Breastfeeding: Only Middle Class Now?

[redbedheadd]

Was debating this with my DP - he is of the belief that breastfeeding is a mainly a middle class thing. I'm not sure if I agree, wanted other opinions.

We live in a very MC/posh area of London and I'd say 90% of mums at my Baby classes BF. This is his evidence.

We both grew up in working class environments - him in a council estate in London where no-one breastfed and me in a Northern town where is was normal to BF.

So.... thoughts?

There needs to be actual help, rather than simply breast is best.

I totally agree with this.

It’s borderline irresponsible to push the message so hard yet let people down totally in support.

Luckily there was tonnes of good private support where I was. It made all the difference. But not everyone can access that.

Sweak I am fairly sure that proper academic studies have been done if this and those include criteria for determining and labelling class that has been developed rigorously by academics in the field of social sciences. Yes, the media and the public bandy the terms about without really knowing what they mean, but they are not just vague concepts when it comes to the research.

Sorry can’t help. I know I didn’t breastfeed but I don’t know what class I am.

Wasn’t there some government scheme to pay mothers from deprived backgrounds to breastfeed or something a while back? I suppose that would prove that somewhere there are reliable figures that show WC (or maybe it was aimed at those not working) mothers are less likely to b/f. What I do find depressing is that those who are poorest are being ripped off by formula companies massively overcharging for a very cheap product. So in that sense it would be beneficial to promote b/feeding to the poorest in society however if they chose to ff they shouldn’t be having to ration/water down formula. I do think there’s a bit of ‘status’ attached to certain brands, at least that’s been my experience around many friends that ff, most of whom are from WC backgrounds. They seemed reluctant to go for the cheapest formula. Why wouldn’t you if you’re short of money? Marketing.

If you are on benefits you get healthy start vouchers to exchange for formula. I know this doesn't obviously impact upon the working poor.

This is going to sound controversial bit could it be down to younger or lower income women are more likely to be in unstable relationships, and so the commitment needed to support bf from the male partner isn't there which is why they use formula more often?

No judgement. As I said, I had my eldest at 20 and majority formula fed. It's just something I've observed among some younger mothers

well one thing you can do when you know which groups of women are less likely to breast feed is to focus support there.
but if you refuse to acknowledge any difference in breast feeding rates between groups of mothers then this wont happen.

If you are on benefits you get healthy start vouchers to exchange for formula. I thought you could exchange them for regular milk and fruit and vegetables as well? So you could breastfeed and buy extra food for yourself or any other children instead.

Sorry for silence, I've been at the cinema seeing Avengers!

@JessieMcJessie - thanks for understanding what I was trying to say and clarifying.

@Sweak - I didn't intend an inflammatory title, and I don't believe that's the reason there have been arguments on the thread if you read the comments. I certainly don't believe that only middle class mums BF! As I said in my original post, my mum is WC and fed me and my siblings (me until I was 2.5).... I was asking whether on a macro level there is a relationship between BFing and class - this is what my DP believes.... I'm not sure, hence why I wanted the opinion of other mums.

I know this is a highly emotive topic, and I would never want FF mums to think I am judging them or think myself a better mum for BFing..... everyone is entitled to make choices for their own babies and being a wonderful mum is about a lot more than BFing.

Thank you everyone for your comments - I've been reading everything with interest.

Thanks @agnurse - I keep trying to say that but he is convinced our DS will end up overweight--- he's being idiotic and I just ignore him !

I think so much of it is about what your mother did! My mother breastfed all of us until we were 2/3 years of age / she brought me up saying BF is easy etc etc and it honestly never occurred to me not to. I had never heard of mixed feeding or dreamt of formula or similar - same with using a dummy. And I had no problems BF. I wonder if there is possibly an element of confidence or self belief in the thing - because it is a bizarre experience really, but it is natural. And if you KNOW in your heart if you just keep going you will produce the milk your child needs, you won’t feel pressured or bullied into mixed feeding or other aspects which can hinder your own supply.

My MIL only fed for 5-6 months though and DH is not wild about my plans to feed until DS is 2/3 or self weans so I agree with a PP about that dynamic too.

What do MILs have to do with it? I've never discussed how I feed the DC with my MIL for longer than about thirty seconds.

I think so much of it is about what your mother did! My mother breastfed all of us until we were 2/3 years of age / she brought me up saying BF is easy etc etc and it honestly never occurred to me not to. I had never heard of mixed feeding or dreamt of formula or simila

I agree with this. I honestly had no awareness of the challenges of breastfeeding, it didn't cross my mind that I wouldn't be able to as I hadn't heard of anyone (at the time) who didn't. My partner wanted to get formula milk in just in case and I was fervently against it. We actually did need formula in hospital as my milk/colostrum didn't come in at all for ages.... so thank goodness for the formula.

It seems rare (though not unheard of as this thread shows) - that a mum will BF if all the women in her family are very pro FF.l and vice versa so I suppose this becomes self perpetuating within socio-economic groups.

I agree that what your mother did is relevant. I grew up with the idea that it's normal to bottle feed, although my mum is supportive of breast and bottle feeding.

@TeenTitans I'm not sure about that either.... Maybe women feel more judged by the MIL....? My MIL is very anti-BF but it's had no bearing whatsoever on my choices. 🤔

Maybe red! I know mine BF both of her kids but we've barely discussed the issue past a few sentences. I BF initially with the plan to transition to FF unless I really loved BF, and everyone has been supportive except one relative who's a bit of an arse anyway

A poster on the second or third page of this thread said that they think a MIL’s opinion matters in the sense that that’s what DH will think is normal and place pressure regarding. I mean I am happily ignoring what my DH thinks but I do think there is probably some truth in that.

Is it a class thing? I breast fed because it was quick easy, no running out of formula, no faffing about with bottles at midnight, and it was free.
For sheer convenience it’s hard to beat.

I can see that to some extent, that if a DH thinks it's normal he's more likely to be supportive.

True, but I think I’d be pretty pissed off if my DH ignored me saying I considered it normal and wanted support to do it, because his mother said differently.

(My MIL is pro BF so had no conflict there)

For sheer convenience it's hard to beat
Weird how so many people find it the opposite then.

Uggggrrr...am i the only person who found breast feeding a drag but persevered to my detriment? I would like ff to be just as valid a choicecas bf tbh.

@malificent7

Even from this thread I'd say you're not the only one!

Depends what you mean by valid. I mean FF is obviously a valid way to feed an infant in that the vast majority in this country do so, and it is nutritionally adequate. So what would you like to change in terms of how the two options are presented?

Both of my daughters are BF their children and we are definitely not middle class 😂😂

@malificent7

I don't love BFing no.... I have to use nipple shields as my nips aren't well designed for BFing - and it's a total faff on and hard to be subtle in public. I'm looking forward to when he starts to have solids too and feeds are shorter. You're not alone.

Do you mean you don't think FF is presented as a valid choice? By who?