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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that the formula companies are succeeding with their campaign to promote formula to be as good as breast milk...

462 replies

MissyKLo · 01/03/2011 14:12

...when it isn't?

this article rang true in so many ways

www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2010/10/how-breast-is-best-came-to-be.html

Breast milk is of course, full of amazing antibodies and nourishment etc that formula can never replicate - but the formula companies are winning in their campaign to make people believe that formula is as good as breast milk aren't they? A lot of people don't see bf as a big deal and that babies are 'perfectly fine' on formula. But what about all the benefits of breast milk and the fact that so many babies don't ever get these?

Breast milk cannot be beaten on so many levels so why are the formula companies allowed to get away with this?!!!!!!

OP posts:
wannaBe · 01/03/2011 22:56

"The sad thing is that the initial post wasn't meant to cause any offense - it was simply pointing out a fact." Bullshit. The op has been here long enough to know that posting an anti formula thread in the ibu topic would kick off - the one and only reason the op posted that thread here was because she fancied a ruck. Let's not pretend otherwise.

Cleofartra · 01/03/2011 22:56

"Are you feeding your baby formula? No? well then what's it to you what other people feed their babies?"

Because it's a public health issue.

And because babies are the ones most affected by this, and they have no voice.

Because it's the interests of big business conflicting with the best interests of the smallest and most vulnerable members of society.

I'm glad many midwives promote breastfeeding as actively and as enthusiastically as they do. If they didn't then it even more marginalised than it already is in the UK. I don't think people are aware of how the IDEA of bottlefeeding as the normal way to feed babies saturates our culture. It's EVERYWHERE - from the toys that little girls play with, to images on congratulation cards, to page after page of ads in mother and baby mags, to 'mum's clubs' [read: direct advertising], to day-time tv sponsor-ship. And never mind it's what 90% of mums with babies over a few months are doing.

HowBreastfeedingWorks · 01/03/2011 22:57

I know, BM.

I tend to totally sidestep the rucks and talk about better support for women who want to breastfeed. Women who don't want to do it - you know what, that's fine. Most women DO want to do it - let's focus on helping them, rather than pissing off the women who don't by calling them names. We're all having babies, we all want to be good mums - let's just crack on with it and help the women who struggle in places, shall we?

After all, if nobody cared how anyone else fed their baby, there would be no peer support, no breastfeeding counsellors, nobody making things easier for women to bf. There'd just be formula companies with breastfeeding support hotlines (do I hear a "sheesh"?).

I'm rather a veteran of this sort of debate, after all - I'm not remotely interested in upsetting anyone or being inflammatory.

MilaMae · 01/03/2011 22:57

But WannaBe you do know everything on your list is nowhere near as dangerous as formula-alcohol, cafeen, msg, aspertine pah they're all positively healthy,mere small fry and do nowhere near as much damage as formula it being the brew of Satan.

Original poster
MissyKLo · 01/03/2011 22:57

Wannabe if you really want to not consider bf because of the reasons you stated that is your choice but how strange

It is a shame that gemsy ignores my request to not engage with me as I have absolotely no interest in anything she has to say yet she still insists on following me around on my threads to talk to me and insist i am such and such... Obsessed springs to mind Hmm
There's just no telling some people!

OP posts:
Original poster
MissyKLo · 01/03/2011 22:59

Gaelicsheep

Your posts were brilliant and informative and very much appreciated by many of us so please don't disappear!

OP posts:
wannaBe · 01/03/2011 23:01

except babies are not affected by it. In the 3rd world where there isn't access to clean water of course they are. But in the developed world the perceived "risks" are so tiny as to be irelevant.

Well missy think about it. You might choose not to follow certain religions perhaps because of the crap they spout, no? well the way you and some others rant on about bf one might be forgiven for thinking that you view it like some sort of religion...

Gemsy83 · 01/03/2011 23:01

Following you round?
I have posted on one of your threads- its generally how it works on a discussion board, hate to break it to you like!
Question- how DOES it affect YOU if mother formula feed for convenience/because they WANT to? wont hold my breath for an answer...

Cleofartra · 01/03/2011 23:02

gaelicsheep - the biggest success the formula companies have had is in persuading mothers that they as companies put the interests of mothers and babies first.

And people these days LOVE brands. The bigger the better.

wannaBe · 01/03/2011 23:03

Mila oh yes. You could spend 30 years of your life drinking to excess, just as long as you were breastfed. I wonder if breastfeeding also protects against surosis of the liver?

