To think it will all kick off on here after this is aired?

[MsScarlett]

My mum just texted me to say that tomorrow there is a documentary on BBC3 at 9pm called, "Is Breast Best?".

I predict a bunfight!

Hecate, one word:

YES

Some of the comments towards mums who choose/chose to FF their babies are so extreme, patronising and demeaning (when they are already possibly feeling quite fragile) that I wouldn't be surprised if, on the basis of that alone some people ruled out BF.

As far as I am concerned it's a woman's choice to do as she pleases. Why people cannot accept or tolerate that is beyond me. Breast milk is good, but so is formula. Each have benefits and both produce healthy babies. It really shouldn't be anyone else's business what choices other mothers make. This sort of militancy is so very misguided...and very off-putting.

Well said hecate. I'm copying your post to a friend who has been seriously NCT'd and think ff is poison and I worry for her when her babies are born in a few weeks! I can't put it into words as well as you, so thank you.

Being made to feel an utter failure by the midwife and by the health visitor because I couldn't BF prem tongue-tied twins, with a painful, weeping CS wound, anymore was NOT FUN!

So I think FFers should be supported in their decisions too.

Hecate thank goodness

It is not in itself making a judgement on those who choose to use formula. Or those who wanted to breast feed but couldn't. It's not a war! If you can't bf or you simply don't want to! Formula is there for you.

Absolutely Bloofer, I still BF (I say still, she is only 8 months ) precisely because I found it easy, and fundamentally I will always choose tha path of least resistance! That said, it wasn't always easy, but researching it thoroughly gavce me clues on what to expect so I was prepared.

I won't be watching (am going camping apart from anything else), purely because I know it will irritate me. BF is best for babies. Our milk is designed for them, and they are designed to thrive on it, in the majority of cases. You cannot deny that BM is best for babies. 'Formula' is an acceptable substitute, nothing more...nothing less. Why people are icky about BF and then go on to give their babies (and themselves) the milk produced by a whole other species for their offspring is beyond me.

It is normally the forumla feeders who get bored of these threads and hide them, but despite being a passionate 'lactivist' I am rapidly going that way.

It's mind boggling to think there are so many staunch BFers and FFers going round and round with the same argument.

Considering as many as 1 in 3 children are obese by the time they start school, there are an awful lot of parents feeding their kids shit once they're old enough to chew.....

I FF and am not woried about it! My boobs are too sensitive!

[runs away]

candleshoe Yes I absolutely believe FF Mums should be supported more in their decision....especially on a site like this.

worraliberty LOL!

Can't help feeling this whole debate is yet another stick to beat women with - one way or the other. Really, your baby, your choice, IMO.

"Breastmilk from humans is the most appropriate milk for human babies. That is because it has been designed that way. In the same way that cow milk is designed for calves, cat milk is designed for kittens, dog milk is designed for puppies...

It is not in itself making a judgement on those who choose to use formula. Or those who wanted to breast feed but couldn't. It's not a war! If you can't bf or you simply don't want to! Formula is there for you."

Bravo Hec

I heard a brilliant analogy about the bf/ff debate the other day that ran quite similar to the bit I have quoted above.

The body naturally produces insulin. Most people can use and regulate that insulin level perfectly well. Some cannot so have to rely on artificial insulin. We do not judge diabetics for their 'laziness' in not getting by on what nature has given them. We do not decry them as the Anti-Christ and wail "won't somebody think of the platelets!". We accept that for whatever reason, some people cannot do what for others is the most natural thing in the world. Yet we DO judge FFers. We do look on them as akin to child abusers. We do scorn them as having not tried hard enough. Insulin and breast milk are both natural products for a specific use. Why is it acceptable to have one in artificial form and not the other?

Of course that only applies to those who try to BF and can't. For those who gasps don't even try, well there are a whole host of reasons and I would imagine that "I CBA" is pretty low on them for the vast majority. It is beyond me why some people get so het up about other people's child rearing choices though. I have enough to worry about trying to make the decisions that are right for my family, without presuming to know the ins and outs of everyone else's family to pass comment on theirs. That said, I BF one DC, FF the other and have pretty much decided on mixed feeding for the one currently booting my spine so obviously I only have a partial right to be heard on the matter

Belle it IS a stick to beat woman with but sadly it's other women doing the beating

Dilli sadly, you're right.

Ho hum, here we go again.....

Well it's true toonice lol

This whole argument falls flat if people are going to feed their kids enough shite to make them fat and unhealthy as soon as they're weaned.

What's the fucking point in 'breast is best' or 'formula is best' if so many parents don't give a monkeys afterwards?

Sounds like a shite 'documentary' that'll only increase the stereotypes. No chance of showing it as normal. Marvellous.

Incidentally my dsds know a 16yo who's just had a baby. She had bought all the bottles etc but when baby was born she just decided to try bfing and is doing well afaik.

Btw I agree that the phrase 'breast is best' should be replaced with 'breast is normal'

i wont be watching.

meanwhile is the bird with the fringe on the trailer that effing awful woman from mother and baby mag - you know 'funbags'???

LOL it is true hahaha

"but formula is not the work of the devil "

Unfortunately Hecate more ff babies get ill and end up at the doctors or in hospital. Pointing this out to people who are adament that it doesn't actually make any difference tends to result in people shouting 'formula's not poison you know!'

"The problem is that breast is probably best if the mother is supported and there arent other problems"

No - breast milk is best and safest for babies even if it's not convenient for mothers.

Anyway Formula fed babies need to be fed too, and most mothers don't have anyone to take over the feeding once their partner has finished paternity leave.

"and if she can take a few months off work"

Women have 6 months maternity leave in the UK. And even if they don't have this many still manage to breastfeed. I went back to work two and a half days a week when dd was 5 weeks old and still managed 18 months of bf.

Anyway, didn't watch the programme as I have no doubt it will contain so much idiocy it'll make me want to hit someone with a brick. No doubt it was bristling with platitudes, generalising, inaccuracies, defensiveness, cliche, etc etc.

"What's the fucking point in 'breast is best' or 'formula is best' if so many parents don't give a monkeys afterwards?"

Well - at least some children have had an optimal diet during their period of fastest growth and development, even if their diet is poor afterwards.

Actually think the 'they'll get fed shit afterwards' is probably the strongest argument for breastfeeding there is.

But sadly the kids who are most likely to be fed shit in childhood are also those least likely to be breastfed as babies

(.)(.)

"We do scorn them as having not tried hard enough. Insulin and breast milk are both natural products for a specific use. Why is it acceptable to have one in artificial form and not the other?"

I suppose it's because there aren't companies making huge profits out of persuading women who don't need to use insulin because they produce enough of their own, that they should go out and buy it. And by doing so damage their ability to produce insulin and leave them completely dependent on something they probably never needed in the first place.