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

Obviously this is a nasty goady OP. The I'm not against formula but... is on a par with I'm not racist but.. I hate all these goady trolly posts about formula, babies ears and fanny hair. So transparently nasty.

Me the goady one? Lol. You are the only one resorting to name calling, dear.

What's this about fanny hair and baby ears? What's that got to do with anything?🤣 perhaps you've had enough internet for today.

I will say it again. Promoting breastfeeding and saying we don't need formula month is not shaming formula. It is not goady to promote breastfeeding. Repeat until understood x

I think NHS formula is a good idea. It should be available in shops though- no need to restrict it. To buy or perhaps on prescription for those who can’t afford it. It’s not a shameful secret but an essential baby food that people may choose to feed their baby. I think it’s fine for other companies to produce them too as long as the market is regulated.

Also no need to restrict follow on milk- it’s less filling and a useful healthy drink for infants. Actually in parts of Europe fortified drinks for younger children are quite common and have a positive impact on public health.

Honestly it makes no difference. I was in your shoes a few years ago. Don’t sweat it, you’re a great mum. I’ve got two healthy smart dds who are thriving and your baby will too.

This is why we need fearless formula feeding month!

I think that’s right. But the formula shamers do do a lot of damage and I think we need better support for formula feeding mums (and breastfeeding mums too).

Everyone is aware of the existence of breast

In answer to this, breastfeeding has to be established. You can encounter lots of pain, bleeding nipples, massive engorged breasts, leaking, getting the right latch, breast changes after. Which isn't the same as buying formula off a shelf and preparing it.

Like someone else said, you don't really need support to be able to formula feed (unless you're switching from breast to formula). So if there was a formula awareness thing, it makes sense it be done alongside breastfeeding rather than as a standalone thing.

You just called her dear. Ergo name calling too. If people thing it's needed then it probably is, as demonstrated by your goady shit.

Not a month but certainly some focus and support, all support is tailored to support breastfeeding. I had 2 very prem babies with severe reflux who spent months in hospital. I was only able to produce milk for a few weeks then had to switch to formula. Once I was forced to swap all support ended for feeding which lead to issue's that lasted years. None of the health services wanted to know unless you were breastfeeding.

The thing I really don't get is people getting aggy about how there "isn't enough education on how to formula feed" when they're doing NCT etc. Just read the fucking tin! If you need educating on how to follow simple instructions you probably shouldn't be having a baby in the first place.

I think there should be combi feeding month actually !! It was the best thing I did and for some reason a lot of people don’t realise what a great option it is they think you have to breastfeed or formula feed but in fact combi feeding is brilliant. It really helped remove the pressure I felt but I still knew dc we’re getting the benefits of breastmilk but I had another option whenever I needed it

By that logic why would you need a breastfeeding month either? Doesn’t even require instructions on a tin.

YANBU.

The primary purpose of these awareness months are to share information and raise issues about inequalities or misunderstood concepts. Often it’s to help normalise things. The low breastfeeding rates have a population health impact. Formula feeding companies promote their products through pouring millions into advertising. Formula feeding is the norm in our society. Breastfeeding is not the norm. So there doesn’t need to be a formula month. Every month is formula month when you look at the profits of SMA et al

Don't need either

Perhaps because many women face problems and barriers breastfeeding and don’t know the answer to fix it because there’s nothing written on our tits.

Yiud have ti be exceptionally stupid to get the tin instructions wrong.

...seriously? Breastfeeding successfully is a skill that the vast majority of mums and babies need at least a little bit of support to acquire. Positioning, latch, supply support, draining blocked ducts etc etc...

I don't think we need either.

By that logic why would you need a breastfeeding month either? Doesn’t even require instructions on a tin.

Establishing breastfeeding is considerable harder than whipping up formula. If you didn't click this, then I guess we do need breastfeeding week after all😂

I absolutely agree, but the poster recons there’s absolutely nothing to formula feeding other than reading the can which just isn’t true for a lot of people, implying those people who could do with a few extra pointers shouldn’t even have children is exactly the type of formula shaming others have mentioned. If people see a need for both months and even combi feeding months then why not just let people have it?

