To think BF support group are a little over the top??

[ethelfleda]

We have a local BF support group who have been very helpful in answering a few questions I have had now and then regarding breast feeding. However, just recently they started talking about the 'virgin gut' and how just one bottle of formula can completely throw a babies gut bacteria out of sync and that it takes up to 4 weeks of ebf to get it back to normal again. DS had a few formula top ups during the first few days of his life as we were struggling to establish bf and he was a low birth weight and jaundice. He has been ebf now for 9 weeks. I mentioned this to the group and was told that formula given in the first few days can cause irreparable changes to a baby's gut and it may never be the same as a baby who has never had formula!
Now I don't know if this is scientifically true or not but it's a bit bloody late to do anything about it now! IABU to think that there was no need for this to be pointed out? And what about women who choose to combi feed - surely any amount of BM is good and it's not very supportive of a woman's choice to do so? Does anyone know if this is actually true??

They are barking.

Utter rubbish

They sound like they are being far from supportive.

The 'virgin gut' refers to any product introduced to the digestive system that is not breast milk or boiled water, it's a ridiculous and evangelical point but the theory was started in the USA where some paediatricians believe the introduction of 'synthetic' milk and formula can lead to an increased risk of allergy. Infants are exposed to a huge variety of foods including common allergens from their mothers milk, which is great and can combat allergies but the virgin gut theory has been taken too literally. I'm pro-BF where possible but not to this ridiculous extent!

Breast feeding judgey group.

No surprise. The women who run these things are militant.

The virgin gut theory is a thing, but your support group need to revisit the dictionary and look up the word 'support'. As you say, entirely unhelpful, especially out of context. As a peer supporter, if a mum came to me and asked for information about combi feeding, I might mention it if I felt it appropriate (e.g. If her mate had told her a bottle of formula would help her baby sleep, not if she had to go back to work and expressing wasn't an option). But it's irrelevant and unhelpful in the context you describe.

Ridiculous. Honestly these groups are so counter productive. Drives me mad. I'm very pro BFing but this sort of judgment and rhetoric is at best bollocks and at worst harmful.

Oh good grief that's nonsense. I'm breastfeeding as are several of my friends and we have all given the odd bottle of formula now and then for various reasons. Don't worry about it!

I found a lot of ebf groups were a bit like a cult. No matter what problems you were having they were not supportive unless you wanted to ebf.

Even when my dsis found her DS had CMPA they drummed into her she had to change her diet rather than put him on prescription formula. They had he in tears.

Complete bollocks. But doesn't surprise me in the slightest, sadly.

@Scrumptiousbears that's absolutely awful- I'm in a couple of groups like this and they can be very rigid on breastfeeding no matter what, support can be limited in terms of dealing with CMPA, not everyone is aware of how best to go dairy free etc IF they want to continue feeding, but specialised formula is a perfectly fine choice. I'm sorry your sister had that experience- there are some more open minded BF groups out there!

It may be a theory but it’s utterly irrelevant to your situation now. You are doing a wonderful job looking after your baby’s needs. That is all you needed to hear x

Wow they dont sound like a support group at all. Ignore the leader shes clearly mental.

Next time ask them to point you in the direction of their time machine .

Try and find other support grouos that arent so marginal with feeding methods!

Ridiculous. (and obviously untrue) Bottle-fed babies thrive just as well anyway.

I hope you find a better SUPPORT group for you, they are bonkers.

Terrible!!!!

My second was in scbu for 2 weeks being tube fed, and my milk didn’t come in properly for 3 days after a c section. They had to feed him every single hour in scbu and clearly I couldn’t give them enough to keep up with the demand so he had special formula. I wonder what they would have suggested I did? Let him starve for 3 days?

I’m honestly angry reading this.

I also gave 1 bottle of formula a day to both of mine for months. It kept me sane, let me sleep and allowed me to continue breastfeeding!

I would stop going if I were you!

Whatever the truth about it it was unsupportive to say it. They are not a support group.

Their poor children having mums like that. Sounds like they quoting daily mail health pages. They are wrong, totally. Theres no difference between ff or bf children. Bet you couldnt tell the difference in a playgrond. Do whats right for you. Sounds like you doing well. Distance yourself from this cult group. There are loads of breast feeding help groups that are alot more supportive than that. Just feel for their children hearing their mums say this rubbish.

Oh well, rather a baby whose gut has been 'irreparably changed' than a dehydrated or dead baby.

My child was prem and had jaundice. I couldn't express enough to feed him so he had top ups from the start.

Ha! Virgin gut, what a load of twaddle. I don't know how strong the scientific evidence is that such a thing helps prevent allergies but DS was exclusively breastfed for a year; he's allergic to dairy, eggs, soya, wheat and the family cat, so it's clearly no holy grail.

It's probably the case that "virgin gut" may make some difference to a very small number of food allergy cases. Hold the phone everybody, despite the many MANY good reasons to give a baby formula, it's time to ban the bottle!

Woah now Pengggwn, one step at a time...