To think it’s disingenuous to say breastfeeding is free?

[Jerrui]

When pregnant encountered lots and lots of breastfeeding promotion- often it’s cited it being free as a benefit.

I have personally found as soon as you actually have a baby and are feeding it there is absolutely zero support. In my area there is no infant feeding team etc just community midwife who told me to substitute BF with FF at two weeks old when baby failed to regain birth weight.

I have spent hundreds of pounds on lactation consultant, double electric pump, milk storage, trying to keep breastfeeding going.

I have added formula top up and was shocked how cheap it is. We got bottles for free in those Emma’s diary type packs, and Aldi formula costs £2 a week.

I think trying to promote breastfeeding as a more economic option to pregnant women is stupid.
I feel actually public funds would be much better spend on training and recruiting to provide actual support to mothers trying to breastfeed, rather than health promotion with misleading, simplistic and dumbed down messages.
I feel it’s no wonder breastfeeding is mainly the preserve of the middle classes when you have to invest so much money to get any help!

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

If you’re struggling to afford to eat enough calories to keep you alive, you should go to the GP. It’s not normal to feel that hungry and be losing so much weight.

I’m not struggling to afford the food I need to keep me alive, where did you get that idea from? It’s not written in any of my posts.

I’m not sure whether it’s‘normal’ to be really hungry and for weight to drop off when breastfeeding, but it’s certainly pretty common!

Have you not heard people saying breastfeeding is good for weight loss? I’m very surprised if so. This used to also be pushed as a reason to breastfeed by HCPs an awful lot. And in truth quite a lot of women find that weight does rapidly come off when they breastfeed. Though for others it seems like their bodies cling to the weight until feeding ends. We’re all different, you see.

As it happens I did mention the hunger and weight loss to HVs and a GP and they weren’t remotely interested. They gave the impression that it’s neither surprising nor worrying.

@firstimemamma

It's very common to be permanently hungry while breastfeeding! I ate like a horse!

Well, quite!

I thought this was well-known. Not sure why people have been so sceptical on this thread.

Breastfeeding was definitely free for me.

@TotalRhubarb
You stated your food bill doubled and you were still losing weight. I would definitely advise seeing a GP.

I said my food bill went up by 40%. It did. I ate way more, yet lost weight and was still permanently ravenous. That's only ever happened with breastfeeding,

As I said in my post of 20.56, I did speak to both my GP and HV and they were supremely unconcerned. Didn't appear to think it anything out of the ordinary or anything to worry about.

As firstimemamma says, it's not uncommon! I'm really really surprised you think it is.

@TotalRhubarb

I said my food bill went up by 40%. It did. I ate way more, yet lost weight and was still permanently ravenous. That's only ever happened with breastfeeding,

As I said in my post of 20.56, I did speak to both my GP and HV and they were supremely unconcerned. Didn't appear to think it anything out of the ordinary or anything to worry about.

As firstimemamma says, it's not uncommon! I'm really really surprised you think it is.

Why bother with it, seems like you were spending quite a lot. Maybe it would've been cheaper for you to opt for formula feeding?

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

If you’re struggling to afford to eat enough calories to keep you alive, you should go to the GP. It’s not normal to feel that hungry and be losing so much weight.

It's pretty normal for some women to lose weight rapidly after pregnancy weight gain, yes. And again, yes, breastfeeding can speed up the process for some women. Nothing to worry about.

As it happens I did mention the hunger and weight loss to HVs and a GP and they weren’t remotely interested. They gave the impression that it’s neither surprising nor worrying.

Right, and HVs and GPs know a lot about bf-ing ... they don't. That is why they are unconcerned. As for spending 40% more on your food bill for bf-ing, I assume you are telling the truth but you are a bit of an outlier.

I am sure you ate like a horse. 30-40% higher food bill.

Breastfeeding CAN be free. I pumped by hand, bought reusable breast pads, used regular best tops and just layered.
When it comes to ff, some babies require specialist formula, etc.
Do you want the promotions to say ‘cheaper’ instead of ‘free’?

