To think the 'information' the midwife gave me is almost propaganda?

[ethelfleda]

Recently had 24 week appointment. This is our first. Midwife asked if I had thought about feeding yet. I said I plan on breastfeeding. I say 'plan' because (as with everything else baby related) I am trying to keep an open mind as from what I hear, things don't always go according to plan! So I will try hard to breastfeed but I won't beat myself up if it doesn't work out for us.
She handed me a 20 odd page pamphlet thing and said it contained useful information on caring for a new born.

I started to read it today thinking it would be basic NHS info on how to feed, wind and change your baby etc. It was actually 20 odd pages of info telling me basically that if i don't breastfeed, my baby is more likely to develop cancer (as am I) as well as be admitted to hospital in their first year of life etc etc among other very scary statistics.
The language used was shocking IMO! And seemingly designed to make women who don't/can't breastfeed feel awful! Has anyone else had this information handed to them and thought it was way over the top??

the prevailing view amongst the general public is hardly good evidence for any important decision. Not too long ago the general opinion was that smoking war harmless.

@newtlover I don't have a medical condition. My child does.

And yes. The formula and feed supplements were and are on prescription.

is this leaflet available online anywhere?

I don't think it's a good idea to mention smoking in this context.

It is accuraet that cancer rates are less if you breastfeed. We have the worst breastfeeding records in Europe and some of the better maternity leave rights for women.

So our pro breastfeeding propaganda is clearly utterly useless and needs to be much much better at encouraging breastfeeding.

Please don't equate formula feeding and smoking. Thy are not the same.

Sorry, mychild. You had bad care then from the 'generalists'. Maybe a sticker or something on the front of the red book so they knew to read first before opening their mouths would be a good idea.

I just put NHS Choices baby feeding into Google. The second result was advice on bottle feeding.

Fine with the leaflet, it should also be used in conjunction with discussion with the ladies Midwife, not just given like that. That is not the way to promote bf, it has made op feel uncomfortable, I am sure it has done the same to many women who have received it. You don't have to accept the leaflet, say no, or throw it away if it makes you uncomfortable.

Newt sticker would be a very good idea actually.

I will suggest it to the gp next time I'm there.

SIL has no intention of even trying to breast feed which makes me feel a bit sad actually - I don't know if that makes me a judgemental cow.

Open mind attitude is the best IMO.

(My baby is older now. The may do a sticker now but I will check and put it forward as an idea)

Why would you feel sad over anyone else's choice as to how they feed their baby? Expectiwlly when you don't know the history or reasons

My midwife knows I will not be breastfeeding at all. She knows and understands why. Didn't stop her trying to get me to take 2 separate information leaflets about BF. I removed them from pile and reminded her why. She said oh ok I suppose they won't be helpful, are you sure you don't want to take them anyway 😠
I am aware if it possible it's best to give it a try for sake of baby but ffs think it's all gone too far with the ott pushyness of it! Think they sometimes forget about mums when it comes to bf!

I didn't ready feed I had extremely large boobs before pregnancy and didn't really fancy getting them out in public etc etc. I tried it half heartedly in hospital and it didn't work fortunately.
However, two friends in my first time mum group both desperately wanted to BF and were given the propaganda in writing and verbally from MW's. One couldn't breastfeed as she got really bad mastitis and was so ill with it she had to stop. She told me she felt a failure and stopped meeting FTM group as half of them BF. She got so down about it.
Another in my FTM group really tried it but her tall baby was getting thinner and thinner and looking more and more malnourished. She discussed stopping but it took her a goodly while to persuade her MW/HV this was in her babies best interests.
I think some of the MW's and HV's have been totally brainwashed in favor of BF when breast isn't always best and woman who can't do it for whatever reason shouldn't be vilified and guilt tripped.

Of course I know the history and the reasons - she's my SIL.

I've felt the same way as you, OP, at various stages during both my breastfeeding experiences. I struggled a lot with my first but did get the support I needed from a local breastfeeding group and managed to continue until my DD lost interest at 11 months. She was mixed fed from about 8 or 9 months and seemed to prefer a formula bottle in the end. I went back to work at six months (after both pregnancies) and pumped as often as I could manage while still trying to keep up with a demanding job. With my first, my milk supply dropped pretty quickly after returning to work. This time I'm producing gallons of the stuff but DD2 won't take a bottle, any bottle, ever. Ugh. Still pumping though just in case and to keep my supply going.
I've found breastfeeding so much easier this time because I actually knew what to expect. The first time I felt I had been so unprepared after a week of breastfeeding. If anyone had just told me that I would literally spend the entire first three months sat on my arse breastfeeding then I'd have prepared for that. As it was, I spent months panicking I wasn't making enough milk and that something was wrong because she fed constantly, for hours on end and cried every time I put her down. I also had my mother in law I my ear the whole time telling me I wasn't making enough milk and my own mum saying 12 weeks was a great achievement and maybe I should just switch to formula now.
Breastfeeding mother need support. Tons of it. Because it's hard and no one in the NHS actually prepares you for what it will be like. They give you facts and figures which end up making you feeling obligated to continue when it starts to get hard. It gets results but ends up leaving many of us feeling guilt ridden and bad about ourselves. Actual physical support is what's needed, not just facts and figures and statistics.

Girlonatraintoshite you might not know everything. She's your SIL. Her personal private decisions aren't duty bound to be discussed in full detail with you

It's just a useless exercise giving out a 20 page booklet so they can tick a box somewhere to say parents have been educated about breastfeeding.

What is actually needed are HCPs who really understand how to help women who want to BF and have difficulties.

Most of them don't have a fucking clue beyond preaching about the benefits.

So mums it's all your fault if your child gets cancer and you didn't BF ( we gave you the pamphlet you know).
But actual practical support in the crucial first post partum days - not so easy to find.

She can't be bothered and that's totally SIL.

It's up to her but it makes me feel a bit sad. I think you should at least try to give them the colostrum.

I wouldn't say anything to her I am just voicing here that's how I feel.

I just don't understand why you'd feel sad.

Fine

You think you should at least try to give them the colostrum. So you'd feel sad for my then newborn, not knowing the full circumstances, you would judge me.

I don't think that's a very fair thing to do.

I don't know you do I or the full circumstances?

I do know my SIL - she is part of my family.

In terms of propaganda, I'm not sure what agenda the NHS have other than to promote health of the public. Unless you found something? It's not a surprise to me that breast is the best option, when it is the most natural. Breastfeeding doesn't come easy to everyone. I had great difficulty, but for me perseverance has helped me to establish an exclusive breastfeeding relationship. My baby is 12 weeks and it's still not easy, but Ive become more resilient. If latching is a problem you could pump and give breast milk form a bottle. If this is completely impractical, you can't produce milk or you require medication that prevents you from breastfeeding then formula has its purpose. I can empathise with the latter as I have anxiety for which I took propranolol before I fell pregnant. I will be storing breast milk which will be there for when I do go back to work and this will provide my baby with breast milk for a little longer for if I struggle to go back to work without medication.