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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Miriam Stoppard is an idiot who should not be allowed to spout this rubbish about bf

318 replies

50shadesofslapntickle · 14/08/2012 17:57

Some of my La Leche League friends have just shown me this and I am totally surprised that this supposed 'doctor' can spout this crap in a national newspaper?!

www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/when-should-you-stop-breast-feeding-1259599

And then we discover she has links to Nestle... what a surprise...

boycottnestle.blogspot.co.uk/2008/02/nestle-panic-miriam-stoppard.html

Miriam Stoppard you should be ashamed of yourself for writing this totally innacurate rubbish.

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 16/08/2012 17:48

Because its not just woman X, who made that decision and is happy with it, who is reading the discussion. Its pregnant women all around that world who still may be unfortunately under the mentality we have where formula is percieved as equal to, or even superior to, breast milk. And to be honest, if I briefly piss off woman X, but it means that next time she is pregnant she does a bit more reading and gives breastfeeding a go, then its been worth it. And that does happen, not just with breastfeeding, but all sorts of parenting decisions; you decide that you will do Y with your DC1. You do it. You see a thread / a blog / an article / over hear a discussion when pregnant with DC2 and you reconsider.

We're obviously not going to agree on this Moomins, and obviously that's fine. And obviously there are some people who will not breastfeed at all. Do I think that's unfair on the baby? Yes I do, because as far as I am concerned being a mother is about doing absolutely what is best for your baby, at times despite the impact on you. Now maybe that is because of my own childhood, and things I am hoping to change for my own child. Or maybe its because I am fully educated and aware of the risks of artificially feeding, and they frighten me. So I think everyone should give breastfeeding a go, because if the baby had a voice you can guess what they would ask for :)

That said, I have some lovely friends who have bottle fed right them the off. The fact I disagree with their choice, and would do my absolute to help them the next time around (9/10 of them wish they had breastfed), does not mean I think they are bad people, or bad mothers. I still respect them, love them, and love their children. The ones who had issues and switched to bottles I have even more respect for, and feel disappointed for, because they tried and tried, and were failed by the system.

Laikaloo · 16/08/2012 18:52

Sorry - on what way is moving to ff being "failed by the system"? Ff is as good an alternative to bf, and ff babies are just as healthy etc. The system in this country is failing women by making them believe they have failed if they switch to formula.

SirBoobAlot · 16/08/2012 18:55

Laikaloo I must respectfully disagree, formula is in no way as good as breast milk, and formula fed babies (don't give me personal anecdotes, I'm talking factually) are not as healthy.

If you reread what I've written I'm talking about mums that have had issues. Who wanted to continue. Who didn't have access to enough support to help them to.

SESthebrave · 16/08/2012 19:34

It is a fact that formula is not as good as breast milk. Only today I saw a tv ad for formula that began by saying that "nothing compares to breast milk but if you choose to move on....." The formula companies themselves recognise this as fact.

I also believe that there is not enough access to good advice and support.

As I've previously said though, I will not judge anyone for how they choose to feed their baby, as long as they do feed their baby. I will not judge as I have not walked in their shoes to know what has led them to never want to BF, stop BF after 6 days, stop BF after 6mo or to still be BF at 6 yrs.

Moominsarescary · 16/08/2012 20:45

Formula fed babies are not as healthy- that's not actually factual though is it, ff babies can be more susceptible to some illness or health problems. That certainly doesn't mean that they are all less healthy.

Laikaloo · 16/08/2012 20:47

Please show me proper well researched evidence - there is plenty of recent research about claims bf protecting against conditions such as exzema which show no provable link.

50shadesofslapntickle · 16/08/2012 20:47

Sirboobalot - my sentiments exactly - we are twins on this!

OP posts:
chocoluvva · 16/08/2012 21:01

It's proven to reduce the risk of certain breast-cancers.
Bf babies are less likely to be obese or have diabetes in later life. They have more protection from illness due to the antibodies in the breast milk. They're less likely to have ear infections and norovirus. Also less likely to get childhood cancers!!!
Breastmilk is free and environmentally friendly.

50shadesofslapntickle · 16/08/2012 21:31

We are wasting our time citing health benefits but some people just want to ignore how good breast milk is as they just can't handle the truth so leave them to it!

OP posts:
MrsFlippingHeck · 16/08/2012 21:42

Just seen this thread. It explains a conversation I had with MIL

On Wednesday my mil told me that in the paper (they get the Daily Mirror) it said you should wean at 4 months now not 6. Then she mentioned something about teeth coming through being the sign for weaning.

I've got a ebf 5.5 month old and now mil thinks I'm doing it wrong, thanks a bunch Miriam Stoddard you ignorant fool.

