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Original poster

To think this comparison is unfair and misleading?

145 replies

LemonMarshmallow · 05/09/2021 07:49

A formula v breastfeeding visual I’ve just seen on fb.
2 rainbow bottles side by side detailing the components of both except on the formula side they’ve not included that formula (always) contains minerals too
Plus there are some things like probiotics, ogliosaccharides and nucleotides that a few also contain.

I feel really bad for anyone seeing this . Yes breastmilk is amazing and I bf my toddler but I KNOW formula contains more than this is indicating and I think it’s unfair it’s being shared on fb and it’s not correct and it going to make people feel bad

OP posts:
WhensomeonementionsMN · 05/09/2021 09:25

@aSofaNearYou

I’ve never seen anyone say that to any mother that has not breastfed long term, because any feed is breastfeeding. But I acknowledge my view is skewed as I’ve never FF.

People have said it on this thread. They've said it in what's meant as kinder words than that, but they've said it.

And that’s why I’m so careful about sharing anything about breastfeeding, because women see this as attack, when it’s not, we should be supporting anyone who breastfeeds at any stage.
Original poster
LemonMarshmallow · 05/09/2021 09:26

[quote 5zeds]@LemonMarshmallow so identify what is inaccurate and correct it.[/quote]
Ive reported it but I don’t want to put my name to anything on fb

OP posts:
5zeds · 05/09/2021 09:27

@LemonMarshmallow can you list what you think is inaccurate?

Original poster
LemonMarshmallow · 05/09/2021 09:27

@GintyMcGinty

Just like everything else on the internet people should check whether its from a reputable source.

No different that many other factually incorrect posts polluting the interweb waves.

I just thought of a sleep deprived new parent saw that they may take it at face value and believe it and that would add guilt unnecessarily
OP posts:
maddening · 05/09/2021 09:28

Breast milk also contains minerals- have they missed it of both?

Original poster
LemonMarshmallow · 05/09/2021 09:28

[quote 5zeds]@LemonMarshmallow can you list what you think is inaccurate?[/quote]
It’s in my OP about the minerals and then some formulas contain other ingredients such as nucleotides etc

OP posts:
Original poster
LemonMarshmallow · 05/09/2021 09:28

@maddening

Breast milk also contains minerals- have they missed it of both?
No it’s on breastmilk but not for formula
OP posts:
LowlyTheWorm · 05/09/2021 09:30

@RaskolnikovsGarret

Does breast milk really kill cancer cells?
Yes. Breastmilk has been found to have remarkable tumour destroying properties. It really IS an amazing thing and it’s benefits are enormously underrated here in the UK by many. There used to be an advert which I think was removed talking about how this formula was “closer to Breastmilk” and I remember someone stating it was as much closer to Breastmilk as standing on a chair made you “closer to the moon”. Formula is fantastic for many babies as it literally saves lives. But it’s not the ideal sadly and the support to breastfeed is so sub par that many mums and babies are missing out. And we now have loads of women who have no firsthand experience of breastfeeding as it’s not the norm and so we have lost the support that other countries have with good BFing rates. It’s a vicious circle and one that overall impacts on the health of our babies and the country as a whole.
aSofaNearYou · 05/09/2021 09:32

And that’s why I’m so careful about sharing anything about breastfeeding, because women see this as attack, when it’s not, we should be supporting anyone who breastfeeds at any stage.

So in your view, is the aim to reach people that don't realise breast feeding is better, and were planning to formula feed but might change their mind due to you posting? Because it seems to me that most people are aware breastfeeding is better, and there are medical professionals to give them that information. By posting at large for anyone to see, the most likely outcome is that the people who see this and it actually has any kind of impact on them, are the people who can't breastfeed. It won't change anything for most people who already are.

It's not an attack, but whether you mean for it to be or not, it's a tone deaf lecture. The posts aren't just highlighting the good things about breastfeeding, they are specifically comparing them to what other people are doing.

WhensomeonementionsMN · 05/09/2021 09:34

@aSofaNearYou

And that’s why I’m so careful about sharing anything about breastfeeding, because women see this as attack, when it’s not, we should be supporting anyone who breastfeeds at any stage.

So in your view, is the aim to reach people that don't realise breast feeding is better, and were planning to formula feed but might change their mind due to you posting? Because it seems to me that most people are aware breastfeeding is better, and there are medical professionals to give them that information. By posting at large for anyone to see, the most likely outcome is that the people who see this and it actually has any kind of impact on them, are the people who can't breastfeed. It won't change anything for most people who already are.

It's not an attack, but whether you mean for it to be or not, it's a tone deaf lecture. The posts aren't just highlighting the good things about breastfeeding, they are specifically comparing them to what other people are doing.

I wouldn’t post that.
Theworldishard · 05/09/2021 09:35

@LemonMarshmallow

A formula v breastfeeding visual I’ve just seen on fb. 2 rainbow bottles side by side detailing the components of both except on the formula side they’ve not included that formula (always) contains minerals too Plus there are some things like probiotics, ogliosaccharides and nucleotides that a few also contain.

