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??

It probably varies from area to area but when a mother wants to breastfeed and is having problems there seems to be very little help . And I know one mother who was told she could not leave hospital until she had decided what to do which is ridiculous. I had a prem baby and expressed milk for three months on some kind of machine because I felt guilty and when I look back the nurses must have thought I was mad as I produced very little milk. . But when my baby came home I managed one breast feed a day . The rest was bottle. My second baby had an undiagnosed tongue tie and it was terrible . In the end I had to go to bottle and by the time they realise it was too late . She was fine and healthy .

Sylviapoe - yes the guide says full kettle, boil, wait 30 minutes then add formula and then cool. I was trying to do that 3 times a night with a Screaming hungry baby. Midwives said they weren't allowed to discuss any other preparation methods with me (this was before perfect preps were about).

This sort of attitude is how unsafe practice happens. As people have to just ask friends and family who might be doing something unsafe.

I don't remember getting anything like that 13 years ago! Luckily BF did work out for me and I had no problems but I only did it for 3 months. I suppose I would be cast out for that now.

Are you not allowed to make up bottles is advance now?

in advance

Oof, Do you feel as sorry for Pamela's DIL as I do Sparkling? :o

Not once on this thread - and I've rtft - has anyone mentioned the middle ground.

Mixed fed.

MrsHarry - no, every bottle should be fresh. And added to 70degree water. NOT previously boiled but cooled water as so many parents do. (Of course they don't know not too as midwives don't explain). The formula isn't sterile and people are usually not thorough enough with washing hands. So formula has to hit water at 70 degrees. Any hotter and the Good bacteria is killed. Any cooler and the bad bacteria survives. Of course I had to research all of this myself as my midwives were not allowed to tell me or suggest other suitable methods.

tuck, I find your post really interesting.

The BF peer supporters at the baby clinic were telling us that they went to the antenatal class run by the community MWs and were told not to list the downsides of BF as they didn't want to put anyone off. So the MW was pushing the old message of "if it hurts, you're doing it wrong" whereas many of us know that in the esrly days it actually can be quite uncomfortable and isn't necessarily a sign of things being wrong. They also steered away from mentioning cluster feeding, cracked nipples, and the potential explosive shits thanks to the laxative effect of breast milk. Obviously they don't happen to everyone but to not even mention them is wrong IMO.

We had a great discussion about what information we would give women about breastfeeding and it differed greatly from the NHS information. We all agreed that the 'breast is best' campaign was a pile of shit and that the NHS should be telling women of the realities and practicalities, both positive and negative, ahead of the facts and figures. I'd rather know how breastfeeding will or won't benefit me and my baby directly ahead of how it affects public health at a population level.

Yes it was shoved so far down my throat during pregnancy that when I actually couldn't due to tongue tie and possible breast issues with me I spiralled into deep pnd

Every leaflet you get will ram down your throats the bf is best and formula will cause your baby to grow another head. Unfortunately there is so little advice for women who choose to bottle feed. If you want to bottle feed why can't you find help and advice .. how to make a bottle up, sterlizing etc.
Big scary leaflets like that, I my opinion is why people feel like they a failing their babies if they don't find bfig is right for them.

I've had a double mastecomy so won't be able to breastfeed my next child - but still think the NHS is right to promote breastfeeding as there are benefits. Its no big deal to me telling the midwives I can't breastfeed - they've all been lovely about it.

I actually found the midwives to be far more pragmatic about how to feed my children.

When I was pregnant with my first I had an appointment with a breastfeeding person directly before my midwife appointment (no idea why). Anyway she asked if I was aware of the pros of breastfeeding (I was) and whether I intended breastfeeding. I told her I was but as I have an underlying medical condition which I explained the issues surrounding this and that it may be not best for my health. Despite this information she continued to go on about breast is best etc so I once again said that if it was best for my health I would. I got up and walked out.

Told the midwife and she was furious! I did manage to breastfeed in the end and all was well.

With the second it just didn't happen and the midwife was fantastic- I her opinion formula was just as good and not to beat myself up about it. Such great support both times.

As the wonderfully named ploppy says, it's the formula that isn't sterile, once you've opened the tin. So measure the scoops (say five) add 30ml of boiling water, to kill whatever bacteria in the powder , then you can make up the rest from the cold tap. My children seem to still be alive, judging by the noise every day.

Kenneth that klaxon went off a while ago...

FastWindow - Any suggestion of mixed feeding is usually met with 'Tales of the Dreaded Nipple Confusion'.

Crikey ploppy I used to boil, make bottle immediately, cool and refrigerate. They managed to live and are fighting fit and 16 and 13 now so no harm done. My advice is don't worry so much.

I remember going to see the midwife years ago with DC1 at an early stage of pregnancy and being asked if I intended to bf my baby?.... "Of course!" Was my response..."why on earth would anyone NOT want to bf their baby?!"
... (SO naive!) to her credit she just looked at me & raised her eyebrows.

Turned out I did bf to 18 months - but found out later on that it's really not that easy for lots of people. And frankly isn't something to beat yourself up about.

All of my friends have parented differently from one another. This doesn't mean they are bad parents. They just do what feels right / makes sense to them.

Listen to the advice and then make up your own mind OP. Less judgement more understanding!

Oh no I mixed fed for a month when I weaned mine off BF, there was never any confusion and they took to the bottle like the proverbial duck.

Are you not allowed to make up bottles is advance now?

Yes, you can. WHO guidance states that if you're making them in advance they should be rapidly cooled then stored in the fridge and discarded after (I think) 24hrs. Will try find a link.

I had DC4 in February of this year and the hospital gave advice on formula feeding including a leaflet on safely making up feeds and a recommendation of using ready made cartons while on the ward. They would also store opened cartons in the store room fridge and provided labels for writing on who it belonged to, when it was opened, and when it needed to be used by. They had little disposible plastic bottles with screw on teats too so there was no need to mess on with sterilisers (and a recycling bag to put them in afterwards). DD had to have formula top ups due to severe jaundice and weight loss and because my supply was low due to being poorly.

@ethelfleda your first post suggests a
Very sensible person who understands that not every baby behaves how we would like them to.

Stick with that and chuck the leaflet. Fed is best. I've done both ways and half and half because of differing temperaments, needs and life stresses. I feel nothing but pride for surviving the kids!

Msharry and weebo : so much yes.

Also, let's not discount the wonderful invention that is nipple shields.

Turns out humans, including babies, are incredibly adaptive. They'll cope, as soon as they realise that milk is forthcoming. In any form or distribution method.

Pah

You can pre-make bottles, flash cool and store in the back of the fridge for max 24 hrs. The NHS describes this if you have to make feeds up in advance, which to me would include of your baby is unpredictable overnight and can't wait for a feed.

Also, water doesn't have to be exactly 70 degrees, it just needs to be at least that or hotter. Bacteria is bacteria, whether "good" or "bad", and will be killed either way with water greater than 70 degrees. The nutrients in ordinary formula aren't destroyed by hot water.

remember in 4/5 years time when your dc is running around in the playground there will be zero difference between the bf and ff children

Well exactly.

I've got four DC. One was formula fed from birth. One was breastfed then mixed fed then formula fed because she was lazy and wouldn't wake up to feed so I couldn't build a supply. One was breastfed for two years. One was breastfed then supplemented with formula then went back to being breastfed. So far they are all more or less on par with one another as a whole host of other factors go into 'building' the finished child, what kind of infant milk you feed them for the first 6mo is a teeny tiny part of it.