at 14 months. With respect you’re talking rubbish.

Another one wholeheartedly agreeing with this.

I agree with this.

I also think combi feeding is little known by many and could be brilliant for many.

Good point

What ‘support’ do people actually want though? What should happen if somebody is struggling?

@MajorCarolDanvers that stat just isn't true