Bf rates uk vs us

[Silkyanduna]

Just found out my American sil is expecting and she said they only get 6 weeks maternity and that’s pretty standard for the US. This made me think how much I would have struggled to breastfeed past this point if I had had to go back to work. With the uk in comparison having pretty good maternity leave AIBU to question why the Uk breastfeeding % is lower than in the US ?

[user1480880826]

Breastfeeding support in the UK isn’t very good and there isn’t much stigma attached to formula feeding so a lot of people chose to formula feed. It also means you can share the feeding responsibility with other people and get more sleep. The benefit to the mother of not being the only one who can care for the baby shouldn’t be underestimated. I felt like I was losing my mind for the first 3 months while my baby was attached to my boob almost 24/7. Obviously breastmilk can be fed in a bottle but anyone who has pumped regularly can tell you that this is massively time consuming and difficult when you have a baby to look after.

However, people who claim breastfeeding is no better than formula feeding are either uneducated or choosing to ignore the science because it contradicts their choices.

Breastfeeding is consistently proven to be far better for babies and the benefits last long into adulthood. There are reduced chances of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, breast cancer (in the mum) - the list goes on. Breast milk also contains secondary immunity which reduces the chance of illness and reduces recovery times. The mother’s body actually detects pathogens in the baby and the antibodies in the milk change in response. Breastmilk also contains stem cells which have recently been found to travel to the baby’s brain and convert into brain cells. The list goes on and on and on. Formula does NONE of these things. Formula was designed as a last resort for women who could not breastfeed or for infants who’s mothers died in labour. It will never been as beneficial as breastmilk but it is sufficient as a source of nutrition.

[ethelfleda]

The mother’s body actually detects pathogens in the baby and the antibodies in the milk change in response

I’ve always wondered this - I thought that you only passed on antibodies if you were ill first to try and reduce the risk of infection to your little one. I didn’t realise it worked the other way!

[Sitdownstandup]

Formula was designed as a last resort for women who could not breastfeed or for infants who’s mothers died in labour.

This isn't true. It seems to get claimed a lot, but actually the inventor of modern formula, Justus Von Liebug came up with it simply to try and improve the quality of non-breastmilk substitutes that babies were already commonly being given. There is no record of him ever having said this was intended as a last resort, nor that it was for mothers whose babies were dead or couldn't breastfeed. It would be odd if he did, since a lot of babies being fed substitutes at that time were being given them so their living mothers could leave them while they worked. Some of these mothers were also breastfeeding.

I think the maternity leaves are too long here

You feel free to go back earlier then.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

@ThriftyMcThrifty why did your friends import European formula? Have there been issues with US made formula or are European brands considered better for some reason?

[bluegreygreen]

The mother’s body actually detects pathogens in the baby and the antibodies in the milk change in response

How does this happen?

Breastmilk also contains stem cells which have recently been found to travel to the baby’s brain and convert into brain cells

How does this happen? Would they not be digested?

[bluegreygreen]

Interesting episode of The Food Chain from the World Service today - discussion between 3 women from different countries re having to stop breastfeeding

When breast isn't best

[Tinyteatime]

I don’t think it’s fully understood how breastmilk changes to meet a babies needs but it’s to do with babies saliva sending signals.

www.todaysparent.com/baby/breastfeeding/magical-ways-breastmilk-changes-to-meet-your-babys-needs/

Remember, we actually know very very little about breastmilk and the mechanics of breastfeeding compared to many other areas of research.

[user1480880826]

@bluegreygreen

I’ll just google that for you shall I?

www.newscientist.com/article/dn26492-breast-milk-stem-cells-may-be-incorporated-into-baby/

[ThriftyMcThrifty]

@assasinatedbeauty my American friends were really worried about the quality of American formula. The EU standards are higher, I can’t remember the details because we never used it, so I didn’t look into it. Have to say though that much as I love my friends they do always have to have the best of everything and I’m not sure I’d have spent the extra. I am always seeing posts on a Facebook group I’m on saying shipments have been delayed and does anyone have a spare box to sell, so it’s not an uncommon thing to do.

[Intohellbutstayingstrong]

With the uk in comparison having pretty good maternity leave AIBU to question why the Uk breastfeeding % is lower than in the US ?

How does it effect you? (Answer...it doesn't)
Feed your baby as you see fit.

