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Original poster

Antibreastfeeding?

585 replies

Redebs · 03/02/2023 08:33

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.

OP posts:
rattlinbog · 10/02/2023 22:32

AnuSTart · 10/02/2023 21:50

It's disturbing. I live somewhere where there is apparently 90% breastfeeding rates at 2 weeks and 71% at 4 months. Compared to 0.5% in say London.
I've concluded, when listening to some of the dialogue that one hears that British women have different bodies or brains to everyone else or that British women are Formula Feeding Freethinkers. Good luck to them. If people would stop being so defensive about it they would ask themselves why.
Formula milk is a multi billion £ industry relying on 1 thing, giving women one thing, the feeling that they could do something easier sugarcoated in 'freedom of choice' and 'doing best for baby', both of which are lies.
If you stop buying into the lie, you don't formula feed.

Or obviously British women are just built differently. Could be.

Why London 0.5%?

www.gov.uk/government/news/breastfeeding-initiation-high-in-london-but-drop-off-rates-could-be-improved

40% at 4 months, and very high initial BF

rattlinbog · 10/02/2023 22:33

And in fact 68% at least partially breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks in London

rattlinbog · 10/02/2023 22:42

@AnuSTart and 87% initially, far far higher than England average of 74%

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Babies & sleep Breast & bottle feeding Families
Original poster
Redebs · 16/02/2023 17:31

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64662004

Well, there you go.
Formula industry makes false claims
UK lowest breastfeeding rates in the world

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 16/02/2023 17:39

getmeacupoftea · 03/02/2023 08:44

I cried and cried and cried and felt like the worst mother in the world and that I didn't deserve my son after I struggled to breastfeed through the awful pain of an excruciating emergency c section, not to mention it felt like cheese graters on my nipples every time he latched.
The message got through that breast is best. Don't worry.

This is so true. I struggled a lot to bf ds 2 (was very young when I had DS1 and only lasted 2 days). I ended up expressing for 1 month but then I just tried him on the breast at 4wks old and he started suckling and then I bf him for 7 months. So when DD came along and I had problems with a cracked nipple I thought no problem I’ll express around for a few weeks then switch. Well I ended up in hospital for 4 nights on IV antibiotics as a big infection set in. By the time I got home (took my pump but part of it had broken off and didn’t work and I had bigger worries) i couldn’t get the supply going and I was sore for months. I cried in the shops when I saw breast pads, pictures of newborns bf upset me but worse was seeing mums bf their babies. She’s 15 next month and it still upsets me sometimes, not that it mattered in the grand scheme of things.

Original poster
Redebs · 16/02/2023 19:53

I'm sorry you didn't get the right advice and support.
As long as people wrongly believe that artificial milk is 'just as good', then it is unlikely that resources will be put into enabling breastfeeding for more babies

OP posts:
RandomCatGenerator · 16/02/2023 20:09

Redebs · 16/02/2023 19:53

I'm sorry you didn't get the right advice and support.
As long as people wrongly believe that artificial milk is 'just as good', then it is unlikely that resources will be put into enabling breastfeeding for more babies

Stop scare mongering and making people feel shit.

Parker231 · 16/02/2023 23:39

Redebs · 16/02/2023 19:53

I'm sorry you didn't get the right advice and support.
As long as people wrongly believe that artificial milk is 'just as good', then it is unlikely that resources will be put into enabling breastfeeding for more babies

You don’t think that those of us who chose to use formula should have had that choice?

dirt · 16/02/2023 23:45

Redebs · 16/02/2023 19:53

I'm sorry you didn't get the right advice and support.
As long as people wrongly believe that artificial milk is 'just as good', then it is unlikely that resources will be put into enabling breastfeeding for more babies

For my child, artificial milk was better.

As per the various specialists that were involved with them.

elliejjtiny · 17/02/2023 21:53

It was for mine too @dirt . However so many people said to me that only 1% of women can't breastfeed when I said it wasn't possible for my dc. That fact doesn't take into account that many babies can't breastfeed or that just because it was possible for me to breastfeed my low toned baby, doesn't mean that was what was best for him.

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