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?!!!!!!

Bubbleymummy - you seem to be making grossly misleading statements. Why does this bother you so much? Why do you feel the need to get on a soapbox about this?

Capricorn your story is exactly what I'm talking about as far as support goes. You may have been seen by many health professionals but why did none of them pick up on your dd's tongue tie. Greater training about & understanding of the problems that can occur in breastfeeding is needed to prevent mum's and babies going through what you have been through. Just imagine how different it could have been if the first health professional you saw had diagnosed and treated the tounge tie. So much knowledge and and so many skills have been lost as we as a society have accepted ff as the norm. I hope all is now well and that if you want to establish breast feeding that you get the support you need

I would never criticise any women on the way she feeds a baby it's a free world after all and we all do what we think is best for us and our children throughout their/our lives (hope that doesn't sound patronising it's not meant to be at all)

I personally think the fact that first stage formula can't be advertised any longer is a good step in moving away from it being seen as the norm. However mum's who chose to or have to FF should have access to support and information as well.

I am also aware that the breast is best campaign is well heard and understood by many mums but don't think that is a reason to stop trying to promote breastfeeding or a reason to criticise anyone who promotes breastfeeding.

None of the comments from pro breastfeeders has criticised FF on this thread but many ff have accused us of making them feel quilty. That isn't our aim we just want people to have information and support to enable breastfeeding to be a realistic choice too

"I dont understand why formula isnt completely synthesised based on BM, and is instead modified cows milk?"

You've got to get the protein element of breastmilk from somewhere. Whey protein isolate or whatever the most common one they use in most formulas is the protein that most closely resembles the protein found in breastmilk. Caesin is further removed from breastmilk proteins (so less similar) - caesin is the one that is used in "hungry baby" formulas.

But they have to find the protein from somewhere. If not dairy, then soy, and, in extreme cases of allergy etc, from vegetables - my nieces was in a (stinky!) formula that was vegetable based.

There's no point making it from breastmilk protein - if they can get hold of enough breastmilk to make formula from it, they may as well just sell breastmilk!

Very weird behaviour this bf obession.

Bubbleymummy - I am still waiting for validations of your claim that absence of maternal antobodies in BM causes harm to infants.

Oh it's yet another Bubbly "my study is better than your study" thread- what total tedium.

'getting the trots' seriously? Apart from the fact that diarrhoea can be very serious for babies - breastfeeding offers protection to the newborn for many different illnesses. Maternal antibodies are passed to the infant through bm.

You are proving Missy's point very well :)

bumble I guess you missed the bit where it was suggested FF "harms"

Oh and I am a previous bf nutritionist so Im not in any "camp"

In fact, whey protein concentrate and isolate is a very valuable and pure source of protein for humans. Its not better than the protein in breastmilk, but its very very good.

That is one reason why bodybuilders favour it as a dietary supplement.

Diablo - you're a doctor (quite worryingly) Can you not see that not having maternal antibodies to help fight against certain diseases is going to put a baby at a disadvantage? Really?

bubbley are you practiced in reaserch methods and critical review of literature? You seem to have an interesting way of understanding research.

I've been trying for so long to care about breast feeding v formula feeding but I still can't give a monkies bollock.

All of mine were FF and all (thank god) are very healthy, never even had so much as a broken bone.

But this is a serious question now...considering 1 in 3 primary school children are overweight/obese, what's the point in being so 'pro breast feeding' or 'pro formula feeding' if you're going to stop giving a crap what your children shove in their mouths by the time they start school?

Load of old bollocks IMO.

I dont think Bubbly was saying that formula or absence of antibodies will harm - she was responding to a statement "no harm will come to a child if they are formula fed".

This is not strictly true, in that medically they are at increased risk of developing certain illnesses. So it is not to say that they will come to harm, but that they have been exposed to an increased risk, so to speak.

My son was formula fed, but I accept that he is at increased risk statistically of developing certain illnesses because of that. It is not to say that he will.

"probably because cows milk is more readily available. Also (quite sadly) people think bm is 'weird' and 'icky' whereas cow's milk is 'real' milk"

Who on earth thinks these things....I have NEVER met a women who thinks these things.

The trots can be serious in 3rd world countries,we don't live in a 3rd world country.

It's highly unlikely for a baby to get said trots if formula is prepared correctly which it's very easy to do in this country.

And what exactly are all these illnesses my 3 dc,my sister's dc,my friends dc are supposed to have had as newborns-but didn't?

Babies wont "come to harm". As adults they may have more chance of developing certain conditions but they wont come to harm as such as babies.

oh clinkers - by all means please link to research that shows that bf does not protect an infant against illness. I'd love to read it :)

Worral maybe we need to be encouraging EBF at that age too?

Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed a baby basically. Some people can't and that's a shame but there are many many women who just won't even bother to try and I think that's sad.

bubbley you have obviously not read my post and have demonstrated exactly what i have said

Thank you Tatty. :)

shewas - would you use breastmilk in your tea or cereal? Good on you if you would - many people would think it was disgusting :)

Yes allsquare right up to teenage years and beyond. This should keep the mothers slim too

If I could express enough, I'd put it on my cereal. But I'm just that cheap

lol - I can see that you don't understand what I am saying bubbleymummy. I agree that there is transmission of antibodies in breast milk. This is though to provide some benefit to the infant. I do not think that the absence of these antibodies causes harm to a baby.

I would be delighted to hear why you think it is worrying that I am a doctor. Is it because I do not agree with your pseudo-scientific nonsense?