AIBU - to think that adverts for follow on formula should acknowledge breastfeeding...

[GillianLovesMarmite]

Having just seen the advert on tv for heinz (now hideously overpriced) Nurture (follow on forumla) which delivered the message that it is the best thing you can give your baby for its development...
Do you think it would be unreasonable that these adverts should recognise breastfeeding - eg saying that if you are breastfeeding that this is great and providing what your child needs, however, if you have chosen not to breastfeed or have chosen to formula feed, that this is then the stuff for you... and that the 6 month time thing is not a deadline to stop at but a target to aim for.
I realise that by 6 months I am now in a minority of mothers who are still breastfeeding. I acknowledge that everyone has a right to choose how to feed their child, or that sometimes the choice is made for them, often by conditions or factors outside of their control and I would NEVER presume to judge how another woman feeds her child.
However, I just think it would be appropriate for these adverts to acknowledge that if you are breastfeeding you don't need this stuff - although in the real world I know that this will never happen as they have a product to sell - but do you (whether bfing or ffing) think that this would be an unreasonable thing for the companies to do?

(Sorry for the long post - just really really annoyed by the advert).

I was also very lucky that I did get a lot of support - both from the HCPs (not HVs - I avoided them instinctively) and from dh and my mum & dad.

And a lot of bloody mindedness on my part!

I have given uspport to others via the hosptial's breast feeding group and have let mums-to-be who I know are wanting to bf (few and far between at my work) know that I am happy to talk to them about my experience if they want some support. Apart from that I keep my mouth shut.

Yes you should accept the risks. If you made an informed decision not to breastfeed then you have to accept the risks.

If you were failed then why on earth would you feel guilty?

What I don't understand is all the misplaced guilt FFers seem to attribute to someone who discusses the risks of breastfeeding.

The point is people should know and understand the risks, and make a decision based on that, then be supported wholeheartedly in that decision.

That's the crunch though, isn't it?

Nobody can MAKE you feel bad about something you choose not to feel bad about.

I think the Great Breast/Bottle Bunfight has had it's usual effect, that's all.

People have come and stated facts about breatsfeeding and about bottle feeding, and mothers who have bottle fed their babies have perceived this as a negative judgement upon them.

Nobody is judging people who bottle feed. I have never felt judged in my life.

Your own sensitivities are making you look for judgement in facts ... but really, genuinely, people are only giving the facts, and the facts are that formula is inferior to breast milk.

It makes no difference if that makes you feel bad, it makes not difference if the facts make you feel judged, they are still the facts, and your hurt feelings won't change that.

Sometimes I read the posts, and wonder if "formula milk is inferior to breastmilk" is secret code for "You're shiiiiiiit and you know you are". So many people seem to be receiving a message that isn't there.

Stop the madness. Women should be united together.

risks
it involves a percentage
the fact that you know a bfed baby who's ill lots or a ffed baby who's really healthy does NOT disprove the RISKS
is it really that hard?
how can ensuring the facts are known be 'making' people feel bad?
Should we suppress the risks about smoking because it will make smokers (or people who smoke in front of their children) feel bad?
I am NOT NOT NOT (and another NOT as someone is bound to wilfully misinterpret this) comparing ffing a child to smokig in front of them. I would ff my child if I had to, I would never smoke in front of them and make every effort to ensure noone else does either. That is my opinion of the risks of both. It is simply an analogy for something that has risks, but no-one thinks the risks of smoking should be suppressed in order to not make people 'feel bad'.

But I dont feel guilty
Honestly- just sticking up for others.

Agree stop with the madness we "should" be united.

Actually to be more positive- how does one become involved in breastfeeding support group? I think I would like to help others if I could

Why do I always hit post when the argument has moved on and all my points have been made in a variety of much more eloquent ways?

I've nothing against FF, I did a bit of both after DS was 4 months old. I don't think YABU but at the end of the day the company is trying to make a profit, just like any other company out there such as Pampers. No one is forced to use disposable nappies, they can save money and buy real ones. It's your own choice if you want to pay attention to such drivvle on the telly. I personally tune out.

"but WOULD NEVER make someone feel so shit about formula feeding"

Are you making a case then for nobody discussing these risks? Including health professionals and other mothers?

Because it seems to me we've already got quite a lot of casual censorship going on on this issue.

I also can live with certain risks - as you say, you have to.

But if someone told me I could reduce my child's risks of literally dozens of different common and rare illnesses by making one simple choice:- to breastfeed, it doesn't seem worth agonising over.

"kiskidee.. can I just weigh in here - I phoned lll 8 times and got no answer..."

Poppy, I wish I was given the opportunity to try to phone them. I see you phoned 2 of 4 help lines without finding help. That is a sad experience. For one bad experience like yours, there will be at least good one experience out there whose experience with a bf helpline is the only thing that kept them from giving up before they wanted to.

These phone lines are manned by volunteers. People who spend about 2 yrs fitting the study around their current jobs, small children, and household chores. They then try to fit in calls around that, totally unpaid.

It is not an excuse for the lack of service you found. It is the reality that these volunteers have. They volunteer because of the shit bf service the NHS provides and they still want to make a difference.

