to think people are jolly unreasonable about ff/bf?

[Hullygully]

1. I don't care what anyone feeds their babies: sardines, coca cola, bm, fm (although it is a bit sad for the babies if it's sardines).

1. Breast milk is best. If nothing else it has long chain fatty acids that cannot be replicated in formula.

1. Some people can't bf so fine, use formula.

I can't see what else there is to discuss.

@ babyheave

Personally I think they are mental!

I'm afraid we're not allowing that sort of comment on this thread, Ana.

I desperately wanted to bf but couldn't due to a chronic illness. I felt so judged and ashamed for not being able to and was told patronisingly so many times that it was such a shame to see a baby as young as my DD being given a bottle and that I must have bonding issues with her as I didn't bf.

However, talking to a close girlfriend who does bf, she said she gets told all the time that she should "top up" with formula and that it would solve all her problems with regard to sleep/crying/world peace etc.

So, as usual women can't bloody win. If you ff, you are shite and if you bf, you are shite. I think this thread might have the answers - sardines for all.

yy. Tho I've always been partial to gin-swigging wet nurses in't country.

Hully please no red cards on my account. I am 36 and couldn't give two shiny shites what people think of me

YANBU to think like that. What bugs me is when really militant BFs feel they shouldn't try and get FM as close to BM as possible as that will discourage mothers from BF- fair enough but what about the added benefit for the babies who aren't being BF.

I have a feeling that anyone who said anything to me just got told to fuck off. I think I am going to recommend it as a strategy. Think of the angst it will save. Badges even. Badges for mothers, or t-shirts saying "Oh just fuck off."
I'll rake it in.

What bugs me is when really militant BFs feel they shouldn't try and get FM as close to BM as possible as that will discourage mothers from BF- fair enough but what about the added benefit for the babies who aren't being BF.

Is that true?

I had a bet with myself that somebody would use the term 'militant' on here.

Whaddya know. I won.

I've never, ever, ever met a militant bfer. Do they wear a uniform? Are they armed? Supersoakers with bm?

Thanks Hully! Let me be your first customer - I'll take three badges and two fuck off tee-towels. I shall start giving them to friends as baby gifts; the gift that will keep on giving, long after the John Lewis babygros have been outgrown.

Well, I think we have established that some people are indeed unreasonable when it comes to the subject, whereas others endeavour to remain kind and openminded.

I hereby declare the thread closed.

I thank you. "Oh Just Fuck Off" t-shirts are on sale at the back of the hall for a very reasonable £52 each. All proceeds to the Honorouable Society for the Advancement of Me.

@ babyheave, I can have some good arguments with myself too, I blame the sleep deprivation for sending me slightly mad...

Hully, can I pre-order one of those badges? I'm off to the HV today, might come in handy

I too chose to FF from the off. Reasons being that I wanted DH to be able to fully help out and feel involved, and also because I hated the idea of a baby chomping at my boob for hours on end. I can hardly stand DH touching them to be honest. Simply could not stand the idea.

Seriously this is still going on. I am new to MN but this must be the zillionth bf vs ff thread.

I chose to breastfeed my child - I made that very personal choice because I thought it was the best solution for myself and baby. I was lucky in that, although I did experience some early difficulties (mastitis being the main one) I also had a great deal of support from DH and family.

I have friends who chose to breastfeed, some who tried breastfeeding before switching to formula and other friends who never tried breastfeeding in the first place. So long as baby and mummy are healthy and happy, what business is it of mine, or anyone else, to question the way they feed their children?

Whilst I do agree that the UK breastfeeding rates are shockingly low (even in comparison to other Western nations), I don't think that the BF's squaring up to FF's and thrashing out until the death is helping matters! I am appalled by some of the horrid comments I have seen posted by some idiots posters on forums like Mumsnet - 'breastfeeding nazi' or 'your poisoning your baby with that' are a couple of the comments that spring to mind.

Anyway - I digress. Whilst breastfeeding is best (scientifically proven fact, so no argument there) I am very pro-choice and a healthy formula fed baby with a happy mum is better than a baby who isn't thriving on breastmilk and whose mum is stressed/ has PND/ has other personal issues.

I am new to MN but this must be the zillionth bf vs ff thread

It most certainly isn't that! Read it!

Anway, it's closed now

Yes, lets hear it for the Wet Nurses! (tries to Wikipedia link but fails)

Want a t-shirt too. Would be useful in so many situations.

Feeding choice, weaning, sleeping, routines, what nappies they wear, clothes, school/s, homework, length of hair, hobbies, extra curricular activities, Internet use, facebook. And that's just this week

I tried BF and hated it. I also wasn't producing enough milk. I went on to FF. Was I supposed to let him starve?

Hmmmm. Not that straightforward. The 'facts' about breastfeeding are often very selective. It is true that some of the properties of breastmilk cannot be replicated in formula, however there has been no conclusive study to suggest that this has a negative impact on babies fed with formula as opposed to breast.

Most of the studies around this issue have also failed to take into account the socio-economic differences between formula-fed babies and breast-fed (they generally compare mothers who CHOSE to formula feed, who are more likely to be from a lower socio-economic group, and therefore less likely to have a good diet that they pass on to their children as they grow - not judging people here, its just how it is).

For the record, my DD was breastfed, and I do think it is the obvious, commonsense option and is probably better for the baby in the long run, however, people are quick to bring 'facts' into this debate when they are actually very thin on the ground.

I want to be a wet nurse - where do I sign up