Aibu at the shitty way mothers of ff babies are judged

[whatthefuckishappening]

Spent best part of three hours trying to get the only brand of formula left from boots. Amazon keeps crashing, chemists don't know how soon stock will arrive, near impossible to get in supermarkets...so I try googling wholesalers online. Formula is only available to chemists and supermarkets apparently in case people are encouraged not to BF. No points given at Boots as that would be an incentive not to BF. Soonest Boots can deliver is Monday week. Sat here crying about the fucking breast pump that didn't work for me, the breast infections etc, wondering how the fuck to feed my baby when my formula runs out. The last thing I need right now is fucking judgement on ff ing.

It’s not judgement. All the restrictions are as a result of Nestle managing to convince African health authorities that formula was better for babies than breastmilk despite most communities not having access to safe drinking water. So many babies died as a result and it led to the outright banning of formula (for babies) being advertised or promoted to such an extent that companies now only advertise follow on milk or their breastfeeding support products.

Appreciate you are frustrated. Discuss this with your HV - they may be able to get you a prescription.

You love your baby. You are a great mum and how you feed doesn't define you. This us a crisis that you could never have predicted. Women throughout history have had problems feeding. You made a smart choice to give your baby formula when you did. None if this is your fault. I hope you find some soon. Put a shout out on social media - there is usually someone who can help.

Try this link:
www.amazon.co.uk/SMA-Advanced-Growing-Milk-800/dp/B07NX6HVTJ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=infant+formula+milk&sprefix=infant+form&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1584832103&sr=8-4

No points given at Boots as that would be an incentive not to BF. what has this got to do with your rather ill-informed rant? Being unable to get formula is not because people are judging AF.

All true grumpy.
But what use is all of this now?
Women didn’t anticipate this shortage of formula. No one giving birth in 2020 in the U.K, up until now, would think twice about planning to formula feed if breastfeeding didn’t work out. It has been up until now a perfectly reliable and safe source of nutrition to allow a baby to thrive (in the U.K.).

Op, the fact that politicians and the legal system Aren’t taking action against those despicable individuals and organisations who are stockpiling vital goods like formula for selfish reasons, including to make profit, is what should be judged.
What happened is not your fault. all you have done is made a sensible decision for your child, if breastfeeding didn’t work out/wasn’t an option for you personally.

I’m sorry I don’t have much practical advice other than ring health visitor and gp on Monday and maybe appeal to your local community via social media.
Also could try calling local food banks see if they have formula.
Good luck

The fact that there is a shortage of formula is nothing to do with BF it's because selfish bastards are hoarding

That isn't judgment op. Your frustration is misplaced

I'm sure I've seen posts on other threads where people say you can call the number on the back of the tin to order some? Hopefully that is true x

Based on the info she gives, the fact OP can’t get it from wholesalers is to do with society’s judgment of formula feeding though.

Must be very stressful, hope you find some soon

How is this judging op? Who is judging you?

@NotMyPuppy wholesalers are generally suppliers of companies, they’re not going to cater for single people in these circumstances

The last thing I need right now is fucking judgement on ff ing.

None of what you describe was judgement. I was a FF mum and I’m actually really sick of people pretending there is this big world of bullies out to spit on FF mums. It’s doesnt exist. Please lose the chip off your shoulder.

@whatthefuckishappening I don't think it's judgement, I think it's just another thing that is being bulk purchased at the moment.

I don't know is this is true.
But have you tried calling the company that make the formula you use direct?

Not sure how true it is and I'm also not sure where he heard it but when I said I'd got the last tub of stage 2 in my local shop supermarket for my ds last week and voices my concern for the following weeks, my dad said if you call them direct (phone number on the back of the tub) they'll send you some.

@Herpesfreesince03 I said “based on the info she gives”. If that info is wrong then obviously that changes things.

@JuanSheetIsPlenty this is a thread about a mother terrified she cannot find food for her baby. If you don’t agree with her point then say so but telling her to lose the chip off her shoulder is totally unnecessary in this context.

I disagree. The chip is causing her upset she doesn’t need. She’s holding onto anger about a something she doesn’t need to be angry about.

The chip has made her turn a global situation into a personal attack on her. Which of course it isn’t. It’s stopping her from seeing this for what it is.

I have a four month old ff baby currently and also ff my two and four year olds. I've never experienced or felt any judgement.

I think you are panicking and maybe projecting a bit? I'm worried too, I do have two boxes of formula in but after that I'm just hoping there will be some back in stock.

Local Facebook groups are your friend. There is one for my estate and we have been helping each other out with nappies and baby wipes when someone has run short. I'd share my formula if someone needed it. Ask for help, people are kind and you won't be judged.

OP, there are multiple groups on Facebook offering donor breastmilk or wetnursing for babies whose parents are taken ill or who can't get formula.

Might be worth a try finding who's near you if you are getting desperate.

I think your frustration is actually about the shortage of formula which is completely understandable.

As for judgement, I formula fed both of mine when they were babies and if anyone was judging me they didn't do so out loud, and I never noticed. I don't think people are as judgmental as you think. Honestly, the way you feed your baby will be a distant memory in a couple of years , your children will be running around eating sandwiches and other such normal food, and you will not be able to believe that you even cared.

I really hope you get the formula you need in these trying times op, and don't give yourself 'judgement' to worry about as well.

Well, no judgement at all from me, just sympathy... I’ve never felt more relieved not to have to rely on formula for my baby. It must be terrifying right now.

Calling the number on the tin has been debunked, you can ask a pharmacy to order it in for you but this may not be particularly quick.

Theres "Human milk for human babies" facebook that links up donors with people that need it

Nobody is judging you.

It's a global bloody pandemic. Everyone is affected in different ways.

Where are you op? I’d never see another baby go hungry and I imagine I’m not the only one. Ask for assistance from friends and family, donations. If you’re near me I’d help you out.

OP your frustrations are very out of place. There is a thing called the international code of marketing of breastmilk substitutes and it is to protect breastfeeding, and not to undermine it. Formula companies have too much power and it causes breastfeeding rates to drop, therefore only certain people can supply it and it can only be advertised a certain way.

I understand were in a pandemic and it's shit if you formula feed but the UK has the worst breastfeeding rates in the world. Only 36% of mums attempt breastfeeding, many stop almost immediately due to a lack of support, and at 6 months, only 1% of babies are exclusively breastfed.

The code isn't a sanction on mother's in this pandemic, it's there for a reason.