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??

At the end of the day, you're given information on why breastmilk is better for mother and baby. If you can't breastfeed for WHATEVER reason, there are luckily very good alternatives in the form of formula.

Before the advent of formula, many babies starved to death if their mother couldn't feed them or if she died or other circumstances prevented her from feeding her baby. The creator of the first laboratory produced formula never stated it was better than breast milk, simply that he'd tried to make it as nutritionally close as he could and he did save lives. Babies who would have previously died, lived.

I'm not overweight (yet), but it could happen - the middle-age spread is starting. Would I be offended or annoyed if people thought it was a shame if I were overweight? No. Because being overweight has health implications and can make life more difficult. When undesirable things happen to me; whether I could have prevented them or not I would be happy for people to think it's a shame. It's acceptable to care about babies, even if they aren't mine.

if there were more milk banks almost all babies could probably have breast milk.

Somehow I can't see milk banks being massively popular.

No. Which is a pity.

Also, you can be patronising and condescending but still be right.

Accusations of being patronising and condescending, smack to me, of defensiveness.

FWIW, I have every confidence that Bertrand is perfectly able to defend her viewpoint, but not everyone has all day to discuss things on MN.

'Also, you can be patronising and condescending but still be right. '

Well yes as said earlier it s not what you say, it's the way you say it, A handy tip in general really.

'Accusations of being patronising and condescending, smack to me, of defensiveness.'

'Smacks' of defensiveness? I accused the patronising pp of being patronising yes. I'm not defensive. I bf? I just know to get a better reception and to get a point across its useful if you don't piss people off. Another handy life skill for you. Im being patronising, but I'm right, so it's ok .

I think it's a shame when you see overweight children and know it could be prevented or young people smoking .I also think it's a shame not many women in the uk want to bf. while it's a good thing formula is available if needed it's a shame bf is not popular when it's so healthy.

They are horrible and pushy with first time mothers, especially with breastfeeding, which I am sure is why so many suffer from PND. When I was pregnant with my DD I was pressured by midwife to breastfeed. I told her the same as you that I was going to try but not get upset if I couldn't and she gave me all this information and a DVD about breastfeeding, the hospital also asked about feeding and pressured me into breastfeeding. In the end I couldn't breastfeed her and I felt like a total failure. I am currently 30 weeks pregnant with my second and no one person has asked me anything about feeding my baby when he is here.

Myrtle Ah okay. I hold my hands up to reading the thread carefully for several pages then skim reading some more

Point taken and [laugh] at I'm being patronising, but I'm right, so it's ok

I could not agree more iniquity Though I also think it would be better if there were more milk banks.

I have used (free) privately donated breast milk. But that's a whole different story.

I agree with you. When I had my first DC 14 years ago the MW's fed me with the same info. MW's have tough targets to meet and one of them is to get new mothers to breast feed. Formula milk costs the government a fortune when it has to be given to babies in hospitals and to mothers on benefits. Getting as many mothers as possible to breastfeed cuts cost dramatically. Go with your heart and do what is best for you which in turn will be best for your baby.

Marymoo - I recommend La Leche League counsellors for support with bf-ing problems. They are all mums who have bf. Volunteer service. I'm not part of the group but have used their services when I was struggling.

Ethel - what do you mean by 'more balanced'? Do you mean that health information setting out the benefits of breastfeeding should emphasise it's ok not to breastfeed?

Like articles about the value of exercise should emphasise that it's OK to be sedentary if you don't like exercise or are unable to exercise?

I put in a complaint about the obstetric consultant I saw during my pregnancy, because she blithely and forcefully told me that I MUST bf in order for my daughter to be safely weaned off the medication I had to take throughout pregnancy. Even though she admitted she'd never heard of the medication I was on. I was so scared of failing my daughter and putting her in danger if bf didn't go as well as expected.

Then, on the night she was born, the paediatric consultant came down to check her out (due to the mess I'd been on while pregnant). She was fine. I asked if I could try breast feeding her now, and he gave me a strange look and said surely I'd been told I couldn't bf on this medication? I told him what my consultant had said, and he said to bottle feed her for now and he'd discuss it with his colleagues and they'd get back to me.

Well, I went to the post natal ward, and having not brought any ff equipment with me I had to ask the midwives for a bottle to give her every two hours. And every time I asked a different midwife I had to face their disapproving questions about why I wasn't trying breast feeding - I had to explain myself over and over again.

The next day, I was told definitively that it was unsafe to bf as higher concentrations of the drug would get into the milk than had crossed the placenta. I am furious that the first consultant I saw throughout my pregnancy had done zero research into the specifics of my situation, she just blithely pushed the NHS party line as if she was on commission or something.

Yet to hear back from PALS.

*meds not mess

Mini. Advice on excercising always says something to the effect of consult your doctor if you have a health condition before you start to exercise.

Why can't the BF advice do the equivalent and say "there are conditions that will make it impossible for you to feed your baby. If you have any concerns consult your midwife"

The problem is, that lack of confidence and the belief that it's common to have insurmountable difficulties bf-ing can have the effect of bf-ing mums giving up when they would have been able to continue if they had had proper support and advice. So, your suggestion should probably be a footnote.

"Why can't the BF advice do the equivalent and say "there are conditions that will make it impossible for you to feed your baby."

If it said something along the lines of "Approximately 2% of women may be unable to breastfeed. Please consult your midwife if you have any concerns about feeding your baby" I wouldn't object to that going into a leaflet.

Ethelfleda - which bit did you find to be scaremongering? Scaremongering would imply there are things which aren't true in the information given out.

Mini. I still don't like that because it wasn't me that wasn't able to bf. (I know I seem like I'm being pedantic but to me it's an important distinction)

Ok, what about "For about 2% of mothers and babies breastfeeding may not be possible. Please consult your midwife if you have any concerns about feeding your baby"

Is it about 2% of mothers and babies?

I would personally prefer it stronger - will not be possible. Or is not possible.

But I can understand why you feel the need to weaken the statement by saying "may".

I didn't want to do bf. I hated the idea of something feeding off me and so I made it clear from the start that I wasn't going to do it. So I didn't. And ignored all the scare stories. The fact is that we are all at risk of cancer through one or more risk factors, so that was never enough of a reason to do something I hated the idea of.

How about we stop making posters and leaflets and actually put funding into practical support for mums who want to breastfeed? Rather than throwing pieces of paper at women with no interest in breastfeeding and pissing money away, you could raise the breastfeeding rates by ensuring that every mum who wants to still be breastfeeding when she leaves hospital/is discharged from midwives, receives as much support as possible to enable this?

Crazy suggestion, I know.

'Like articles about the value of exercise should emphasise that it's OK to be sedentary if you don't like exercise or are unable to exercise?'

Well if there was a perfectly safe and saitisfactory alternative then yes that should be included.