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.

Mine would often spend that time feeding but in hindsight I suspect it was colic and they were mostly comfort nursing. I remember my first doubled in weight quite quickly so they must have been getting enough.

I think you are right. Those first weeks are best if the mother stays on her sofa.

Bloody hell that is the last thing I wanted to do.

Best? I’d have gone absolutely batshit.

I was out walking the dogs on day 3 of my section, albeit it gently, going out for coffees and trying to function normally because I was bored titless of being inside and on my arse.

With the degree and post grad qualifications that you mentioned earlier, I am very surprised to hear that you have no understanding of the huge and insidious influence of advertising.

I loved chilling in the house the first few weeks not having to do anything but care for my son. Absolutely loved breastfeeding like when I got over the pain of the tongue tie. Having him fall asleep in my arms. Just love all the cuddles

I rarely watch any TV and am not influenced by marketing - not that unusual. I make my own decisions from my own research

They fall asleep in your arms with cuddles after formula feeding - no different from bf

I didn't say that tho did I. 🙄

I mean I didn't say that they couldn't. So please don't take it that way. And tbh there's a sleep hormone in brest milk that isn't in formula

@Parker231 you are influenced by marketing.

I bet if I showed you a picture of some Golden Arches you could tell me what brand they were from. Brand recognition is a part of marketing.

Unless you live under a rock, you've been influenced by marketing.

@Parker231 well after formula feeds my son would scream and cry and then projectile vomit .... so .... everyone's experience and all that

Our decision on which formula to use was based on a recommendation from the midwife - buy the one your local supermarket stocked the most of!

This is not about you personally though. You said in your comment that you can't imagine anyone being influenced by advertising. This shows a breathtaking lack of understanding of the nature and impact of advertising on almost everybody.

@Parker231 and if your midwife had said use aptimil would you have?

I imagine being told something by a health professional is different to a TV advert.

Yes - they are all the same!

The thing is that your local supermarket will stock what sells well in your local area. So even if you just bought the cheapest widely available brand in your area that decision still will have been influenced by advertising, even if not directly. Supermarkets also sell space on their shelves to manufacturers - eye height and in particularly visible spots can demand a premium. Taking up more shelf space and more visible shelf space is in itself a form of advertising.

I can assure of all the decisions made about DT’s over the last 20 years - which brand of formula didn’t rank in the top 20!

I may add tho in my personal experience I gave my son bottles of formula in the beginning for when he had tongue tie. Think was for a few weeks whilst still breastfeeding. He never once fell asleep. Even when I gave it to him on a night. However he did everytime with breastfeeding. Still does. But that's my experience and everyone's experience is different. I'm not saying it hasn't happened to anyone else and will not get made out that I have.

So if (as happens) that midwife had attended a conference sponsored by aptimil which led her to recommend that brand to you... you've not been influenced by marketing?

If you knew they were all the same why did you ask for her opinion?

And who do you think the health professionals have been influenced by?

Because I’d never bought formula before - it didn’t matter to me which I bought so her recommendation about the supermarket stock was good enough for me.

@Parker231 but you do your own research. Why did you need to ask her? Your own research would have shown they are all the same surely...

You're not immune to marketing. None of us are.

You know which company has the Golden Arches regardless if you eat there or not.

I've never eaten at KFC but I know it 'finger lickin good'

The science of supermarkets is really interesting. They spend a lot of time designing the layouts to maximise sales and profits.