So is formula milk UPF?

[bumgripes]

It is, right? I mean, the ingredients list certainly is. And it’s listed on the BBC website as an UPF.

Going to be interested to see if this influences the BF/FF debate now that it looks like awareness of UPF is about to skyrocket. Does it even matter when they’re only on it for about a year? Does that fact that it’s an UPF actually add any info to the pre-existing evidence on BF/FF?

@Clefable I'll stick to believing what a well regarded and QUALIFIED Obstetric Consultant told me, but thanks anyway

What they told you is bollocks.

It's clear how very sensitive you are to the experience and feelings of others. Got to say I'm very impressed. You've needled and mithered and picked at a pregnant woman to the point where she lost her temper and told you to fuck off, all because she had the temerity to say she was proud of having breastfed (and not on a thread set up to support those struggling to breastfeed, but on a general-interest thread about formula) — which does, of course, imply that she's very aware that it's something that's difficult and not always possible. Well done. You've really shown us all what a caring, considerate person you are.

It is I suppose but not in a "bad" way.

Fwiw I EBF my 2 and if I have a third I am FF from birth as i am done with BF and dont want to go back to the hell of 60 minute wakings.

As other PPs have said that's not actually accurate as it is made from the blood not the digestive system and leaches vits/minerals out of your bones if your diet is rubbish.

However, I'm not sure why you're getting angry as I'm saying I support formula use and this debate about UPF is getting out of hand and becoming nonsensical.

Formula is a perfectly good food for babies. So is peanut butter good for adults (in moderation as it's high in fat). Both are UPF. The UPF label in itself is not that useful.

Anyway it is simultaneously possible to be proud of something you've done and empathetic to others. I'm proud of BFing my two girls as I had rough starts with both and it would have been easy to give up, but I didn't, and I am entitled to be proud of that. Others might be proud they had an unmedicated natural birth (I sure didn't!), that their child gets zero screen time, and a zillion other things they've done or decisions they've made or difficult journeys they've had, and why not? It's good to have pride in ourself for our accomplishments and to be honest about it.

It would be tone deaf for someone to come barrelling into a thread specifically about someone's breastfeeding struggles and unprompted go on about how they were so proud they did it, but on threads that are generally about breastfeeding then I don't see the problem, so long as it's not being done in direct response or spitefully to someone else having a hard time.

Fair enough but it's wrong so please check any other information they have given with another source before following it.

@YukoandHiro Unless you are a qualified Obstetric Consultant then I'm afraid your opinion (and the same for the last response) is simply null & void as far as I'm concerned.

You're the only person getting angry.
I'm disgusted in the OP, who has come on here to bully & shame those mothers who are physically incapable of breast feeding. Not angry though?!

I'm very empathic to others. I really struggled in the beginning. It got to the point I didn't want to feed my son. I dreaded when it came to feeding him. I cried so many tears in pain. It was absolute agony. But I didn't give up because I would never let my son starve. I'm proud of myself for getting through it.

@Clefable I don't need to! Certainly not because some random on the internet 'sez so'. It was explained to me in great detail. However if you wish to continue to bully & shame mothers who have to formula feed, if that's what gives you your kicks go ahead. Nobody is stopping you

Where have I done that? You've been given incorrect information. That's a fact and I pointed it out because regurgitating false information on a site for new mums is irresponsible. I've said nothing about formula feeding 🤷‍♀️ I haven't even written the word formula up till now.

Perfect example of a ff mam criticising breastfeeding. No one is getting angry. Or bullying or shaming.

What they told you isn't true at all. But if you want to believe it. Go ahead.

Empathetic? You really aren't, you are going on and on about you again!

I doubt most of the people who know you care how you fed your baby never mind strangers on a thread about formula

And your post implies most people that use wheelchairs use them because they don’t want to walk. I guess you’re that person, then.

from: someone who didn’t produce any milk because she was in an induced coma for days after giving birth and developing heart problems that led to a cardiac arrest. So glad you weren’t around when I was so stressed because I didn’t know whether I might die any minute and had to be on heart medication that is unsafe for newborns AND STILL WORRIED I wasn’t giving my baby what he needed because he had to have formula.

you absolute idiot.

Your DS wouldn’t have starved if you couldn’t bf - you would have given formula.

Do show us your peer reviewed research that found out “most people just cannot fathom cluster feeding or the reality of how babies are generally attached to us so choose the easy way out”

waiting for the link to the publication.

Yes it is, but it's been balanced and heavily researched and regulated to ensure it contains what babies need. It has to be processed as nothing else other than breast milk itself can provide everything a baby needs, and breastmilk can't be cloned/mass produced. It's different to purposefully process something in order for it to contain a precise range of components, and producing UPFs just as they're cheap.

Even if that's true, what's wrong with sometimes going with the easier option? Why must mothers martyr themselves and be miserable in order to be deemed good mothers?

What’s wrong with ‘the easy way out’ - formula is designed for babies and they thrive on it.

I carried on because I didn't want to give him formula. It's not that I couldn't. It was just very painful. And before anyone starts. I'm not against formula. Imo I felt it was best for my son.

And I did use some in the beginning but stopped and started expressing as well. Once tongue tie was sorted it did get easier.

Quite. I hate any threads on here about infant feeding as it brings out plenty of nasty, judgemental bitches. Everyone knows breastmilk is best for baby, the reality is it isn't always best for mum and that's alright too- we are important as well. I breastfed but was well supported in doing so and was fortunate that I found it pretty easy. I'd have had no qualms on using formula if needed though, and would never judge another parent for doing so.

Peanut butter isn't necessarily upf...it's crushed peanuts. Cheap brands pad it out with crap and make it upf but it doesn't have to be. Check the label.

Curious as to whether all the posters bashing formula fed their babies baby cereals and baby snacks/finger foods which are also processed