To think that if you were REALLY concerned about babies getting the best start...

[jorahmormont]

... you'd focus your efforts on complaining to the government about the lack of support for breastfeeding mothers, and protest against formula companies, rather than wasting energy trying to make formula-feeding mothers feel shit?

This isn't a discussion of FF vs BF. We all know the statistics by now, and we all know that only 2% medically can't BF etc, and that medical reasons aren't the only reasons women can't/choose not to BF, so it's not a debate of that.

It's just to ask... well, AIBU to think that people who do spend their time calling FF mums "artificial feeders" and telling them that they clearly don't love their kids as much and are second-rate mothers (and yes, it does happen - it's happening right now on a certain parenting site) aren't actually bothered about kids getting the best start, but rather making themselves feel superior?

And yes, I know IABU to start a thread about FF vs BF, because it's a stupid sodding debate and people need to stop treating motherhood as a competition. I know IABU to start this thread, please send , I need them right now

Thanks storm, I think that came out sounding a bit bad, I'm absolutely not saying mums don't bond well if they ff, it's how I feel about my limited experience and thinking about what support could have helped.

Formula does not have a detrimental effect on babies.Just sayin.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that formula is harmful to babies.

A poster lower down said it was so more than suggesting,stating.

The only position the breastfeeding support person in my hospital knew was cradle hold. I have 40D boobs and a c section. I hadn't slept for four days because I had a 2 day labour and we were constantly interrupted. She kept insisting that I didn't need to know another hold (when baby was born we did rugby one successfully) and because they'd kept me waiting 45 minutes the baby was screaming from hunger. I angrily told her to get out. I have a diagnosis of bipolar on my notes and the midwife on that shift called the psychiatric team on me saying I was "hysterical". I was annoyed and exhausted. They came and were bemused to find me calmly sitting on the bed with a magazine and baby. I didn't ask for help again after that.

I can't find anything like that Lily, unless you mean the quotes from Babycentre that the OP quoted to illustrate what had annoyed her initially, causing her to post here.

Thelush Thursday

"it's accepted that formula isn't as good as BM" is the bit, I think? And the bit before it about a c section not being detrimental? That isn't the same as saying that formula is detrimental, it's clumsy phraseology.

It is generally accepted that breast milk is optimal for babies (all other things being equal), therefore formula is an adequate substitute. That's not at all the same as saying that formula is harmful or detrimental, it's just not optimal (all other things being equal).

Sorry do you mean I posted that on Thursday? Where? I can't see which post you could be getting that from