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?!!!!!!

isn't there a breast blah blah blah topic on mumsnet?

yabu to go on about breastfeeding on a parenting site

Eh Rannaldini? Are you serious? Since when are the topics for AIBU restricted?

Yawn. The breats feeding fascists strike again.

diablo?

Do you work for a formula company by any chance?

I'm really trying to care her, but I just can't. Sorry.

Oh God, not another Breast is Best thread.

Yaaaaaawn..............

YABU (and factually inaccurate)

Formula companies are not allowed to advertise at all formula for under 6 months.

For over 6 months, they have to put on any advertising that breast feeding is recommended for at least the first 6 months.

They are not allowed to say that formula is as good as breastfeeding

What campaign have you ever seen that says formula is as good as breast milk - none as they are not allowed to say it.

whilst the mad men spoof is no doubt entertaining, I think you are drawing some invalid conclusions from it.

I agree with Diablo82.

It's why breats feeding should be promoted as the normal way to feed your baby and formula as a backup if you can't.

There's no denying that formula can save the life of a baby if a mother can't BF(that'a of course if there isn't any other alternative). BUT we are extramly lucky to be in a country where it's an actual parenting choice on how to feed. It's not a viabale option for many in this wourld and of course shouldn't be as it's not a sustanable way to feed all babies either dispite the health risk's. There just isn't anyway you could produce enough cows milk to feed all babies with formula.

buubleymummy - No I don't work for a formula company - I'm a doctor actually.

When I was born, in Holland, I was allergic to not only formula milk, but God forbid, BREAST MILK too! I was fed sterilized milk, as advised by the Dutch midwife.

SHOCK HORROR, here I am all grown up.

I really dont understand why some people act like religious zealots on the subject of breastfeeding, I dont mean you OP as I understand your question but even with breastfeeding in the topic it will attract the "mafia".

Shock horror I could bf (well I think I could) I just chose not to, not once but 3 times. Whats that got to do with anyone else? I dont go around trying to convert and lecturing people about FF so dont get what motivates it the other way round.

"I think, based on my opinions experiences and those of people i know, that Formula is seen as an acceptable alternative, and nothing more or less than that."

I agree.

And I´ve yet to meet anyone who thinks that ff is unacceptable-but some seem to think that BF is.

I don´t think it´s so much that the "campaign" for FF is succeeding, more than FF is still seen as the "norm"?

I think tatty summed it up wonderfully.
I am totally pro breastfeeding, it all went horribly wrong for me, so I switched to formula. Do I think it's the same as breastmilk? Not a chance. Do I wish I had been able to continue breastfeeding? Absolutely. Is my DS worse off because he had to have formula? Nope, he was 'perfectly fine'. I however spent days and weeks crying over not being able to feed him myself. There really is enough to feel guilty about as a mother all the time without someone else worrying about the way that you feed your baby. Don't get me wrong, I hate formula, it's nasty stinky stuff, but if it didn't exist, my baby would have quite literally starved despite my best efforts!

Formula feeding is a viable alternative, and trying to give 'breast is best' message to someone who doesn't want it will always be a waste of time, just as handing out anti smoking leaflets to someone with a 30 a day habit would be!

Could (on my bad days ) be classed as a militant BFer, but I dont think the formula companies are to blame for a lot of people FFing. FF is just the norm in the UK.
Advertising is irrelevant, everyone knows that breast is best (apart from one person I saw on the other BF thread ) people dont choose to FF because they saw a cow and gate advert, they do it for many reasons. They cant have chosen because of an advert, as there arent any.
Formula is just there , sat on the shelves at the supermarket, noone forces anyone to FF.

And, as Hecate said early on, any attempt to get someone to use their product can be summed up in one character - £

"FF is just the norm in the UK."

I agree-I put the same thing!

My sister & I were both FF-it didn´t work for mum as she was ill both times & I think it wasn´t seen as important.

I used to think that babies were bfed when people were too poor to afford formula

I had DD pre-internet and was the first person in my immediate family to have a baby - literally as my sister and I are adopted. I was working and my only source of info came from Baby magazines which I would buy when I could afford to and a few baby books.

In each one the pros and cons of each method of feeding were presented as being absolutely balanced. Same number of points for each and many many advantages of BF (since learned) not mentioned at all as well as the risks of FF omitted.

DD was solely FF after a few weeks although I would have liked to have continued. But I consider that to be my fault for not accessing the correct information.

I thought things might be a bit different these days. Then again if people are more informed then maybe the formula companies are having to up their game? After all, BF is the biggest competitor, being free, than any of the other brands on the market.

i think it is a shame as much money can't be plowed into providing breast feeding advice and support (for those who want it that is) as is put into formula advertising. Of course no one would make money out of it so it's never going to happen.

it's interesting that the op asked a valid question and she and positive responders have been called fascists & accused of starting boring threads. If you find it boring don't waste your time or ours reading it and being rude in your responses.

Bound to get some abuse for that but get fed up with feeling intimidated because i happen to believe in something that is recognised as best practice.

I don't talk about or promote breast feeding to make anyone feel bad but to provide information, support and choice for those who do wish to consider it as an option. Please respect our right to have this conversation :-)

YANBU. Removing all emotional histronics (not that there have been any yet) from the equation formula isn't, and is unlikely to ever be as perfect for human babies as breastmilk. It is just the way we are designed. It is odd that we are a FF culture given that fact.

However, for those who can't, or really don't want to (the fact that people don't want to BF is sad in itself but that is another thread) formula is an acceptable substitute when used correctly.

PS: Am not a 'facist'.

"But I consider that to be my fault for not accessing the correct information."

It should be made much easier to access info/ get help from a HV.

My first was born very prem & it was assumed that I would bfeed & was made very easy for me to do so.

But had baby not been on SCBU I think that there would have been very little help tbh.

That was 14yrs ago.

I don´t think that things have changed much, have they?

Bloody phone, fascist.

I read that as you calling your phone a fascist, NN

Poor phone.