Breast feeding is free though - I bought 2 bras (ok a specific cost but I wear a bra everyday so I would have had to buy a couple in my new larger size anyway) and I bought a pack of 12 washable bamboo breast pads, so ok it cost me £9.99 to breast feed 2 children... how uc is formula a tin???

I didn't spend any money on all these other things.

I am sure you ate like a horse. 30-40% higher food bill

I genuinely don't remember eating notably more than normal so the average 300 calories needed per day may well have applied to me - its not hugely more than normal. I do remember being thirsty all the time and drinking a lot more water and tea.

I certainly had nothing like a 30% higher food bill - that I'd definitely remember. No maternity pay beyond statutory minimum in those days, even in large companies, and I was the higher earner - had to watch every penny.

@blueshoes

As it happens I did mention the hunger and weight loss to HVs and a GP and they weren’t remotely interested. They gave the impression that it’s neither surprising nor worrying.

Right, and HVs and GPs know a lot about bf-ing ... they don't. That is why they are unconcerned. As for spending 40% more on your food bill for bf-ing, I assume you are telling the truth but you are a bit of an outlier.

I am sure you ate like a horse. 30-40% higher food bill.

So you've never heard of women losing weight and being super hungry while breastfeeding? Or heard of breastfeeding being touted as a magic postpartum weight loss cure (which it was for me, though some other friends have found the opposite, that the weight just wouldn't budge despite dieting until bf stopped)?

I find that surprising. I thought pretty much everyone knew, it is a known thing. Certainly enough to be mentioned in magazine articles and midwifes to mention it as an extra bonus for bf.

I agree that GPs are not especially knowledgeable about bf, but another poster stated I should see mine, as though they would be jumping to action stations over the weight loss. While the GP probably isn't super-knowledgeable about bf, she should know when to be concerned about weight loss and increased hunger in an adult and she wasn't.

Of course I'm telling the truth about the food bill, why wouldn't I be? It was a bit painful while on mat leave!

|Why bother with it, seems like you were spending quite a lot. Maybe it would've been cheaper for you to opt for formula feeding?

It may well have been, poopykins! As it was, I could get prescription formula, as DD has a dairy intolerance, so it would have been absolutely free.

@gogohm

Breast feeding is free though - I bought 2 bras (ok a specific cost but I wear a bra everyday so I would have had to buy a couple in my new larger size anyway) and I bought a pack of 12 washable bamboo breast pads, so ok it cost me £9.99 to breast feed 2 children... how uc is formula a tin???

I didn't spend any money on all these other things.

I spent nothing extra on special breastfeeding clothes. I had a couple of nursing bras but I wore bras anyway. My size changed due to being pregnant rather than breast feeding. My "nursing tops" were standard t-shirts, jumpers I already had - basically anything which could be pulled up from the waist.

I'm reading this thread wondering if an entire marketing sector has built up around flogging stuff to breastfeeding women since mine were babies.

For those saying that lactation consultants are an unnecessary waste of money, mine saved my sanity and allowed me to partially breast feed for 7 months. My baby was born with forceps injuries meaning she couldn't latch. In addition, we took her to the NHS hospital midwives and our local midwives and all failed to spot a tongue tie, even the tongue tie specialist. Only the lactation consultant spotted it and we were then able to get it treated privately (NHS waiting list was too long). Only the lactation consultant suggested cranial osteopathy for DD to help her with her forceps injuries - the NHS midwives didn't mention this as an option. I have a medical condition which means I don't produce much milk but my lactation consultant was able to advise how to maximise my yield - again, the NHS midwives were not much help with this. If the NHS really want to help new mothers breast feed then IBCLC qualified lactation consultants should be made available to all on postnatal wards. The cost should more than pay for itself based on the NHS's own guidance that breast fed babies are less likely to need medical treatment for ear infections, stomach upsets etc in their first year of life.

I've breastfed 2 children.

My first was premature so I had to spend £100 on a decent pump and maybe £20 on storage accessories. As soon as they weren't in NICU I exclusively breastfed.