MrsFlippingHeck · 16/08/2012 21:43

Stoppard

drtachyon · 16/08/2012 21:53

DS gets formula, as we couldn't get breastfeeding established. I agree with posters who say there needs to be more support for mums who want to breastfeed. I didn't manage to get any support at all after DS was discharged from hospital.

We use Cow & Gate, and they don't think that formula is just as good as breastmilk. Here's what they say on the cartons of formula:

Important notice Breastfeeding is best for babies. It is recommended that Cow & Gate first infant milk from newborn be used only on the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor, public health nurse, dietitian, pharmacist, or other professional responsible for maternal and child care.

Formula is a substitute for breastmilk, and gives babies who aren't breastfed for whatever reason acceptable nutrition, but it's not as good for them as breastmilk.

Although, SirBoobAlot, while FF babies as a group are less healthy than BF babies as a group, it's inaccurate to suggest that every FF baby is less healthy than every BF baby.

jaggythistle · 16/08/2012 21:55

argh that must be so annoying Mrs!

hope my MIL doesn't read the mirror as well as the mail...

MrsFlippingHeck · 16/08/2012 22:02

jaggy you'll be prepared if your mil does mention it.
I didn't know what mine was going on about. I did point out that some babies don't get teeth until they're 12 months. Miriam is highly regarded as a child care expert by mil. (I've been told numerous times that bed sharing is DANGEROUS)

Laikaloo · 16/08/2012 22:45

Ff babies are not more or less healthy as a group! The research clearly shows this!

KittyFane1 · 16/08/2012 22:49

So many people here obsessed passionate about what and how other people feed their babies.
Anyone would think feeding a baby formula was like feeding them a bottle of Tango.
A person's life expectancy, health and wellbeing in later life is not significantly different from or dependent on BF. It just isn't.
Buuttt, if believing otherwise is what it takes to make some people feel like a good mother, so be it.

KittyFane1 · 16/08/2012 22:50

laikaloo x post

KittyFane1 · 16/08/2012 22:52

different from FF babies

pigletmania · 16/08/2012 23:08

I totally agree drtachyon. Not all ff babies grow up to be thick and sick, and not all bf babies are the epitome of health and vitality. Whilst bm is the perfect for your baby, it is not some magic potion that will prevent illness.

SirBoobAlot · 16/08/2012 23:45

And if refusing to acknowledge the benefits of a choice they didn't make it what it takes for others, Kitty, then so be it.

And you're wrong. For a mother, breastfeeding reduces rates of: ovarian, womb, uterine and breast cancer, osteoparosis, type 2 diabetes, and post natal depression. For baby: Reduced rates of asthma, eczema, UTIs, ear infections, chest infections, heart disease (for premature babies, from four weeks!), obesity, childhood cancers, diabetes, mental health conditions, M.S., orthodontic issues... I could go on.

Phthalates found in infant formula

Seven ways breastfed babies become healthier adults

Breastfeeding benefits from top to bottom

HAMLET in breastmilkl

Breast milk antibodies help neutralize HIV

Breast feeding and public health

pigletmania · 17/08/2012 00:02

it isent, just because a baby is bf does not make them immune from illness, and also it depends on lifestyle choices when they are older. You cannot say that bm will prevent a child/person 100% from getting illness. We are not saying that is not better than formula and that its compariable, it is a breastmilk substitute used if a child is not being bf. Yes sirboobalot, that is why i am really trying too express as long as i can, because i know the health benefts of bm. I am sure that a woman will have carefully thought about the pros and cons when deciding on the feeding method. Which way you feed your baby is your choice and nobody elses is also applied to those who ff their children not only bf.

Moominsarescary · 17/08/2012 00:19

Again reduced rates, some will some won't. All mine had exzema as babies, it didn't make the slightest difference how they were fed. Apart from me and my sister all the family members I know on my mothers side had exzema at some point in their lives. They all died of bowl cancer too. Some people are just more at risk of certain illnesses than others.

There are lots of factors that influence ill health and just because someone chooses not to bf for whatever reason does not mean they are uneducated or we should all be clutching our pearls and declaring think of the poor children.

QueenMaeve · 17/08/2012 00:56

I bf my first 4 dc, the 5th one was ff, (she was born at 32 wks) The one that was formula fed is now almost 3 and has never been to the GP's apart from her imunisations, nor has she ever even had a cold. I totally crucified myself for not bf her as she was premature and as I thought needed it even more than the others. But now I can see there are so many other factors to a healthy baby/child. I'm glad I was able to bf the others but it really is not the be all and end all that people make it out to be.

EasilyBored · 17/08/2012 07:05

And yet, even with all the benefits of breastmilk, no Dr would be able to look at a room full of adults and tell you how they were fed as babies.

Yes BM is better. But for aome of us, the pros don't outweigh the cons.

This is just not the issue that makes or breaks you as a parent.