I feel really bad for anyone seeing this . Yes breastmilk is amazing and I bf my toddler but I KNOW formula contains more than this is indicating and I think it’s unfair it’s being shared on fb and it’s not correct and it going to make people feel bad

Thank you OP. I was a mum with PND and breastfeeding didn't work out and i felt and still do feel so ashamed even now my son is nearly 2. I wish there wasn't such comparison and judgements. Even 'breastfeeding meets in the park' made me feel left out. I wanted to meet but I didn't breastfeed, so I was instantly excluded 😓
5zeds · 05/09/2021 09:37

Ahh do really you just think it’s unfair to formula companies because the all put “minerals” in too and some put “probiotics”??? I have no idea if that’s true but if it is I guess they could have an extra stripe, sometimes twoConfused. Is your real objection that you don’t think breast milk IS better or that you don’t think we should voice that?

aSofaNearYou · 05/09/2021 09:39

@WhensomeonementionsMN Yes I know that, but you are defending those posts, so?

WhensomeonementionsMN · 05/09/2021 09:40

[quote aSofaNearYou]@WhensomeonementionsMN Yes I know that, but you are defending those posts, so?[/quote]
How am I defending the post? Because I said that someone might change their mind after seeing it?

Lockheart · 05/09/2021 09:44

Breastmilk has been found to have remarkable tumour destroying properties.

Do you have any reputable scientific source for that?

The only thing I can find is that breastmilk can contain a molecule (which you can only access by treatment and separation of said breastmilk) known as HAMLET, which can destroy cancer cells.

Raw breastmilk itself does sod all against cancer. Desperate people have been buying it off the internet to try and cure themselves.

Please don't peddle this misinformation.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.sciencefocus.com/news/compound-found-in-human-breast-milk-has-the-potential-to-fight-cancer/amp/

Theluggage15 · 05/09/2021 09:47

Breast milk killing cancer cells is completely misrepresenting the studies. There is a protein in breast milk which after treatment in a lab may possibly kill cancer cells. There were people selling breast milk to desperate cancer sufferers because of nonsense like this and they were then ending up ill because of viruses in the breast milk.

User01019283 · 05/09/2021 09:48

You could say the graphic is misleading because breastmilk actually contains 100s more ingredients not listed. For instance we know it contains cannabinoids. I don’t see why you’d get so offended about the ‘minerals and probiotics’ (which wouldn’t stay intact anyway once heated).

aSofaNearYou · 05/09/2021 09:48

How am I defending the post? Because I said that someone might change their mind after seeing it?

I feel like we're going in circles here. You seem to be saying in your comments that there is nothing negative in these posts, they only support people who breastfeed, and the problem is the people who "see it as an attack"?

WhensomeonementionsMN · 05/09/2021 09:50

@aSofaNearYou

How am I defending the post? Because I said that someone might change their mind after seeing it?

I feel like we're going in circles here. You seem to be saying in your comments that there is nothing negative in these posts, they only support people who breastfeed, and the problem is the people who "see it as an attack"?

I think we are misunderstanding each other, probably best to leave it there.
Theworldishard · 05/09/2021 09:50

@Theluggage15

Breast milk killing cancer cells is completely misrepresenting the studies. There is a protein in breast milk which after treatment in a lab may possibly kill cancer cells. There were people selling breast milk to desperate cancer sufferers because of nonsense like this and they were then ending up ill because of viruses in the breast milk.
That's really sad for the cancer sufferers and where it becomes morally and physically wrong to state that something can cure something without medical proof.
aSofaNearYou · 05/09/2021 09:51

I think we are misunderstanding each other, probably best to leave it there.

Eh? How weird to make comments and then say it's a misunderstanding. That's literally what you said.

aSofaNearYou · 05/09/2021 09:52

I'm trying to refute your claim about people falsely seeing it as attack, why are you now resistant to that?

Original poster
LemonMarshmallow · 05/09/2021 09:54

@5zeds

Ahh do really you just think it’s unfair to formula companies because the all put “minerals” in too and some put “probiotics”??? I have no idea if that’s true but if it is I guess they could have an extra stripe, sometimes twoConfused. Is your real objection that you don’t think breast milk IS better or that you don’t think we should voice that?
I know there are more benefits to breastmilk. What I’m objecting to is the list fo things formula contains missing off minerals when they all contain minerals

My objection is because the information is incorrect and makes formula sound lacking in more than it is

OP posts:
Calmdown14 · 05/09/2021 09:54

OP I agree with you.
It's not going to phase or change the minds of those who were always going to bottle feed and own that decision.
But for those who have tried and failed to bf, it will hurt.
Emotionally it is a raw time. I am pretty mentally robust but all the extra hormones and exhaustion make it difficult to view these things rationally. My most difficult moment wasn't seeing my baby in hospital (you have to remain strong for that)but being told by a cashier in boots I couldn't use a voucher 'because they want you to bf'....then it all came tumbling out.
Ultimately, it's a stupid graphic that isn't informing anything so those who share it do so because they feel superior.
No one needs to change anyone else's mind on this. It's often not even a choice. I have one bf and one ff baby so seen both sides of this. There is definitely an attitude of 'if you just try harder'. If I'd done that my baby would have died as I really wasn't producing milk. No obvious reason for it and it came by the gallon the next time and then I got the 'are you still breast feeding'.

SpicyJalfrezi · 05/09/2021 09:55

I’m a breastfeeding failure.

I don’t see why my failure should stop other people being encouraged to breastfeed, though.