HV's and Midwives are generally CACK at supporting breastfeeding. It is an integral part of their job description to support new mothers with BFing. And why do we allow them to get away with it?

How is our tax money otherwise being spent if not to actually give these women the PAID time in order to bone up on their skills? As a teacher, if I do not perform to a certain standard, I will be sent on courses to develop my competence. The courses are paid for and I am paid when I attend them and someone has to be paid to cover my lessons. MWs and HVs don't get this luxury. It is disgusting!

The UK gov't currently spends about 80p per baby promoting breastfeeding. Formula companies spend about £20 per baby promoting formula.

See, there is no money to be made in promoting something that is free and after all, babies don't vote.

Depends on where you are lilymolly, but the babycafe can always use volunteers, different organisations train people to work on the helplines too, maybe ask your HV?

I think this post has raised the age old breast v formula debate unfortunately.

although it is undeniable that breast milk is designed specifically for your baby, most BF supporters forget is what is really best for baby is to be happy and loved and fed whatever is available. If a mum decides for whatever reason to use formula, she should be supported in that choice. As I said earlier in the thread HVs and MWs should give information about all options available.

lilymolly - wanted to add that we all DO accept it's an individual decision.

We're just arguing the case for people being able to make that decision based on accurate information rather than commercial persuasion.

And that people should be supported better to breastfeed if that's what they want.

There is a way of doing it titty

You present the risks in a calm manner, and then step back and allow the woman to choose.

No one can argue that the risks are out there and are presented at every ante natal clinic over the land.
These women assess the risks and make an informed decsion. End of.

I too would choose to bf given the facts.

Anyone who thinks babymilk companies pay attention to the rules (such as they are) is living in cloud cuckoo land. Advertising is all around you - just open your eyes and look in any parenting magazine, on TV for follow on milks.

There are specialised formulas for babies with specific allergy problems but beyond that they are all pretty much of a much.

What do you think they will tell you if allowed a free rein - exactly what they like to try and get your custom.

Anyone wanting infor needs do no more than visit the various websites of the formula companies and you can find out anything you want about their milks with which to make a decision.

It's all bollox though as most people go for the brand their Mum, sister, best mate used - it's a well known fact. Biggest seller is SMA if anyone's interested - Jordan anyone?

BTW - I bottle-fed - not that this matters.

Oh I am fed up of arguing now!!

Tis only cos I am stuck in bed with pregnancy related exhasution!!

Think I am going to get up, get ready and try and do some house work.

Bye x

PS_haven't read whole thread as couldn't be bothered - same old same old resurrected.

Yes they should advertise - no they shouldn't etc etc. Yawn!

"most BF supporters forget is what is really best for baby is to be happy and loved and fed whatever is available"

In other words you're saying that it actually doesn't make any difference to babies what they're fed on, as long as they're loved?

Sorry - I know you mean well, but that's just woolly, wishful thinking. The fact remains that breastfeeding has HARD health benefits for babies, and that some babies get sick from being denied these benefits - loved or otherwise. A healthy baby is more likely to be a happy baby, and a bf baby is more likely to be healthy.

"If a mum decides for whatever reason to use formula, she should be supported in that choice." I don't think anyone here would disagree with this.

fedup, I bottlefed DD too.

"No one can argue that the risks are out there and are presented at every ante natal clinic over the land"

But that's the point lilymolly - they're NOT!

"No one can argue that the risks are out there and are presented at every ante natal clinic over the land"

But that's the point lilymolly - they're NOT!

I think that part of the problem is that the risks of formula are rarely quantified.

There is a huge difference between "ff will make your baby 50% more likely to be hospitalised with a life threatening infection in their first year" and "ff will make your baby 5% more likely to suffer from tummy upsets/coughs in their first year".

Personally I have no idea which of these is closer to the truth. If I were having to decide again whether to persevere with a very difficult bf experience I would certainly want to know. This vagueness surrounding risks of ff only increases the anxiety of those who want to breastfeed but can't, and the scepticism of those who don't want to in the first place.

Does anyone have links to statistics from the research on this?

oh well i'm a bad mum then, i breast fed and (shock horror!!) bottle fed (SMA and a bit Aptimil later on).
My DS is doing well so far, not worried that I gave him formula atall. We all do the best for our kids regardless of how they are fed.
I really wish folk would stop sprouting self-righteous crap about BFing and how it's the only way. It's not, we can choose how we want to feed our babies. Just live and let live. We all make our own way in the world.;)

I think the OP is correct in saying that these companies need to acknowledge breastfeeding. In any case the follow on milks are a crap invention of the baby milk companies to make more money - you don't need follow on milk. Stick to the normal formula or breastmilk and you can use cows milk to cook a babys food with from 6 months. Save yourselves the money.

sorry to disagree Tittbangbang but a baby will pick up on a mum whose stressed at trying to BF and feeling guilty that she is struggling. From personal experience I struggled to BF against medical advice to give up and get treatment (couldnt have the medicine if was BF) and ended up being ill which was a burden on DH and the family. DS was slow to gain weight as i was ill and therefore BF was not helping anyone. He would have been much better off having formula and me having medication as I would have been more relaxed and able to care for him better. There is nothing wooly and or wishful about that.