..to think milk formula companies shouldn't price-fix?

[gallicgirl]

We initially used Aptamil as we believed the drippy nurse who told us it was most like breast milk, then had reflux issues to swapped to SMA staydown milk which was slightly less than the Aptamil I think. Now been prescribed infant gaviscon so we've swapped to normal SMA. The first few tins we bought were around the £7.50 mark so we were pleased that we were spending a bit less. Every penny counts and all that.

However, just been to buy some more formula and it was £8.99 in Morrisons. It was also £8.99 in Tesco yesterday. Just checked online and it's £8.99 at Sainsbury's, Asda and Boots (obviously it's more in Mothercare). When I've bought the SMA before it's been slightly different prices in different shops. I know food prices have gone up and shops can't offer discounts and the like, but I'm suspicious that it's exactly the same price in every store.

It's a 20% price rise!!! I can't believe that wholesale costs have risen that much.

But boilingpoint, statistically women from higher socio-economic groups are more likely to breastfeed than those from lower socio-economic groups. That isn't a presumption or accusation.

boiling (oh, what an apt name!) you are the one making presumptions.

The point was that more ffing is more common than bfing in deprived areas. THE is not to day there is no bfing, just that ther is less of it. And bfing more common in less deprived areas than in deprived. THis is just a fact.

Jesus, chill! And don't be so reactionary.

Oh, excuse numerous typos.

Rita just put it better anyway.

RitaMorgan I think generic formula should be available on the NHS for those who need it - branded formula could still be available in the shops for those who choose it for "lifestyle" reasons.

Im interested in what you would define "need" and the difference between this and *lifestyle choice"? Surely you are not suggesting that women who try to breastfeed but cant should be able to purchase formula at a cheaper rate than wome who decide to ff from the start?!!!!

Duck, I think you make a good point but.....if a woman could prove that she couldnt BF then she could get reduced priced formula so therefore you could argue that it may make more women attempt BF if only because their long term goal was a signed form from the HV saying they couldnt! It could, in theory atleast, increase the BF rates in the first few weeks of life and allow HV etc to attempt to support these women into continuing if they are able.

No, by lifestyle choice I meant for convenience rather than necessity. You need formula if breastmilk isn't available, but you might choose to use formula for convenience even if breastmilk is available - so someone else can do a feed, so the mother can go out, in the hope it'll make them sleep longer etc.

Sorry I've upset you Boiling point. Tis true what I've said though.

Errrr I object to anybody saying what I and my boobs can, can't or should do thanks-you are joking

gallicgirl we were talking about this in Bottle and Breastfeeding, there was a thread started I think on Thu - I e-mailed SMA to shout complain. Sainsburys at the minute still has SMA at the cheaper price.

rita - I really dont want this thread to descend into the inevitable bf versus ff bunfights debates they usually do but it should just be accepted that how to feed a baby is a Mothers choice - and if she chooses to ff from the start then that is her chocie. I really am a bit taken aback at your point of view tbh - you really are differentiating between ff Mums arent you - as if its ok to ff as long as you try to bf? Why the hell should there be a difference!

No duckdodgers, think you're misunderstanding me. If the mother isn't breastfeeding then the baby needs formula - I think it would be great if a generic version was available on the NHS. If the mother is breastfeeding but wants to use formula sometimes, she can buy branded formula from the shop.

Ah rita thanks for explaining that, sorry

Surely you are not suggesting that women who try to breastfeed but cant should be able to purchase formula at a cheaper rate than wome who decide to ff from the start?!!!!

Why shouldn't it be seen as a difference? A Mum who chooses not to bf is NOT the same as a Mum who can't bf. Choosing to use formula from birth is a valid choice and it's up to the individual, but it is simply not the same as it is for a woman who desparatley wanted to provide her baby with all the benefits of bf but pysically can't.

It's like E45 cream, or some other emolient cream. Some people choose to use it as a moisturiser, some people need it because of a medical condition like eczema. For children that need it, it is provided free on prescription. For children whose parents choose to use it, it can be bought.

Yes she is - she is still ff her baby. Or do you think women who chose to ff should be penalised for their choice then, in this case a financial way?

bubblecoral - how on earth would you police that though? Would anyone who had breastfed at least once get prescription formula, or would they have to have done a certain number of feeds/weeks?

There are relatively few conditions that absolutely prevent someone from breastfeeding but many women struggle with all kinds of obstacles before switching to formula - who would decide if they'd tried hard enough to qualify? What if a women chooses not to go through any more pain or stress, even though she could physically breastfeed?

I have started giving my 10 month DD a ff before bed bed apart from that she is bf, and even that one feed a day is not cheap.

BUT my own appetite has been off the scale whilst BFing - I reckon when I stop which I plan to fairly soon, my overall food bill will go down even with more formula milk in the trolley as hopefully I will stop being such a ravenous glutton.

"For children that need it, it is provided free on prescription. For children whose parents choose to use it, it can be bought"

Your analogy of E45 cream doesn't work, because no harm will come to those babies who don't need it if they don't have it. All babies who aren't receiving breastmilk, whatever the reason, will need formula.

Spudulika, that would be the parents responsibility.

The midwife that checks you over every day until the cord drops off could tell, or the HV could. Yes, it would be hard to police, but ultimately parents are responsible for feeding their babies. But in cases where the birth has been so traumatic that there is no possible way a Mother could bf, it would be nice if they were provided with the milk for free in the same way that they would be if they physically could bf.

It's very rare that a woman is unable to physically breastfeed. The problem is the lack of support, correct advice etc. How on earth could midwives decide who physcially cant breastfeed when the main reason for not being able to is crap support?

What if the mother is just in a lot of pain, but physically could breastfeed?

Exactly rainbow.

Go for HIPP - cheaper and comes in two foil bags per box, so if you are mix feeding you can open only one bag at a time. We used the SMA tin as handy storage for the HIPP. It now contains nails and screws in the garage, and I sometimes think DH wishes we'd used more SMA as it's getting full. Now that's an advantage of formula that never come up on these threads (joke - just in case! )

Boilingpoint - formula is not just used by people who cannot bf (and most people could with the right info and support) but by many who chose to bottlefeed

OP - there is NO formula that is close to breastmilk - they cannot be compared

Perhaps the midwives could be trained in knowing exactly how much pain a woman needs to be in to qualify for being excused from breastfeeding? Women would need to demonstrate how much blood can drip from their bleeding nipples due to poor positioning and the midwife could use this as an indicator.