To think formula feeding parents are bent over a barrel?

[inpixiehollow]

Just been discussing this with a friend and interested to know peoples thoughts.
Am I being unreasonable to think that the NHS/govt should manufacture a nutritionally complete formula for babies, sold at cost price to families? Not disputing the importance of real access to proper breastfeeding support but we have to acknowledge that some women cannot/don't want to breastfeed and instead are victim to formula companies turning over huge profits. If people want fancy formulas/special additives then the option should be there but with rising cost of living I don't think its acceptable that something so necessary for many babies is getting to the point of unaffordable.
I am a massive advocate for breastfeeding so please don't take this as an attack or downplaying the massive lack of help for bf in the UK, I just wish both options were made more accessible for whatever feeding choices people make.

Absolutely. Surely this is what child benefit is for?

I don’t really see your point? If you managed without, great. I’m also large of nork and have needed nursing clothing, to help with public breastfeeding especially. I tried to use normal bras and it was hopeless.

Breast pads are also a necessity otherwise I’m soaked through from let down on the opposite side!

Sorry to hear that, that sounds terrible. Can I ask a question if you don't mind? Do you think this may have been avoided if you had more education and information? My sister is quite a bit older than me and had years before I did, she got mastitis and needed surgery to get it drained. I don't think she really had any info. When I was pregnant I did course one night about breastfeeding where I learnt alot. I avoided getting mastitis as I knew what signs to look for when I felt a blockage, and knew to massage it out etc. I think It's very common so this is something I was curious about. I only feel I was well equipped to breastfeed because I did this course, I found it extremely difficult for the first 4 or so weeks but had a lot of information as well as a good support network from my antenatal group, as well as information of other support networks to go to. I often wonder how other people manage without having any real information except for Google, which isn't always helpful or accurate

I could BF. I had tons of milk.

Sadly my middle had complex intolerances and allergies that meant that BF was not the best option for my baby's health.

That dc was on a prescription formula but I think the narrative that it's always the best thing for your baby to BF os damaging. My DC was literally starving. Failure to thrive.

This 💯 (understand not everyone has a choice to FF, I mean the choice to have a baby)

I don't know what the answer is but the cost of some formulas is disgusting. I wanted with all my heart to BF and it didn't work out. I had plenty of milk, I could express using the hospital pump and did for almost a week when I was readmitted with a baby who was dropping weight like it was his job. Yes, technically speaking I could have continued to express and bottle feed, I tried for a while. I was becoming delirious from lack of sleep as I pumped and fed what felt like all night long. I decided to enjoy my baby and formula fed. We chose the cheapest on the market and he thrived. It was however only available in one shop which was a 25 min drive away. If there were limits on how much formula could cost, or that all formula companies must also provide a more basic alternative then cheaper formula would be more accessible to most,

I meant they'll never get formula to be exactly like breastmilk.

You don’t say 🙄

Hi @SouthLondonMum22

Thank you for that insight! That sounds good to me though because I never got anything like that. I read a book about it myself. Not encouraged by anyone. I saw so much effort put into al sorts of baby classes and courses pre-birth but hardly any went into how it was after birth, the reality of motherhood, how bf can make you feel, issues you could have with feeding like tongue tie etc. or even any real advice on ff. Even that doesn’t just come naturally to women! It needs to be learnt.

But anyway, you also have me intrigued now ? can I ask why you didn’t want to bf or knew it wasn’t for you from time of pregnancy? Did you try after birth? You don’t have to answer of course, I’m just curious 🙂

I think part of the issue is how much it varies depending on your location. It needs to be more consistent across the board.

I've heard similar from breastfeeding mums at baby group. They all talk about support during pregnancy but felt they were all left to it once baby actually arrived.

I never tried. Several reasons really but main reasons were I didn't want to be the only one responsible for feeding him (and expressing didn't sound appealing, especially since apparently you need to establish breastfeeding first by only breastfeeding) and I'll be going back to work sooner rather than later.

I don't think breastfeeding is disgusting or dirty or shameful and I'm very supportive of my mum friends who breastfeed.

YABU. Breastmilk is free and best for all babies. Breastfeeding rates are already lower here than most places in the world. Most people can bf if they want to. If people don't want to they can purchase formula. Only a very small amount of people cannot breastfeed. Most people that aren't bfing have choose not to, or do not get the right support to continue. I would like to tax formula and use the money to fund breastfeeding support. Then everyone that could breastfed would and only does who chose not to would use formula.

I breastfed my firstborn with no issues at all, I massaged my boob and all sorts but because it’s an infection it just happens sometimes.. when I saw the GP they just said sometimes you’re just prone to it - I am also prone to ear infections and the same antibiotics are used to treat the ear infections. Not sure if it’s relevant but might be.

So they weren’t the most helpful.

When I went back cause I had no milk at all they just said it’s most likely due to my lifestyle - very unhelpful - generally healthy diet but very little sleep. I have a 1 year old and a baby so reckoned it was due to that.

Choosing to use formula is a valid choice. We shouldn't be penalising women further for making that choice.

Breastfeeding support should not be funded by taxing women who choose to use formula.

Breast milk is not best for all babies.

Breast milk is not best for all babies.

Very true. It wasn't best for my lactose intolerant baby.

We should just implement a system that whenever someone makes a stupid, unsolicited opinion about how a mother “should be breastfeeding anyway”, they have to give her a fiver. Kill two birds with one stone.

In Scotland If your on a low income you can get healthy start foods card that you can use to buy formula. Granted its not going to cover the cost completely but thought I'd mention it.

Because life can throw up all sorts of problems such as losing your job whilst pregnant etc. We aren't all Nostradamus like yourself.

Also regarding the Healthy start vouchers. You have to be on an incredibly low income to qualify so most of us low earners will miss out.

And we can find breastfeeding support by charging those who make unsolicited comments about that! Sounds perfect to me.

I haven't read the full thread, got to dash, but in case no one has mentioned it the govt did provide a cheap FF in the past, it was called National Dried Milk. It can in a tin and when I was a kid primary schools all seemed to have a supply of the tins which were used for things like storing crayons.

Yes they did upthread, ancientgran, even posted a picture of the tin! Different times!

🙄🙄

No, I don't. There isn't an automatic right to free/ cheap food for a baby. Just like there isn't for older children. The fact some women get their baby's food for "free" because they BF doesn't mean everyone else should too (I say "free" as BFing has costs associated with it too). If I grew my own vegetables for "free", should everyone else be entitled to cost price vegetables?

BUT I think they should allow promotions etc on formula.

100% it's actually very patronising that the legislation assumes women will ditch breastfeeding for a discount on formula. If breastfeeding had worked out for me and DS I can guarantee 20% off or some Clubcard points would not have made an ounce of difference to my decision.