To think we don't need a formula feeding month

[LilacSky95]

I have seen a couple of mum 'influencers' on Instagram writing posts about how it's not fair we have breastfeeding month when so many mums can't/didn't breastfeed, and we should start a formula feeding month too.

AIBU to think this is totally unnecessary?

Disclaimer - Not looking to start a breast v bottle debate

O hush
There is no need for either

You are not special if you breastfeed. Nor are you a bad mum if you fórmula feed.

Both get the job done.

I don't know why there's a massive debate about FF and BF it makes up such a tiny proportion of child rearing. It doesn't enter my mind , I've forgotten about it , unless I see something on MN about it. New mums please don't beat yourselves up..

100% all of this.

I know that for those of us who didn't have the "breastfeeding journey" we were hoping for, the breast is best message can feel like a personal attack.

But whilst being mindful of the feelings of mothers who struggled with breastfeeding, we shouldn't be glossing over the fact that objectively, nutritional, breast milk is better than formula. It makes us feel better to say "oh, well, there's nothing in it really", but unfortunately that's just not true.

Of course it's not the be all and end all. Formula is perfectly fine, it's not the start of a life of drugs and crime! But there needs to be nuanced approach, where parents do understand the benefits of breastfeeding, but they all also understand those benefits may be outweighed by physical/mental harm to the mother.

Not really. People get sick and tired of being lectured at and shamed, any pushbacks are a natural response to that. Action and reaction, et cetera ad nauseam et ad infinitum.

What’s ridiculous is people being made to feel it’s necessary. You can support breastfeeding without casting formula and formula feeders in a negative light. It’s a shame that any campaigns couldn’t have been more moderate in supporting both from the start.

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

All of this!

In my local community WhatsApp it's nonstop chat about breastfeeding with many many continuing into toddlerhood. I've never seen formula feeding discussed on it. I don't personally think a whole month of breastfeeding chat is necessary. And I breast fed mine.

It's ridiculous.

I think everyone is aware of the existence of formula. We don't need a month.

Everyone is aware of the existence of breast

If you had to stop breastfeeding before you were “ready” it has nothing to do with companies that sell baby formula. How on earth do you come up with that nonsense?

I actually don’t think I am aware of any breach of advertising laws by any company that produces formula never mind the wild claims above. What are examples of such breaches?

the ridiculous stigmatization of formula (it’s treated like cigarettes) is why there are not more companies in the market and why it is so expensive (and profitable). It’s essential food for babies that some women choose to feed their babies and others have to use to feed their babies. It’s an excellent and essential product and we should stop demonizing it.

Of course more producers and own brand formula will bring the price down. There is nothing wrong at all with feeding your baby formula as has been said. There is also nothing wrong with producing formula- an essential food which saves many millions of lives every day.

Formula isn't ridiculed and stigmatized. Formula advocates just see it that way when other people explain the benefits of breast milk. Simply talking about the benefits of breastfeeding does not = formula shaming. However you may want to look into some of the history of formula milk and Nestle for example, and how they have exploited poor women. That is shameful IMO.

Lots of women can’t breastfeed. When they say this they are told they are not trying hard enough and that everyone can breastfeed. It leads to awful mental health problems.

lots of women don’t want to breastfeed. That’s their choice.

despite all the research there is no good evidence that breastfeeding actually causes any health benefits. It’s more likely the effect is just a correlation.

in any event, we women are adults. We can choose to formula feed if we like or if we find breastfeeding too hard or can’t do it. We don’t need ridiculous patronizing “nuanced” approaches to formula. We should be able to formula feed without stigma and disapproval.

of course the same applies to breastfeeding (but this thread is about formula).

www.businessinsider.com/nestles-infant-formula-scandal-2012-6?r=US&IR=T

I'm very pro breastfeeding, fed both mine til 4. But if people are talking about it I think it is important to listen. Why do they feel formula feeding needs 'a month'? For what purpose?

Yes it is. For example I was told in the hospital they couldn’t give me formula (I was too unwell to breastfeed) because it was bad for my baby and they were not allowed. My health visitor told me she couldn’t help me or tell me how to prepare bottles as she wasn’t permitted. My best friend whose baby was losing weight was told by a health visitor not to take her to hospital as she would be told by drs to give her formula as she needed food. And so on. It’s disgraceful. That’s the NHS in London.

so many women are shamed for formula feeding. It needs to stop.

I don’t believe Nestle even produce formula in the uk. But irrelevant anyway. Formula saves millions of lives every day.

Kendamil had 4 breaches last year alone: bsna.co.uk/news/2021/further-ruling-by-advertising-standards-authority-against-kendal-nutricare-ltd-for-breaches-of-infant-formula-advertising-rules

This report from the WHO shows how manipulative and indisidous the advertising can be (This is a big one and is backed by organisations such as UNICEF): www.who.int/news/item/28-04-2022-who-reveals-shocking-extent-of-exploitative-formula-milk-marketing

There have been many advertising breaches from formula companies, Pfizer, who produce SMA, have been caught out as well.

Well no actually @MsPincher it's not irrelevant

So what that article says is that war on want did an article that “nestle kills babies” in the 70s and nestle sued them and won because it wasn’t true. Did you actually read it?

as I said above too, nestle does not produce baby formula in the uk.

Formula absolutely is ridiculed and stigmatised.

I felt horrendous for opting to combi-feed with baby #1 because of the stigma around formula.

The judge ordered them to drastically change their marketing tactics because they were misleading new mothers. And they won in the end but that does not change the fact millions of babies did die. They only care about the £££

If it were 'treated like cigarettes' it would be in plain packets behind a counter, behind closed shelving. With ads on it telling you of the health risks.

It isn't any of that in the UK as far as I am aware.
An easy breach to point out would be aptimils famous lie 'closer that ever to breastmilk'

Aptimil were found to be telling lies and the whole ad had to be pulled cause funny story, its nowhere near breastmilk.
A quick Google will show you plenty of other breaches.
And just the fact they had to make up/invent different 'stages' of formula to get around the laws speaks volumes.

Babies = bottles is so ingrained on us that we can't see the woods for the trees.

No one is a bad parent for using formula.