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.

I am so sorry that your breastfeeding journey ended before you'd have liked it to. It can be really tough to lose out of having the true, free choice of how to feed your baby.

You sound like it's been quite stressful trying to get hold of formula milk for your little one? I know a lot of corner shops and Co-op type places are keeping up with demand better than larger stores.

It can be really hard when laws and rules appear to be making a judgement on our personal choices. The World Health Organisation, as others have said, set guidance for the advertising and promotion of all infant feeding products including baby rice, teats and bottles etc. The UK doesn't actually follow many of the suggestions set out in this document - such as allowing follow on milk to be promoted etc.

Some mums are considering relactation (which is possible for most but hard work) if that is something you would like to consider. La Leche League have produced a helpful guide about this in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, or you could phone the National Breastfeeding Helpline for support and information if you were interested in pursuing this idea.

Be kind to yourself. It's been a fucker of a week.

Glad you got hold of some milk. I can’t imagine the panic having a young baby at this time trying to get hold of milk and nappies thanks to the idiots panic buying!
I BF for the first few months- I will say you could say the same for either type of feeding, I had a number of people show disgust when BFing in public (2 tops on so as not to show skin, normally a Muslin cloth too- I am very shy so always felt embarrassed Bf in public), I also found people just assumed you were FF, and tended to be surprised when I said BF, including in hospital where I would constantly be asked how many Oz DC had drank. When DS was in hospital I had to pump for the freezer to keep my supply whilst he couldn’t feed, the (young male) physio came in and nearly died of embarrassment when he realised I was using a breast pump. The nurses found that quite funny though! When I switched to FF I didn’t come across any prejudice or reactions at all, it does seem to be the norm where I live though and Bf is less common.

My step-daughter's Health Visitor has told her if she has problems getting formula or nappies to phone her and they can help

They should be sending to pharmacies for distribution if it can’t be fairly rationed in supermarkets. HVs - assuming they are redeployed - can easily confirm if someone has a baby under 12 months or in need of specialist milk.

On sending to pharmacies - there isn't the storage and pharmacies are already snowed with prescriptions etc

What formula are you looking for OP.

Happy to look.

Am I reading a different post here. What does people stockpiling formula have anything to do with judgement of people who ff their babies?

Is it not exactly the opposite. It shows that many mothers formula feed their children which is why it is in such high demand. What judgement are you even talking about?

I have to say I am slightly confused. I'm sorry that you couldn't breastfeed. I'm sorry that you cant get hold of formula due to selfish people but this has zero to do with breastfeeding or any conceived judgement of formula. I mixed fed one and breastfed another, I got judged for breastfeeding more than I did for bottles tbh.
You cant get formula cause of selfish pricks not because the govt wants to promote breastfeeding. You are blaming the wrong people. Blame the idiots that believe that formula is just powdered milk that you can put in your tea. Those are the people in the wrong.

Are u sure your not the one judging breast feeders ??? Its not their fault ther is formula to be bought...i have to agree there should be no bonus points on formula... special deals or whatever as people may ne tempted to buy the "deal of the week" changing formulas to suit a budget would make babies sick .

Anyone needs it....

Please don't give cow's milk as a main drink for babies under approx. one year old. Small amounts are not an issue. Entire bottlefuls is a problem.

Putting babies onto cow's milk at 6mo or so was common back in the day when a) people were starting solid foods incredibly early (a few weeks of age) and increasing very rapidly and b) formulas were so inadequate anyway that cow's milk wasn't that much worse.

Formula is not just "cow's milk with a bunch of vits added." The base milk has been processed in a special way to make it easier on the young baby's intestines, and things like iron are added; the instructions on the tin also instruct the carer to add the amount of water needed to produce a food that has the right concentration of milk solids to water (unlike straight cow's milk). When babies under about 1 are fed large amounts of straight cow's milk, they lose small amounts of blood in their stool--not visible or noticeable, but over time in adds up to a substantial loss of iron; this, added to cow's milk utter deficiency in iron, results in a high risk of iron deficiency. Since parents have been advised to stick to formula for babies under 1, rates of iron deficiency anemia have fallen a lot, which is very important as IDA has subtle but irreversibly effects on the baby's brain development.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/350041
www.researchgate.net/publication/221702437_Consumption_of_cow's_milk_as_a_cause_of_iron_deficiency_in_infants_and_toddlers

@HarrietM87 that’s not the case. The “additives” are essential vitamins and minerals. You are supposed to give a multi vitamin if you are only giving cows milk (or indeed I understand if you are breastfeeding) because you do need all those vitamins and minerals. Even toddlers who do eat a balanced diet are likely not getting what there is on formula. And I don’t know any toddlers who do - mine were both extremely fussy.

The cost is an issue but if you buy the also brand you could save and cows milk costs too. Obviously it’s expensive because it’s so highly regulated.

Ultimately formula is a much superior food for humans than cows milk but instead we are given all sorts of misinformation and rubbish as if it’s some kind of poison. It tastes disgusting tho.

One of the acknowledged downsides of FF has always been the fact you are relying on an outside agent. In developed countries this is almost never, ever a problem except during natural disasters and (now) a pandemic.

In developing countries, supply can be frequently uncertain, much like we are experiencing here now.

Honestly though the problem in the U.K. are panic buyers; in China we had a problem of unscrupulous people mass buying Western formula (during the powdered baby milk scandal) and jacking up the prices on the informal market.

Anyone found to do this should be jailed imo.

@user1477391263 - most formula uses cows milk as a base was my point. It’s then adapted for humans depending on the developmental age. It’s a much superior food to cows milk for humans because it’s made for them and we should stop treating it like a poison.

most formula uses cows milk as a base was my point. It’s then adapted for humans depending on the developmental age. It’s a much superior food to cows milk for humans because it’s made for them and we should stop treating it like a poison

Maybe it’s iffy from 6-9 months but around a year why would you waste money on formula? If you have a picky eater or whatever, there are multivitamins that can supplement, and it is a way more cost effective solution. I don’t think I know anyone still feeding their toddlers formula, I thought everyone moved into cows milk.

In fact, a quick Google says it’s really not recommended for toddlers:

www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/feeding/breastfeeding/toddler-formula-vs-milk-whats-best/

It's time the government was setting up a system for registration to get Formula. Register with a pharmacy or shop & that location supplied with enough stock for who is registered.

I really feel for you OP, I'm finding this whole empty supermarket thing extremely hard and because I refused to join in with the selfish people stockpiling these items I'm now almost out of formula, baby wipes and nappies. Luckily my sons old enough to drink cows milk if it comes to it, he just doesn't like it.
I do agree with some that this is more about the current situation than judging, although I know that judging of ff does exist, I've experienced it myself.
I've found that there is a cultural/class element to the ff judging, in my area at least, I think that's why some people have never witnessed it.
I hope you find some soon, definitely worth trying Facebook, I'm not on it but seemingly it's useful in these situations.

I personally drink almond milk

Fucking,terrible for the environment. Almonds need irrigation in many of the places they are grown. This is causing serious problems. Also, masses of food miles.

Drink it because you like it, but don’t pretend it makes the world a better place.