[Intohellbutstayingstrong]

However, people who claim breastfeeding is no better than formula feeding are either uneducated or choosing to ignore the science because it contradicts their choices

Or because their own BF babies saw no health benefits at all

"The “breast is best”mantra is all the more striking if you actually read the research comparing breastfed and bottle fed babies in the developed world. Almost all of it finds the health benefits of breastfeeding to be nonexistent, marginal, or impossible to disentangle from other aspects of a baby's life. The better a study is designed — the more it accounts for other health-promoting behaviors breastfeeding mothers and their partners are likely to engage in — the less breast feeding seems to matter at all"

[NewAccount270219]

Or because their own BF babies saw no health benefits at all

How would you ever know? I don't have a control version of my baby to experiment on. Maybe he'd have had issues if FF that he didn't have because he was BF. Maybe he'd actually have been a happier, more settled baby. We'll never know either way!

[Intohellbutstayingstrong]

*How would you ever know?^

My own twins. One BF and one FF. One always ill. One rarely ill.

[NewAccount270219]

But they're not the same person? Even if they're identical there are other factors there - apart from anything else, there must have been a reason that you chose different ways of feeding them?

[FuckertyBoo]

If they include expressed breast milk in their stats then maybe they have to pump at work and therefore are better equipped to do so..?

I had to exclusively pump for one of mine, (misdiagnosed tt for months, then breast refusal). If I could have gone to work in an office with a nice, quiet room to express milk in, it would have been a fuck tonne easier than doing it at home with two dcs. And I actually think that also would have been easier than breastfeeding at home, (I’ve done both expressing and breastfeeding). So maybe going back to work, assuming you can express there, might improve chances of bfing in some cases.

[LaurieMarlow]

My own twins. One BF and one FF. One always ill. One rarely ill.

That proves nothing at all. Twins aren’t exactly the same in terms of predisposition to illness, immune system, exposure to germs.

[SoyDora]

My own twins. One BF and one FF. One always ill. One rarely ill

That doesn’t prove anything. They’re different people. My 2 DD’s were both BF for exactly the same length of time. One is always ill, one rarely ill. Same feeding method.

[Intohellbutstayingstrong]

@Laurie and @Soy

Yes. Exactly the response I was expecting.

My response was to a poster saying this:
However, people who claim breastfeeding is no better than formula feeding are either uneducated or choosing to ignore the science because it contradicts their choices

If my BF baby was constantly ill and my FF wasn't then no, I am not going to be shouting about the health benefits of BF over formula am I based on my own PERSONAL experience.

You can both do what you want and believe what you want. It has zero impact on my life.
I am tired of seeing all the 'I feel a failure' threads on MN because someone hasn't BF for whatever bloody reason. They feel a failure because of the never-ending propaganda being spewed out constantly about breast is best. No it isn't always best FWIW.

I do find this interesting though.
"The “breast is best”mantra is all the more striking if you actually read the research comparing breastfed and bottle fed babies in the developed world. Almost all of it finds the health benefits of breastfeeding to be nonexistent, marginal, or impossible to disentangle from other aspects of a baby's life. The better a study is designed — the more it accounts for other health-promoting behaviors breastfeeding mothers and their partners are likely to engage in — the less breast feeding seems to matter at all"

www.scarymommy.com/increasing-evidence-proves-breast-isnt-always-best/this

[FluffyHeadbands]

3 babies and never had any negative
Comments from health professionals BFing. All overwhelmingly positive (although I stopped all 3 before a year which may play a part).

IMO it is the lack of obvious support in the UK. It's there, at least it was in my case, but you have to seek it out and persist. You have to positively want to BF. Too easy to give up and too acceptable to give up given the health benefits.

[Intohellbutstayingstrong]

Too easy to give up and too acceptable to give up given the health benefits

Arrogant much
Who the fuck are you to judge anyone was giving up 'too easily'

It's because of attitudes like this that woman are putting themselves through the ringer over BF and in some cases making themselves ill in the process. Unbelievable.

[SnuggyBuggy]

I would never want to judge any individual but as a society we should be asking why so many in the UK are unable to breastfeed compared with other countries.

[Intohellbutstayingstrong]

but as a society we should be asking why so many in the UK are unable to breastfeed compared with other countries

Unable or maybe they just dont want to
Why is it is anyone else's business how someone feeds their baby is beyond me.

[SnuggyBuggy]

Besides the health benefits many women who fail to breastfeed are devastated by this. We owe it to them to try and work out what's going wrong.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

It's not about individuals. Overall as a society, it is better for babies and mothers if more babies are breastfed. That absolutely doesn't mean trying to force women who don't want to breastfeed to do it, nor does it mean judging anyone who stopped sooner than they wanted to. It just means that for those who might choose to breastfeed, making it easier and simpler for them to do so. That benefits everyone.

[ethelfleda]

I agree with assassinated