I think I should start a thread saying "Ibu to think that formula is the nectar of the Gods and should be available free on the nhs. Wink

MilaMae · 01/03/2011 23:05

Missy has a long history of posting inflammatory(and at times unpleasant) comments re formula.As has been said Missy fancied a ruck and a chance to spew her anti formula venom.

Do you have areas in your parenting Missy that doesn't follow the ideal,shall we all pull some of your choices apart?Maybe your dc get too much screen time,not enough sleep,go to nursery? I'm sure we could find a few stats to highlight how doomed they are Hmm.

wannaBe · 01/03/2011 23:07

or maybe we could invent some.

you know, like worldwide x% of babies are more likely to develope y habbit if they do z, except the balance is tipped signifficantly in favour of the babies in other countries, but that's ok, we'll conveniently not take that part of the study into account...

topknob · 01/03/2011 23:07

not totally relevant but a little, my son was born 8 weeks prem, I expressed as he was in scbu for 6 weeks..however as many will know expressing is not as productive as having your baby with you, so my milk dried up, I had NO choice but to give him the formula created for sc babies...what other option did I have? and breast milk donatation was not offered at that time, it was 9 yrs ago xx

Original poster
MissyKLo · 01/03/2011 23:07

I shall say it one more time gemsy - I have no interest in having any conversations with you so don't keep trying to have one with me

Wannabe - you could start a thread like that but it would be incorrect! Wink

OP posts:
Gemsy83 · 01/03/2011 23:08

Wow lets really show your maturity Missy- golf clap for you!

gaelicsheep · 01/03/2011 23:09

WannaBe, I happen to believe that low cost unbranded formula should be available via the NHS for anyone who wants/needs it, alongside appropriate support to enable a mother to feed her baby the way she chooses to do so.

Cleofatra - you are right, and I am finding this thread profoundly depressing.

Original poster
MissyKLo · 01/03/2011 23:11

Mila - how very dare you! I am the perfect parent dontcha know! Wink

Tv time is limited. Sahm who works as a freelance designer when kids asleep, don't let my kids eat sweets and so many more lovely things

I have nooooo faults at all! None I tell you! Wink

OP posts:
BaroqueAroundTheClock · 01/03/2011 23:11

so people that want (or need) to FF only have the choice of one brand of formula??

I would have been very unhappy with that situation - DS3 point blank to refused to drink the same brand that DS2 had drunk quite happily - tried a different brand and he drank it no problems (and yes he could tell the difference as once knew that it was the formula and not the bottle that was the issue I tried it again)

And DS2 had the most horrendous shits on one of them too - am certain it wasn't a tummy bug as well Grin

Original poster
MissyKLo · 01/03/2011 23:14

Topknob you did the best you could and what you did sounds amazing
My friend manage to express for 8 months but another like you foe 8 weeks and then milk dried up so it is different for different people but you should be very proud of what you did x

OP posts:
HowBreastfeedingWorks · 01/03/2011 23:15

Low cost, unbranded formula - more than one type, Baroque? Solves that one Smile

Original poster
MissyKLo · 01/03/2011 23:17

Mila - your choice to say I am inflammatory and spout 'venom' although I feel your posts are seriously misguided, defensive and so wrong about me but up to you to think as you like!

OP posts:
gaelicsheep · 01/03/2011 23:18

No I didn't say that. But from my pov as an unhappy formula feeder, I resented paying £7 a tin for something that should have been free if bf had worked out, and knowing how much of that money was going to shareholders and towards product promotion. I would have taken up a low costs unbranded option if it had been available.

Anyhow, that's a whole other argument with lots of complexities. I was merely trying to indicate that my problem is not with formula as a substance but with formula companies.

MilaMae · 01/03/2011 23:18

Oh Missy Tv time only limited,well sorry your dc are doomed then.Y ou do know sceeentime is "linked" to low attainment levels,concentration,a whole host of things actually. Hows about we do thread upon thread about it and totally blow all facts out of proportion?

Original poster
MissyKLo · 01/03/2011 23:19

Love your posts cleofarta

Well said!

OP posts:
Original poster
MissyKLo · 01/03/2011 23:21

So glad I gave you something to grasp onto mila maybe that will make you feel better and less angry! Ho ho

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