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

[MissyKLo]

...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?!!!!!!

Oh gosh- they should totally have them! Particularly for bedbound mums, or the ones that have had sections. T'would have been amazing for me in those first few days.

I know! It's crazy that they don't! They might even be cheaper seeing as they only have 3 sides

They do have them mostly but you have to ask for them and they're not all that because on lotsof the beds they only clip on halfway down so you still have trouble reaching - and the midwives fidn them inconvenient cos they get in the way

Some really interesting posts here, but to answer the OP... Sorry but I think YABU. That is because I don't feel that formula companies advertise in such a way that would make a mother who was going to bf, or wanted to; change her mind.

If anything, I think there needs to be more information on ff in the public eye; the only ones I've seen advertised are the stage 3/follow on milks, and Aptimil's old advert used to say; 'if you decide to move on from breastfeeding...'

I think women need to be made more aware about ff; as if a mother is going to reach the end of her tether with it all then chances are she's going to at 3am with no information! What would be wrong with offering mothers a pack when they came home from hospital with advice on feeding in general, perhaps a DVD with a demo of getting baby to latch, bf support numbers etc and also leaflets on how to make up bottles? What about providing a 'just in case' pack with some ready mix bottles of formula in so that at least if mum can't get baby latched on/has trouble in the wee small hours, then at least she can provide SOME food, albeit formula and try again in the morning when she's feeling better? I think if I'd have had something like this, I'd have felt less under pressure and more than likely I'd have persevered with it.

My mw told me at our 8am check that by that point, a little less than 30% of women are still bfing. There is a reason for that IMO.

Jazzie - the stats would be a lot worse than that if every woman was sent home with ready mixed bottles of formula - it would be doing their marketing job for them and make the NHS complicit in promoting ff.

If you give bottles of formula in the frst few days/weeks of bf then you may find it very hard to establish bf and wonder why - information and support are what is needed not free formula.

Fair enough omnishambles I know what you mean about sending home formula etc, perhaps not the best way but I guess I would've felt 'safer' in a way if I'd have had an alternative ready to go just in case, rather than a horrible realisation at 3am that I couldn't do it and the sinking feeling of 'what am I going to do now? How am I going to feed my baby?' I don't know what the answer is or how to do it... Just throwing it out there I guess.

Ledkr

Thanks for your post, you know how much I admire and like you and respect what you have to say. In your postion I find it astonishing that your midwife didn't give you as much advice as possible. I think you make some valid points and I did Not mean to imply that I think advice on formula should not be given x
Your baby is very lucky to have you lady - and your snuggles nourish her x

Libra - try eBay for those books too and please do not hesitate to get I'm touch should you need any support x

Christchurch (New Zealand) has had two very severe earthquakes in the last six months (7.1 and 6.3). The latest quake was shallower so caused much more damage and 150+ deaths (none in the first quake).
At one point last week there was a shortage of formula; mums who ran out of formula were unable to drive to get some (roads totally stuffed); most of Chch is without clean water so ff mums are unable to safetly prepare formula.

Isn't a situation like this the perfect argument AGAINST FF? Breastfed babies in chch are at way lower risk of gastro problems, mums don't have to stress about finding clean water for their babies, and breastfeeding is something that can easily be done when you're a homeless quake refugee (as so many families in chch now are).

It isn't just third world countries that have problems with clean water. One possible good thing to come out of this earthquake is that mums will think a lot harder before switching their baby to formula. Ever breastfeed counts, even more so in a natural disaster.

Kia kaha Christchurch (Be strong) Much Aroha (love)
www.anythingbaby.co.nz/

Excellent post kirstywashere and a very topical example of how risky it can potentially be to be reliant on artificial milk to feed your baby. Not in the same league, but where I live we are very prone to power cuts and being cut off by snow. That was a very big factor in me persevering through my bf problems with DD. And both of these things have occurred more than once in the past few months.

kirstywashere

MilaMae, which link are you talking about?

So true about the quakes, much love to you all in NZ x