Second time no cost at all.

Breastfeeding is free for most people. If not completely free, its a hell of a lot cheaper than formula feeding.

Don't formula feeding mums use breastpads in the early days too?! I'd imagine all of us get engorged and leaky in the first week or two and need breastpads so that's the same surely (when using reusable)

@WhenTheyComeForYou

Don't formula feeding mums use breastpads in the early days too?! I'd imagine all of us get engorged and leaky in the first week or two and need breastpads so that's the same surely (when using reusable)

Not me. I bottle fed from the very first feed and produced absolutely no milk at all. Not a drop. Not sure why.

I do wonder whether the people who talk about the convenience of BFing meaning not having to sterilise, wash bottles etc have actually bottle fed? I was told about the convenience of BFing antenatally but I found being the only person who could feed DD not at all convenient (and really bad for my mental health, although that was really because BFing a starving baby when you have milk delay/low supply is really grim). Whereas, once we were combi-feeding, washing up bottles takes a few mins once a day (whoever was washing up evening meal did these first then popped in microwave steriliser). So a few minutes every other day taking it in turns with DH v. the hours that BFing takes?! Making up formula isn't difficult and you make a cup of tea each time you boil the kettle so not exactly time consuming?!

I don't really count the cost of my time as I was on paid maternity leave to look after our baby but the people who talk about it being nurturing and bonding also means they think the time they spent was beneficial and worthwhile. Whereas I loathed BFing (and I'm an experienced, longterm BFer - BF for 3.5 years which I really regret doing), it messed up bonding with my baby and was never something that was enjoyable, although it was more like 'boring chore' by nine months as BFing an older baby/toddler is a lot easier than the sheer hell of BFing a newborn.

@WhenTheyComeForYou not everyone's milk comes in when it's meant to. I never got engorged or leaked (had some washable breast pads passed on by a friend which I didn't need in the end!) and my milk only came in in quantity at 8 weeks. I imagine if I hadn't attempted to BF at all my milk would simply never have shown up.

ah just what was needed to kick start the weekend, a breastfeeding vs formula feeding debate again!

@wincarwoo - it’s not about monetizing everything rather recognising that womens time (and their lives and well being) have value. Many women find breastfeeding difficult and an exhausting slog. That matters. Our time is worth something. That’s what that quote is saying.

[quote CayrolBaaaskin]@wincarwoo - it’s not about monetizing everything rather recognising that womens time (and their lives and well being) have value. Many women find breastfeeding difficult and an exhausting slog. That matters. Our time is worth something. That’s what that quote is saying.[/quote]
Exactly this. I wish there was a like button on MN.

[quote CayrolBaaaskin]@wincarwoo - it’s not about monetizing everything rather recognising that womens time (and their lives and well being) have value. Many women find breastfeeding difficult and an exhausting slog. That matters. Our time is worth something. That’s what that quote is saying.[/quote]
Babies aren't left on their own while you pop off to work, gym, shops or wherever else. Feeding the baby isn't the only care involved, so involved fathers can put in lots of time doing other tasks like winding, nappies, play etc. Sterilizing and making up bottles, then feeding babies a bottle, all takes time too. Winding, nappies etc are the same amount of time.

Feed your baby however you like, but what you're arguing is about spending time with the baby. That's a totally different argument and it isn't clear who that's with. If you don't want a baby, then don't have one. If you want a baby with equal care provided by mother and father then choose a decent partner and save enough for to both to take leave. If you want a baby but want to go back to work, then do that. None of those things have anything to do with feeding the baby, so no need to conflate topics.

[quote CayrolBaaaskin]@wincarwoo - it’s not about monetizing everything rather recognising that womens time (and their lives and well being) have value. Many women find breastfeeding difficult and an exhausting slog. That matters. Our time is worth something. That’s what that quote is saying.[/quote]

In other words, it's about making those who didn't want to or couldn't bf feel justified. And you should - but the tome of the quote is so annoying. The faux-feminism, so patronising.