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?!!!!!!

"its not formula feeding that is providing the risk, its not breastfeeding"

It's both.

Formula has higher iron levels than breastmilk (it needs to because it's harder for babies to absorb iron from formula than from breastmilk). However, this also makes it a good medium for bacteria to grow in.

In addition to this there have been suggestions that the proteins in cows milk can trigger an inflammatory affect in the body in some children, leading to higher rates of type 1 diabetes and certain gastro-intestinal diseases like Crohns.

And of course babies haven't evolved to have as their sole food a product which is a good medium for bacteria to grow in - their immune systems at birth are immature and they are additionally vulnerable to gastric illness.

What Cleo said.

showgirl - ff puts babies at greater risk - there is no sugar coated way to say it and unfortunately that causes offence even though it is not the intention.

"just not giving them as many antibodies as if they were BF"

bf is not just about antibodies...

Tosh Leonie an entire childhood of mostly healthy food correct portion size and exercise is what is most beneficial for health in adulthood and what will set kids onto the path for a healthy life.

It's very easy to not overfeed with formula as you can easily stick to guidelines,if parents choose to overfeed that's their problem.

Oh and I very much doubt your "research" re calorie retention. Motabolism and genes,alongside what one puts in one's mouth,portion size and how much exercise one does is what has an impact on a child/ adults health.

If you teach a child to eat healthily,eat the correct portion size and exercise it will be healthy (bad luck and genes aside).

Any of us can say we do "research" and twist stats.Half the research you read and studies done aren't worth the paper they're written on.

Cleo- fair enough, they are good points "against" formula as opposed to simply "not being breastfed" if you get what I mean.

Rollitherecollette - they are health problems for the mother, not the baby.

I can't think of any for the baby, can you?

You can become incontinent through breastfeeding?

"exhaustion, pnd, prolongation of SPD and post partum incontinence "

Where did you get these from?

putting at greater risk sounds fine because it's true but saying 'it's harmful' is so wrong and as I said fuels the whole guilty feelings.

"you know like mastitis, engorgement,thrush, cracked nipples, exhaustion, pnd, prolongation of SPD and post partum incontinence"

No evidence that mums who bottle feed are any the less exhausted or depressed as a group than bf mums. And engorgement, mastitis, thrush and cracked nipples are generally related to poor management of breastfeeding, and not a feature of 'normal' breastfeeding any more than babies getting sick on poorly prepared or chosen formula is a normal part of bottlefeeding.

And of course ff has its own additional risks for mothers - like higher rates of breast and ovarian cancer.

Formula does not put babies at risk if you prepare it properly-follow what it says on the tin,not exactly hard is it.

Milamae - you are wrong.

It's not that important.

FF is no guarantee against exhaustion though I supppose BF can contribute because your body is "doing more" and you can't delegate.

PND - I thought stats for PND were worse for FF than BF?

Prolongation of SPD - what, is that to do with oxytocin or relaxin or whatever hormone still being present? I suppose that might have some merit? Anyone heard of this?

Post partum incontinence - how does BF cause or contribute to that over FF?

link please rollit?

No Cleo only if said ff mothers were part of the very small number of the population destined to sadly get breast and ovarian cancers.Bf may give these mums added protection,it may not.

"but saying 'it's harmful' is so wrong"

If we have evidence that ff babies are more likely to grow into fat adults, have higher blood pressure in adulthood, and lower IQ's than they would have had, had they been breastfed, then I think it's hard to see how you deny the logic of the statement 'formula is harmful to babies'.

Errr says who Bubbly?

"o it MAY put them at a greater risk, it doesn't put them in a greater risk, big difference!"

No, it DOES put them at greater risk of illness. There is evidence of this.

"Formula does not put babies at risk if you prepare it properly-follow what it says on the tin,not exactly hard is it".

It puts babies at increased risk of diabetes, obesity, and respitory illness no matter how carefully you prepare it.