Does every health care professional breastfeed?

[Iammeltin]

Since the birth of my child and the way they push “breast is best” and my health visitor actually telling me she can’t promote formula even if breastfeeding isn’t working, not caring about the mothers mental health in the process.

Do all midwives/health visitors/doctors breast feed then? None of them use formula?

They're not the ones setting the ludicrous policies around feeding.

Well no they don't, but their job is separate to what they do with their families to an extent.

Regardless of whether they can or cannot recommend formula, if you want or need to formula feed do what's best for you and your baby!!!

No a lot of them will formula feed. Most doctors have no training in lactation either (it’s an optional module in most medical degrees) not all midwives are fully trained in lactation either.

They often aren’t clear on the guidelines either. They cannot say ‘use this brand of formula’ but they can (and do) suggest it’s use if breastfeeding is not coming easily.

@Iammeltin I’m guessing you’ve just had a baby and need some support with feeding. The NCT have an infant feeding helpline (breast and bottle) open every day 8am-midnight. Give them a call for unbiased information and support.

Why does anyone need Formula promoted? You just go to the shop, buy it, and follow the instructions. I don't really follow that part of your post.

No, of course they don't. But NHS staff aren't allowed to recommend certain brands.

But also I very much didn't have the 'breast is best' attitude on breastfeeding from staff. I desperately wanted to breastfeed specifically because there is research that it lowers the chance of post partum depression and was told multiple times that just giving formula was easier.

I think it's a professional case of " do as I say, not what I do", they are told not to promote formula when they visit, because the policy is "breast is best", which doesn't say they don't give formula to their DBs.

Because the HV will try and push and push you to breastfeed even if it's really not working so it would be a lot better for baby and for mother's mental health if they said it's ok to use formula. Many stories I've read on here of women who are almost broken because they feel like they can't give formula because it's constantly drilled in that breast is best. It's fucking disgusting when you really think about it

Perhaps you’d want to tell the manufacturers that. They spend billions every year promoting it.

This @namechange1986

My health visitor was completely pragmatic. Asked me what I planned to do, I said I didn't know, so she gave me advice about both. Midwives were similar.

No, same as lots of HCP are overweight, inactive, smoke, drink more alcohol than is recommended and eat junk food... we know what we're supposed to say / do
... but we are human too :)

Judging by the poor breastfeeding rates in this county most parents do formula feed
of course HCPs don’t breastfeed
just like doctors drink and smoke

we need to have some more constructive conversations about infant feeding rather than demonising formula and not offering really good practical breastfeeding support

@Devilsmommy for me it was the opposite. They kept pushing more formula and not listening when I said it made my DC sick (CMPA)

Often though it’s HV and MW who don’t have proper lactation training + poor implementation and understanding of policies that mean parents are failed.

And follow on milks were invented to get around the no advertising of formula
its a massive industry and that’s why so much is invested into it

My HV heavily pushed formula, was obsessed with me 'topping up' and moving to bottles even though DC was gaining weight nicely bf.

They're not allowed to even tell you what brand they recommend, or how to safely make up a feed. Or anything about bottle feeding.

Which when you're a new mum back in hospital 10 days after a c section with a baby diagnosed with failure to thrive, you haven't slept in 24 hours, and you had no intention of formula feeding but now are going to have to, is very hard to deal with.

(To be fair I did have one lovely HV who really helped me and made me feel ok about the formula - but she was one helpful health professional in a sea of people who just made everything more confusing.)

This is an example of the mis applied policies.

They cannot recommend a brand (they’re all nutritionally the same anyway)

They should be able to tell you about paced bottle feeding, baby feeding cues, normal newborn behaviours relating to feeding and the guidelines for making up a feed. It’s not often allowed for them to show you how to make a feed.

www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2017/03/08/she-listened-to-her-doctors-and-her-baby-died-now-shes-warning-others-about-breast-feeding/

It’s behind a paywall so can’t read it.

Not quite true. We're meant to support women in feeding their baby in the way they choose.

So if a woman's struggling to breastfeed and ask for advice, we give breastfeeding advice.

If a woman wants to combi feed, we have to give them the info they need to make that choice. Not many people realise that breastmilk supply can be massively impacted once you introduce formula, and kinda just think they dont have enough milk, when really you need to keep breastfeeding so your body produces enough.

If a woman is happy with that, then all good. If a woman is then later upset that they can't carry on breastfeeding because they didn't realise, then we haven't done our job properly.

If a women chooses to only formula feed- not a problem. We can't recommend brands, that's a government policy. For the same reason 0-6 month formula isn't allowed to be advertised or on sale. All formula made in the UK is pretty much the same due to the UK standards, so it doesn't matter weather you go for sma or kendamil, etc.

Unfortunately, some HV come across as judgemental and pushy. A good one will respect your choice and make sure you have the info you need to make that choice.

Frankly, whilst I personally think breastfeeding is amazing, it's fucking hard and I don't blame people for not doing it. I don't think it's worth the stress if it isn't working.

Why would you think that?

My lovely GP, after I had my twins, was amazed I was even trying to breastfeed. She said something along the lines of “good for you, I had my twins straight onto bottles!”

I think the breast is best message is unhelpful. All it seems to do is guilt women who tried to breastfeed and struggled with it. Women who choose to formula feed don’t seem to care.

Isn't that like asking if all HCPs eat a healthy diet, don't smoke and go to the gym 4 times a week?
They're paid to give out health advice. That doesn't mean they have to follow it themselves.

I think no matter how you choose to feed, the advice is rubbish. I breastfed but felt like I was constantly being manoeuvred over to try formula in case it wasn't enough. I know the opposite is also true too.
Now we have two camps of unsupported women fighting each other, instead of joining up to ask for support.
Anyone who breastfeeds will absolutely scoff at the thought that the supports are adequate, it genuinely feels like the policy is only half implemented (a few breastfeeding slogans and restrictions on formula, but individual care is missing).
I'm of the opinion that breastfeeding is a skill, like riding a bike, and is really hard to teach unless you do it yourself. Healthcare workers, who have to go back onto shifts, often don't do it.