But it isn’t just about the tin instructions,
those are simple. A lot of people don’t realise it’s not recommended to pre make formula bottles now, or that different teats have different flow rates which can be helpful information if your baby throws up a lot/has colic, guzzles or has a weak sucking reflex (like my youngest did due to prematurity, she was combi fed), that feeding the baby in different positions can help with winding. Then there’s which options are best for sterilising bottles, how to do it properly. It’s not just about the bottle or the breast, it’s about feeding the baby and making that advice accessible to anyone to needs it, even if they are ‘stupid’ according to some on this thread.

Establishing breastfeeding is considerable harder than whipping up formula. If you didn't click this, then I guess we do need breastfeeding week after all

Not for all women. I found making up bottles more faff.

By that reckoning you shouldn't have a baby if you can't establish breastfeeding without any help because it's natural and should be instinctive.

As it is neither of those things are as easy as they should be and we should be supporting mothers, not sneering at them.

@MolliciousIntent things that are not on the tin:

• how to feed when you're travelling
• what to do about sterilisation when you're out and about
• warm or room temp milk?
• prep machine or not?
• types of bottle
• volume to feed
• responsive feeding/ on demand feeding
• feeding positions
• proper cleaning and sterilisation
• how to deal with feeding strikes
• teats and flow rates

I'm not saying it's as difficult or more difficult than breastfeeding, but it's still a minefield and support wouldn't go amiss.

Not everyone goes to NCT - I didn't - and NHS ante natal group provide no advice whatsoever. (Mine refused to offer any advice on c-section birth or epidural aswell!)

I have seen a couple of mum 'influencers' on Instagram writing posts

Funded by Cow and Gate, Nestle, Aptamil, Hipp, SMA....

I really don't understand the guilt around formula feeding... I know, in my own real life, only ~10 women that BF... I'm a bottle fed baby, my mum FF all four of her kids, I have 3 aunts and 14 uncles all married with kids that were all FF, all my cousins with babies FF, my older sister has 5 kids all FF and my younger sister has 3 kids all FF ... all my friends were FF as babies and those with kids of their own mostly FF (apart from about 10, and none stuck it out past 4 months and all eventually EFF).
I can say without one moment of hesitation that my mum, aunts, sisters or cousin never felt one onze of guilt or shame about formula. Not one of them ever considered breastfeeding, most of them think it's gross, my mum freaks tf out if I try to bf in front of her, my sisters are the same... we're Irish, our bf stats are prob lower than UK and it's just not a norm here. If anything I'm constantly having to justify why I choose to bf and put up with bunched up disgusted faces and "ew how could you do that?" remarks.

I have 3 DC, my oldest two were EBF to 6 months each before combi feeding and eventually EFF by 8/9 months, my youngest is only 7 weeks and is EBF. I'll prob combi feed at 6 months again. I have absolutely no problem with formula & felt zero guilt introducing formula when I did. I refuse to believe the majority or even a large minority of FF mothers feel guilt or shame, most FF because they want to & never wanted to bf and that's as good enough reason as any other as far as I'm concerned.

I think a FF awareness month is ridiculous, most mothers don't feel guilty bout feeding their babies formula & the argument that it's needed to promote safe instruction of bottle prep, I was preparing bottles for my little brother when I was 12, its not rocket science, instructions are on the tub 🙄

None of that requires an awareness month, just a MHS leaflet which I’m sure women get in pregnancy. Also all this information is entirely objective, and applies to every single baby on formula, and in the age of Google shouldn’t be hard to find. Whereas BF is practical, and the experience and issues will be different for every woman, MUCH more support is needed.

I BF my kids but I don’t get formula guilt either. I just wanna say to people who say they feel guilt “Own your choice FFS, because nobody else even cares how you feed your baby.”