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

[CocoDeMoll]

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?

the way this thread has unravelled suggests that people believe they are responsible for all the 'pro-formula' (why is that even a thing?!) posts

She asked a genuine question—I was actually surprised that some people think that companies don’t do this! I don’t think anyone here has said “all the pro-formula” posts are from marketing firms, although you can feel free to correct me if someone has somewhere in this thread.

I think it’s important to remind people that posting on popular forums and the like are part of marketing strategies for many companies, and it doesn’t hurt to remind people to take any advice or suggestion on here with a grain of salt—not everyone has their best interests at heart.

I’m not just talking about formula companies, either.

The argument of we can all but a very few of us produce enough milk isn’t quite true

Until recently women would share feeding this was very common and still is in many cultures

As many women can’t give birth naturally

Of course there are ways that can help increase the milk supply but it doesn’t always work

Thankfully natures natural selection we can at times bypass with the aid of modern healthcare, modern medication and modern food supplies

@PineapplePower

One such post:

have wondered this myself, there are a few posters who seem to be peculiarly pro formula promotion and anti breastfeeding, despite claiming to have breastfed themselves and hated every second of it. I do wonder why anyone would do this and be so insistent on claiming what a miracle product formula is

@PineapplePower

Another:

They are underhand and devious and untransparent, but don't think they work at as micro a level as infiltrating forums. They also have plenty of happy and unpaid customers to to that for them.

I read the meaning differently then. I assume they meant a few posters seemed particularly pro-formula (no dispute there), rather than all the pro-formula posts are shills (which is obviously not true).

There are genuinely people who don’t have enough milk

However there are also many many many more people who don’t bf correctly and therefore don’t produce enough milk

No one has 900ml of milk coming out of their boobs on day one just flowing free and easy like a tap (or a bottle). We are meant to start with producing a teaspoon full (at most) and then our supply is built up over the first few weeks/months by feeding on demand and doing lots of boob time.

Often people mistake baby on the boob every 2 hours as ‘not having enough milk’, or they’ll give a bottle at night then wonder why they don’t produce enough milk the next day.

What is needed is far more support for new mums - bring back 5 day mandatory hospital stays I say, but with private rooms, decent food, and bf support at every feed. And yes, f in hospitals given freely without judgement to those who need it.

*But don't you see that this is pressure? You're implying women who FF should have lower self-esteem than women who BF.

Honestly, I can't see why anyone cares how I feed my child.*

No I'm not! I'm not talking about you at all, or anyone else but me! My self esteem was at rock bottom after a shitty, disempowering birth. Breastfeeding was incredibly important to repairing the psychological damage from that. For Me. For another woman in exactly the same circumstances, the challenges of breastfeeding might have been the one last stressor that pushes them over the edge, and they really need to use formula for their peace of mind.

What I was SAYING was precisely that there is no one size fits all, and implying that women who breastfeed in spite of the initial pain or difficulty when it is not necessary to do so can't possibly be being rational, and are somehow backwards or brainwashed is insulting.

I think we are just disagreeing on semantics here.

My point being that obviously some people on this board are seeing posts from FF mums and assuming they are undercover PR lackies for formula companies. Which boils down to the fact that a number (not all I must stress) of BF mums look at FF mums with implied judgement, because why would anyone choose formula and feel they need to stand up for their choice unless they are a mole for a forum a company?

*forumla

They are underhand and devious and untransparent, but don't think they work at as micro a level as infiltrating forums. They also have plenty of happy and unpaid customers to to that for them

This poster seems to deny (strangely) that companies don’t do this, and that they have plenty of FFs happy enough to extol the benefits of it. Not wrong, both EBFs and FFs will do that based on their personal experiences?

Doesn’t take away from the fact that this does happen.

This poster seems to deny (strangely) that companies do this ... is what I meant to type! Sheeesh

Green - no one thinks there aren’t people who genuinely love formula
But many posts are suspicious and not authentic hence the op’s question
I only know 2 ff mums who were so from choice at birth -most wanted to bf but couldn’t or struggled and switched

@Redteapot67 make that 3

Well sort of, I was with my second child and will be when number 3 arrives in October.

I did try with my first but hated it, it and em miserable so I stopped. Like I said, massive respect to those who carry on, I just couldn't. And I chose to FF straights way the next time and not beat myself up about it.

