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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To believe that formula companies have PR agents working the BF/FF threads on here?

999 replies

CocoDeMoll · 02/08/2018 20:53

They are a multi million pound set of companies that are invested in keeping Britain’s low breastfeeding rates down and keeping their profit margins up.

Any positives about breastfeeding seem to be shot down in flames on here.

So much pro formula and anti breastfeeding rhetoric.

They can easily afford to and have the best at the jobs be it lawyers, pr teams or spin doctors on their sides and they’re not exactly renounced for their ethics are they (nestle?!?!).

Or am I just getting a bit tied up in conspiracy therorys?

OP posts:

Arewehomeyet · 03/08/2018 22:19

Agree we could put all formula in blank packaging (same as tobacco industry) and ban all advertising. I would fully support that.

MrSpock · 03/08/2018 22:20

Who is honestly, going to choose their feeding method based on an advert?

I’ve chosen mine (attempt bf but no pressure if it doesn’t work) based on research and convenience and what’s likely to work.

flamingofridays · 03/08/2018 22:20

This is why people don't know the time of day for breastfeeding.

People like you who actually don't want to explain why we should do it just make sarcy comments and make out that we must know.

Nope. I had a baby 2.5 years ago and I have had a lot of shit to deal with since my midwife appointments. I don't remember a thing.

flamingofridays · 03/08/2018 22:21

God that made no sense.

Why people don't wanna hear it basically.

Teateaandmoretea · 03/08/2018 22:22

Ooh lovely formula milk is now being compared to fags

BertieBotts · 03/08/2018 22:22

Lots of people haven't - I don't think that nobody has or that babies are hermetically sealed away from people who are not parents, of course! But I would expect it would be more common NOT to have spent time around breastfeeding than to have done so, when you are a first time parent. That doesn't mean that nobody has ever. I did too - my mum breastfed my sister and one of my aunts breastfed my cousin (I was young enough not to really remember either) and then my stepmum breastfed my half siblings when I was a teenager, which I do remember.

But yes in addition if you're one of the first in your family/friend circle to have a baby then you may well not have spent much time around babies at all - and even if not the first you might not have spent loads of time around friends with babies, because people without DC tend to socialise at times which are difficult for people with babies and people with babies tend to socialise at times which are difficult for people who are working full time. And by the time this pattern changes feeding method is less likely to be relevant.

Arewehomeyet · 03/08/2018 22:26

Tobacco kills an estimated 7 million people a year. Formula only responsible for an estimated 800000 deaths of children under 5. You’re right they’re in no way comparable...

MrSpock · 03/08/2018 22:27

Formula only responsible for an estimated 800000 deaths of children under 5. You’re right they’re in no way comparable...

In developing countries where there’s no access to clean water and women can’t afford to buy formula, and end up watering it down.

Let’s not be disingenuous.

flamingofridays · 03/08/2018 22:28

How many of those deaths are in the uk?

Also I wonder how many deaths formula prevents...

BuntyII · 03/08/2018 22:28

'There's been a lot of kick back against breastfeeding recently. Who else but formula companies would b behind that?'

Speaking for myself, seeing the spiteful nature of some extreme pro breastfeeders has made me very pro feeding choice. So the very people who are trying to increase bf rates are behind some of it. Well done

Arewehomeyet · 03/08/2018 22:29

It’s exactly the same companies selling it globally. Plus formula feeding doubles the risk of death developed countries too. And finally, all babies lives matter not just babies born in the uk

Teateaandmoretea · 03/08/2018 22:29

Wow just wow. And people then have a go at women for being defensive.

Tobacco is a drug that is only harmful Formula milk is the second best food for babies (and there are other possibilities outside middle class bubbles). In a world of clean kitchens it is a safe way of feeding babies, if incorrectly prepared this isn't the case. The comparison is ridiculous and highly offensive.

Aeroflotgirl · 03/08/2018 22:30

No they are not,because a baby who is not bf for whatever reason needs formula, smoking g is an unesessary pleasure noway comparable. Yesi would!d support generic packaging on formula. Where fresh clean water, and electricity is in short supply such as Third world countries, then FF is very unsafe.

Teateaandmoretea · 03/08/2018 22:31

Also I wonder how many deaths formula prevents...

Ah but only those who can successfully breastfeed actually matter.

MrSpock · 03/08/2018 22:32

It’s exactly the same companies selling it globally. Plus formula feeding doubles the risk of death developed countries too. And finally, all babies lives matter not just babies born in the uk
Yes all babies matter but when we’re discussing this issue on a UK based forum and about women in the U.K, it’s disingenuous to mention deaths from formula in developing countries when the causes are very different.

It’s like lumping emergency cesarean statistics in with electives and saying WELL THEYRE BOTH CESAREANS. Yes they are but the context really matters...

Aeroflotgirl · 03/08/2018 22:33

Still for developed countries formula is a fairly safe alternative to bf. And betters baby is fed, that than nothing

Arewehomeyet · 03/08/2018 22:34

Like I say for developed countries such as the U.K., formula feeding doubles the infant mortality rate

MrSpock · 03/08/2018 22:35

How much of that is due to the babies who are on formula being on it due to medical problems? NICU babies are more often on formula due to prematurity and inability to latch.

Teateaandmoretea · 03/08/2018 22:35

And betters baby is fed, that than nothing

Formula is much better than water with sugar/ condensed milk/ cows milk etc. Demonise it and keep it alongside the fags and people may stop realising/ believing that and not bother buying it.

BuntyII · 03/08/2018 22:37

Surely the people complaining about not being able to congratulate themselves on breastfeeding in case they are accused of 'looking braggy' are the same people who crash into threads about someone who's been struggling with infertility for years with 'just relax and it'll happen.'

Aeroflotgirl · 03/08/2018 22:37

I don't think that comes into most mothers thoughts, if bf is failing, or not working, the main thing is to get so e sort of nutrition into the baby. Many babies fed formula grow up to be perfectly healthy, it's scaremongering.

Teateaandmoretea · 03/08/2018 22:38

Like I say for developed countries such as the U.K., formula feeding doubles the infant mortality rate

So link this so people can see exactly what figures you are talking about.

A lot of babies end up in hospital etc because breastfeeding doesn't work out perhaps you'd like to find some figures on that too.

BuntyII · 03/08/2018 22:38

@Arewehomeyet let's see your source for those stats.

AhhhhThatsBass · 03/08/2018 22:39

Live and let live is what I say. If you want to breastfeed, breast feed, if you want to use formula, use formula.

I used formula as I was slightly grossed about by the idea of breastfeedin. I was one of the few people I know wh never tried breastfeeding at all.
I’ve never felt an iota of guilt. Why should anyone feel guilty for the choice they make when it comes to feeding their newborn? Why is it even a topic of conversation? And why is it the business of anyone else?

Aeroflotgirl · 03/08/2018 22:39

I think some people would rather formula was not available, so that we go to the bar old days of giving babies water,condesnsed milk or cowsmilk.

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