to be absolutely freaking fuming about breastfeeding vouchers! !!!

[harriet247]

Cannot put into words how annoyed I am,have just switched on the news to be told that the government are considering offering breastfeeding vouchers to new mums.
160 quid in shopping vouchers for the first 6 weeks of the babys life and 200 if you go up to 6 months.
Im a ftm and I had crippling horrible guilt that I couldn't breastfeed. I really wanted to but my milk didnt turn up until 9 days after my baby was born. I think was something to do with 44 hour labour which ended in an emc a few weeks before my due date.
I am just furious, furious that women are being treated like foolish little ladies who need a cash incentive to feed their babies in the way the powers that be say is best.

Mylovelyboy I also asked how you would increase breastfeeding rates.

Or do you think they dont need increasing?

Ironically, some of those babies in hospital will recover quicker with breastmilk. Yes you want to give them money?

"already so against breast feeding." Why do you assume they are already so against it? Why couldnt it be, that they dont know any different but ff? What if they want to try but dont know where to start? Why cant it be because none of their friends breast fed?

Also, the midwife doesnt have to ask them to try, nor persuade them.

A simple "also, to let you know, if you want to try breastfeeding they have an incentive going. Here is a leaflet if you are interested." Then onto the next subject.

Id have absolutely no problem telling a mother about an incentive.

"Why do you assume they are already so against it?" some women clearly are. There's lots of posts on mumsnet from women who just don't want to breastfeed. For many different reasons.

Yes some.

Not most.

You really think they should cater to the lowest common denominator? That wouldnt benefit anyone at all.

YABU, why are people forever taking things so personally? If this scheme isn't aimed at you, why bother getting upset about it? Why not accept that it will help some women make the choice to breastfeed and so help some babies?

It's just like attendance awards really: sucks a bit if you're not the target group but can really help those who it is aimed at.

This scheme is only for people who just don't want to. Who wouldn't consider it. Not those who have tried but given up.

Isn't it?

Its for those who dont do it because they dont know any better.

Not for the middle class mum who tried it with her first, hated it and didnt try with her second.

OHFor Im not really interested in increasing bf rates to be honest. Mothers should be able to do what is right for them and their baby. We don't need bf shoved down our throats and we certainly don't need money wasted on vouchers which it could be spent somewhere more worthwhile. If someone asked me where I would like a chunk of money to go ie to a bf scheme or a kidney machine. I think I know which one I would choose.

In deprived areas, there is a whole generation (at least) that havent breastfed.

Its there to break that cycle.

Its there to show people that breastfeeding is an option that they wouldnt usually consider because of their environment.

FabulousIdiot answer me this, if you dont mind. Breastfeeding rates in deprived areas are significantly lower than they are in areas with more money. Why do you think this is?

Does the system not owe it to them to help them make better decisions for their children? Better decisions that a better off woman is more likely to make?

Doe it really matter? breast fed or bottle fed. As long as the little darling is fed and happy who cares where it comes from. Too much emphasis on bf

"Im really not interested in increasing breast feeding rates."

Thats so sad.

For everything you said, is exactly why the system has let us down and I personally am grateful they are trying to change it.

Imagine if every woman felt that way, no one would breastfeed.

Im guessing that doesnt matter either Mylovelyboy?

MyLovelyboy do you know what the benefits or breastfeeding are? Genuine question.

OHfor How is it sad. If you look at my last post. Does it really matter as long as the child is fed. my ds was only bf for two weeks. It worked well but to be honest could not take the constant feeding every half an hour. It was not for me. My son thrived on formula and has grown up into a very healthy boy. Cannot remember the last time he went to doctors and he is 13.

Mylovelyboy do you know what the benefits of breastfeeding are? Genuine question.

OHfor - How has the system let us down. Its up to the individual what they want to do regarding feeding. Its not up to any organisation to try and persuade us what is right for our kids. The majority of us are not stupid.

I didnt say you were. I just asked if you knew what the benefits of breastfeeding were.

Where I live, we got free ironing every week for 6 weeks if we breast fed...

Did it encourage people to breast feed hambo?

What are the breastfeeding rates where you are? Do most ff or breast feed?

NO OH don't agree. My sister and I were not breast fed. We are healthy. Stand outside the school gates. Could you honestly say you could tell which child was a breast fed or a formula fed baby. Now answer that one please

Mylovely - yes, it does matter. We need to reduce the burden on the NHS and break the cycle where mothers from less well off backgrounds feed babies with formula they can't afford as it is natural in their circles.

No matter how you dress it up, if you can bf then it is best, but if you can't then that's life. Beating yourself up about it wan't change things - that's what nature dealt you. If you choose not to bf because you don't know any better... then this initiative is aimed at you. I say this as someone who bf'd two children then suffered a brain injury that prevented me bf'ing the third. Formula is bloody expensive and keeps people in debt if they have little to start with.

Andharry Exactly. Wtf do people always project their own emotions/personal experience on to this type of thing. The point is that if this trial works and increases bf rates, then the nhs saves money in the long run. Win win for the population's general health and finances. If it doesn't work it won't continue and they wil try something else. No need for all the indignant drama, it's an attempt to save money and improve health, not a personal attack fgs

Hello, yes I live in a very poor area, and most FF because according to the HV, 'grannies' were against it as they never did it in their day, so the mums were encouraged not to...and the HV had been told by the mums that BF took up too much time...so they came up with this idea. I got the impression that it changed nothing, and all the people who would have BF, did, and those who were never going to, didn't.

"FabulousIdiot answer me this, if you dont mind. Breastfeeding rates in deprived areas are significantly lower than they are in areas with more money. Why do you think this is? "

Lack of education is a biggie.
Lack of support.
More influenced by the media because of the lack of education and lack of access to informed information giving them an informed and free choice.

lots and lots of reasons but I do believe that the way we view our breasts as a society and the way formula companies have been able to promote the idea that their product is as good as breast milk has increased the amount of formula fed babies and the amount of mothers who just don't try. It's not seen as an alternative but as a replacement for breast milk. This has gone on for many decades and has contributed to the overall woeful breast feeding rates in the country and elsewhere.

"Its not up to any organisation to try and persuade us what is right for our kids. The majority of us are not stupid."

yet over the last few decades that is exactly what Formula companies have done. It is their business to make formula seem like it's as good if not better than breast milk.

I can't tell the difference between one BF child and one FF child at the school gates....but I could tell the difference between 1000 BF children and 1000 FF children stood at the school gates.....

There would be differences in their average health that would stand out a mile....