Maybe I wasn't very clear - the formula companies are definitely devious and underhand. But I don't think they work at as individual a level as paying someone to post on forums - they are about the bigger stuff. Far better to divert your efforts into your glossy adverts in parenting magazines - preferably positioning them into an article about pregnancy so that you hook pregnant mothers in with your freebies and soft toys before their baby is even born. Send them a weekly email with pregnancy news, packed with your branding. Approach hospitals to train midwives or nurses and slip in all sorts of things about how great your products are. Come up with slippery marketing messages about "inspired by breastmilk", taking care to stay just on the legal side. Refine your packaging so that the follow-on is practically identical to the infant milk.

I totally believe that they would be prepared to infiltrate forums with moles if it were effective. However I think that on the whole tehy have bigger fish to fry and are concentrating efforts elsewhere. I don't doubt that they are monitoring conversations across forums and social media though and must be rubbing theor hands together in glee when they see a poster recommend their brand as being "closest to breastmilk" or the one that their midwife said was best - shows their efforts are being effective.

YANBU OP.

Formula companies have already done the damage they intended to but I’m sure they’re out they’re trying to destroy breast feeding rates even more than they have done.

I too think MN is very quick to belittle breast feeding (all the research into it and health benefits are lies etc) and hail formula as the magical solution.

Fed isn’t best. Fed is the bare minimum.

Breast milk is best and formula is an alternative for those who can’t/won’t breast feed.

I hope that somehow breast feeding rates will increase and breast feeding will be normalised and accepted for how much better it is for babies but I fear it won’t happen and that breast feeding will fade out even more than it already is.

I get criticised all the time for breast feeding from a lot of people in a lot of circumstances and it’s very hurtful. Some people genuinely can’t understand why I would choose to breast feed when formula is available. It baffles me, it really does.

Im almost ashamed to admit I breast feed now because of the attitudes I am faced with. Somehow formula is now the norm and breast feeding is brushed off as not being particularly important and I don’t think it will get any better to be honest.

I don't think Mumsnet is anti it at all. I am anti bf feeding for myself as even the though of doing it makes me want to be sick. I managed it once with my first but was sick straight after so I accept I was selfish and bottle fed all three of mine. I know it would have been better for them to have been bf but they weren't.

As for what everyone else does I couldn't care less. Its up to them. I do think society supports bf if that makes any sense. women are still expected to do most things they did before and fit bf around it. A lot of people don't seem to know what is normal for bfing either so think cluster feeding is a sign that their baby is hungry. Members of the public are quick to say just give them a bottle it would be easier. Also returning to work in a lot of places doesn't support it either even though legally its meant too. This is all just what I have noticed as I have never bf but it does seem to be very difficult to fit it into modern life.

that was meant to say doesn't support bfing

QueenofmyPrinces

I have not seen ANYONE belittle breastfeeding.

If you can't BF or can't face BF, formula IS a magic solution: it allows you to feed your baby.

And the irony of you talking about how "hurtful" it is when people criticise your feeding choice in the same post where you criticise theirs is... well, it's staggering.

Im almost ashamed to admit I breast feed now because of the attitudes I am faced with

See I feel exactly the same but with FF. it shouldn't be happening to anyone AT ALL! Nobody should be being judged or be faced with attitudes for the way they choose to feed.

Maybe I'm being too idealistic.

@QuickGetTheEggplants has hit the nail on the head for me. These companies are far more sophisticated in their subtle infiltration into threads and other areas of social media...

And the irony of you talking about how "hurtful" it is when people criticise your feeding choice in the same post where you criticise theirs is... well, it's staggering.

Where, specifically, did she criticise formula feeding?

I would like to think that the vast majority of women are capable of making the decision for themselves. Everyone knows the options and after that it is up to them. I just don’t get why other people get so involved in just a personal decision. I say this as a mother who breastfed exclusively and in public when necessary (all the bloody time) for a year, 27 years ago.

I have not seen ANYONE belittle breastfeeding.

So I take it you didn't watch the recent documentary where the breastfeeding presenter was given grief by strangers in public? You haven't seen all the posts on this and a related AIBU thread saying there are no real benefits to breastfeeding, it's painful and messy and difficult, I've even seen it implied that breastfeeding is an anti-feminist choice because it 'ties you to the baby'!

As a soon to be mum, I worry about not being able to breastfeed and being forced to use formula... This I would hate to be judged for or used to advocate any preferences. Some mums can't breastfeed some just prefer formula and others prefer breastfeeding what truly matters is your babies health and I have seen many children that are now happy and healthy toddlers that have been both breastfed and formula fed. I think if your child needs to be fed, feed them the healthiest option available whether it be formula or mums milk!

@Ennirem

The judgement and belittling goes both ways. I've seen it.

It's inexcusable in both contexts.