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Original poster

To think it is shocking boots don't give points on first formula

384 replies

Mrswhiskerson · 07/09/2011 14:34

This was brought to my attention again because a friend of mine has just had a baby tried to breastfeed suffered mastitis and started feeling really down so she switched to formula, when she handed over her advantage card she was told points were not given on first formula , she felt bad enough she could not breast feed and now it feels like she is getting penalised for it elsewhere.

I found the same thing when I had ds a year ago when I was told ,you don't get points for first milk I felt really bad too it's like your being punished for not breastfeeding in a way .

This is in no way a bf vs ff debate I just think it's wrong of boots to do this.

OP posts:
Moominsarescary · 08/09/2011 14:51

I don't think low bf rates have anything to do with not making money from bf, in the last 17 years whenever I've had a baby I've been given booklets, talks on bf. if there isn't enough support for bf women from hv, mw etc it isn't because of some secret mass campaign of hcp covertly encouraging women to ff

It's more likely to be due to women choosing not to bf or women being unable for whatever reason

As for promoting brands, surely hospitals do this with the brands they choose to stock, most people don't change formula after leaving hospital as it's not advised so whatever the hospital has is usually what a baby will end up being fed. Do hospitals receive incentives from brands they stock?

MorrisZapp · 08/09/2011 14:54

Siamo, I have no qualification in BF/FF or any other aspect of the issues we're discussing here.

But I look forward to meeting you on threads where you disagree with the government advice or policy on something. I can claim correctness by having the gvt behind me, so that'll be an easy win for me.

MilaMae · 08/09/2011 14:56

Moriss that bugs the hell out of me too.

Apparantly we're all intelligent,savvy women re everything other than feeding our babies when we become clueless idiots taken in by the men in coats. Hmm

MilaMae · 08/09/2011 14:57

Morris I'm looking forward to that too Grin.

Gotta fly now Smile

MorrisZapp · 08/09/2011 14:58

Exactly Moomins. I was given booklets, a DVD, and info re my local free BF cafe etc when I was pg. When I told my MW that I was going to BF, I got a big smile and 'oh that's great' etc.

As it should be.

At no point did any promo material reach me from 't other side. And as a grown woman I am aware what promo material is. I have had plenty free goodies with slogans on them in my time - and it has never made me more likely to buy a product in my life, never mind affected me in making a very important decision.

SiamoFottuti · 08/09/2011 14:59

your gov is not mine, so won't be a problem. Sorry to burst your bubble there.

I just love how arrogant people are, "I have an opinion, and mine is equal to those people who have PhD's and a twenty year career in the field, because I say so". No dear, it really isn't, and you can't change that by having a pop at me, no matter how hard you try.

MorrisZapp · 08/09/2011 15:00

Sorry, way too many acronyms in my first sentence there^. Reads very James Bond-ish :)

Moominsarescary · 08/09/2011 15:03

Well WHO covers everywhere so be careful to make sure your opinions conform to their advice

MorrisZapp · 08/09/2011 15:06

Oh no! I'm in tears! Reduced to a quivering wreck by the big scary clever lady on MN.

Try harder, sweetie.

Of course, people with 20 year careers are all correct, and never disagree with each other at all. There is just 'one truth', and all experts with big titles and fancy jobs speak as one.

Presumably you've never moaned about any aspect of taxation, transport policy, education policy or healthcare in your country, where I assume those decisions are largely made by people with experience in their fields.

SiamoFottuti · 08/09/2011 15:19

No, you're still not managing to grasp the point, are you?

Are "experts" always right? No, of course not. Are they, however, more likely to be right in their specialist subject than you, with your total and utter lack of knowledge on the subject? I think we'll have to go with yes, won't we?

In case thats too difficult for you to follow, lets simplify. Experts= generally know more than you. Ok?

MorrisZapp · 08/09/2011 15:29

Sure, experts generally know more than I do.

And more than you do too.

So as far as debate and opinion is concerned, it's game over. We're both just little people with no right to think or say anything. Switch the light out when you leave.

SiamoFottuti · 08/09/2011 15:40

Thats an odd conclusion to come to. I'm not a little person at all, you can speak for yourself. You are rather dramatic though, would it be possible for you to keep a conclusion on a subject specific to that subject? In this particular subject, you are wrong, but fear not, I'm sure there are other problems you can wrestle with if you apply yourself in less dramatic and hyperbolic fashion. Chin up.

Moominsarescary · 08/09/2011 16:41

If promotion worked more people would bf, I haven't seen or heard any professionals promoting formula in the whole time I've been a mother

OhdearNigel · 08/09/2011 17:13

If you got points on formula it would hardly be fair on breastfeeders would it ?

knittedbreast · 08/09/2011 17:19

i dont think its shocking. breast milk is the best thing for your baby and only about 1% of women cant actually breastfeed, mastitus is not a reason not to breastfeed, in fact expressing and feeding will relieve the pain,

Midori1999 · 08/09/2011 17:25

If promotion worked more people would bf

The promotion of BF is working, the number of women who start BF when their baby is born is increasing. The number of women whe keep up BF isn't really. Almost 90% in this country start BF, by 6 months only around 5% still are.

You only need to scan BF forums to find why that may be, women who have never been told to expect constant feeding early on, told to 'just FF' by doctors who won't treat them properly for thrush or just because 'BF is difficult', lots of ladies who just aren't aware of what is normal in a BF newborn and so think they don't have enough milk and women who, the second there seems any sort of problem, instead of being given help to make BF work, are told to give formula.

A lot of people still think formula is suprior to breastmilk too, people women trust and take advice from.

MilaMae · 08/09/2011 17:29

Knitted lots are things are best for your child,do you get shocked at everything?

knittedbreast · 08/09/2011 18:57

obviously not as i said it wasnt shocking!

Crosshair · 08/09/2011 19:23

''women who have never been told to expect constant feeding early on''

Constant?

slavetofilofax · 08/09/2011 20:25

Can we stop saying bf'ing is free please?

It's not.

BF'ers still often buy bottles, sterilizers, a pump, maternity bras, clothes suitable for bf'ing in public, endless breast pads, and nipple cream.

And you can get points on some of that stuff.

That's all.

RealityVonCrapp · 08/09/2011 20:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SiamoFottuti · 08/09/2011 20:30

lots of them don't buy any of that though, so yes BF is free for a lot of people.

naturalbaby · 08/09/2011 20:34

producing my own baby milk is bumping up our food bill, i know i'm only supposed to be consuming an extra 300 calories a day but i've been eating all day and i still feel hungry. i don't know how much full time formula feeding costs per week but i'm sure i'm adding an extra £10 a week for all my chocolate extra snacks to keep supply up.

slavetofilofax · 08/09/2011 20:40

Come off it! I cannot believe that any breastfeeding woman doesn't at least buy breast pads and maternity bras!

And seeing as how many people that do bf switch to formula at some point, or express ocassionally, it stands to reason that they would also buy bottles and a pump and a means of sterilizing them.

I know I bought a lot of useless crap when I had my pfb, but some of it was neccesary!

qwepoi · 08/09/2011 20:40

BF costs are minimal - the essentials are (IMO) reusable pads , 2X cheap maternity bra, 1X tube lanisoh (lasted for 2 DCs). £30 maybe. Zero for further dc's. Extra food for the first few weeks - but I think we all deserve extra cakes after producing babies.