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AIBU?

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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? Grin

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 05/08/2018 18:01

BF should not take a massive amount of commitment, it's nothing like losing weight. The only situation in which it requires commitment is when women are experiencing persistent problems, which IME tends to happen when either they do not receive prompt and appropriate support with initial problems or when they are given poor advice which causes problems to begin or persist.

Pengggwn · 05/08/2018 18:06

BF should not take a massive amount of commitment, it's nothing like losing weight. The only situation in which it requires commitment is when women are experiencing persistent problems,

WTF?!

violets17 · 05/08/2018 18:12

The figures seem skewed as surely (?) most babies are having some solids from 4 months.

Redteapot67 · 05/08/2018 19:08

Peng -yes when bf is established it’s easy. It’s hard at the start but then it’s much much easier than bottle feeding. People give up at the hard part and don’t experience the easy bit after (6-8 weeks onwards)

Redteapot67 · 05/08/2018 19:10

Violets - its exclusive bf only. Many people continue to bf but introduce formula at 6 months alongside solids so the figures wouldn’t capture this.

flamingofridays · 05/08/2018 19:10

I think that's a matter of opinion. No matter how easy bf is you either gave to do all feeds yourself or express which is still taking you time and effort. I ff and dp did half the feeds it was great

Pengggwn · 05/08/2018 19:12

Redteapot67

Honestly, I don't know where you get the nerve to tell someone who BF for 9 months that it is "easy" when they are telling you it wasn't easy for them.

Sleeplikeasloth · 05/08/2018 19:13

Redteapot67, as with flamingo, it depends on your experience.

In 50% of nights, I get a straight 8 hours sleep because my husband does the feeds. That's clearly not harder work than if I'd been up breastfeeding.

Redteapot67 · 05/08/2018 19:13

Flamingo yes but a feed involves sitting down and pulling up your top - no sterilising, no making up milk, no washing bottles etc
Having a partner help with feeds is good but I used bf as bonding time with my baby - I wouldn’t have wanted to be away from them and someone else feed them in that first 6 months. It is a personal choice tho I accept and different ways of parenting

Redteapot67 · 05/08/2018 19:15

I agree the sleep is a massive bonus of ff though

flamingofridays · 05/08/2018 19:16

Yep bit that's still harder work than someone else doing it for you.

Sterilizing consists of putting a bottle in a cold water sterelizer and we washed bottles when we washed up anyway. It was about what 1 min extra work. Also had a perfect prep so making a bottle room exactly 2 mins. Easy peasy. Makes me laugh when people say formula feeding is inconvenient. Its only as inconvenient as you make it.

Also I didn't have a problem with my child bonding with his own father as well as me.

Redteapot67 · 05/08/2018 19:17

Peng if someone is bf for 9 months and it is still hard at 9 months then they are doing it wrong - fact

flamingofridays · 05/08/2018 19:17

Frankly I spent all day every day with ds for 9 months so dp doing night feeds was fab. And feeds when he got home from work etc.

Loved it and he is a v involved parent. Had I bf I wouldn't have got a break.

flamingofridays · 05/08/2018 19:18

red No, not a fact at all. Ignorant to say it is.

Pengggwn · 05/08/2018 19:18

Redteapot67

I am speechless. I really am. No wonder so many women get sad, depressed and just plain furious when some people are so ARROGANT. I don't even think you are a troll. I think you just don't realise that what is coming out of your mouth is 24 carat gold shite.

Sandstormbrewing · 05/08/2018 19:20

Redteapot67 that's not true. The actual physical activity of breastfeeding was easy, but the bottle and cup refusal, the constant touching, the inability to leave him for more than a couple of hours, the nursing aversion, inability to get more than 2 hours sleep- that was pure torture.

Redteapot67 · 05/08/2018 19:22

peng - given you ff how would you know what it’s like to feed at 9 months. It is a fact.

Pengggwn · 05/08/2018 19:23

Redteapot67

I just told you: I BF for 9 months.

Sleeplikeasloth · 05/08/2018 19:24

My husband does the washing and ours them in the steriliser. Takes the same length of time as washing up a pan basically. I then at some stage make up a daily batch of formula flash cool it and put it in the fridge for 24 hours. It takes the same length of time as making a couple of coffees for friends (and you can make a cuppa for yourself at the same time). It was about 5 minutes max put of my day.

flamingofridays · 05/08/2018 19:25

Just because it's your experience doesn't make it a fact. What right do you have to tell other people something IS easy. Everyone finds different things Easy / hard.

It's attitudes like this that make me think fuck it why even try at all

Redteapot67 · 05/08/2018 19:26

Peng - exclusively?! Anyone can stick their baby on a nipple for a bit then ‘top up’ all day with formula.
If you exclusively bf by 6-8 weeks it is established and easy.
If you start giving formula in these weeks you’ll successfully combination feed - which is good. But you’ll never sort the bf properly.

Pengggwn · 05/08/2018 19:28

Redteapot67

I just cannot believe you think it is okay to talk to people like this. It is none of your fucking business how I fed my child. I am telling you what I want to tell you, I am telling you I did not find it easy and you are not in any position to gainsay that, because, like me, you can only talk from your own experience. Instead,
You are choosing to talk from your arse. Your problem.

Redteapot67 · 05/08/2018 19:28

Flamingo - then don’t - ff - I don’t care what you do with your body and your baby. I’m safe in the knowledge I be mine for 20 months and 2 years. It was extremely hard with my first - it nearly broke me - but I persisted and I’m so glad I did. My children have had the best I could give them in terms of nutrition. Personally I don’t really care about yours - you do what you want.

flamingofridays · 05/08/2018 19:28

redteapot your attitude is revolting.

"Anyone can stick their baby on the nipple for a bit then top up all day with formula"

And if that is there preffered method of feeding then what the fuck is wrong with that?

Not everyone wants to exclusively breastfeed. Some people do and struggle and idiots like you saying it's a "fact" that it's easy after 8 weeks doesn't help at all.

flamingofridays · 05/08/2018 19:29

Good for you. If nearly "breaking" is a positive in your book well done.