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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

'why bottle might be better than breast' - GMTV this morning

409 replies

babyignoramus · 19/08/2009 08:15

Hasn't even been shown yet but can't imagine it's going to go down too well here!!!!

Anyone else going to watch - it's going to annoy the arse off me but I can't seem to tear my eyes away......

OP posts:
lovechoc · 19/08/2009 12:53

It's GMTV, enough said...

StealthBearWipesBumOnDailyMail · 19/08/2009 12:54

Well exactly noddy - because population wide outcomes can't be applied to much smaller populations!
I know that very well - my bfed DS is one of the sickliest healthy children I know (iyswim - he is utterly healthy which I am very grateful for but always seems to have one of ear infection / D&V / cold...). but that doesn't mean that the 'benefits' of bf are wrong!

prettybird · 19/08/2009 13:04

I never said a word to my SIL She knew I bf and admired me for it but didn't even consider it for any of her kids (including the youngest who arrived after she had seen me bf for 13 months). I wouldn't have dreamt of damaging my relationship with her - and honestly don't judge her, just feel a bit that she lives in an environment where bf is not the norm.

Where I feel more and at myself is at work when people make comments about "FF being so much more conveient than BF" and "there's really not much difference" and I don't say a word.

ElieRM · 19/08/2009 13:17

I think most of us are pretty well informed about risks of FF now.
I think it is a little insensitive to be trotting out the same old statistic about only 1% of women being unable to BF due to some physical complication, when if your baby is poor latched on, constantly falling asleep at the breast etc it is very diffcult to establish a sufficient milk supply.
And if you ARE NOT ADEQUETELY SUPPORTED then, no you physically can't.
I do think women who have struggled DO need to be aware of the risks of FF. It's too late, it's done and it makes you feel worse.
And I know I'm taking it personally and I shouldn't, but it bloody hurts.
I do think its appropriate all expectant mothers are properly advised on the importance of BF. FF is inferior; I know this. As I only managed 10 days BF I'm aware everytime I go to fetch a bottle that my DD is not getting the benefits of BF.But I also think more moneyneeds to be provided for the NHS to employ more midwives, health visitors, open more postnatal wards and encourage women to stay in hospital slightly longer to establish BF, IF that's what she wants.
I advise all the people on here who are publishing statistics and the benefits of BF and FF to go and write to the health minister, and do something postitve about it.
This is what I've done,because I'm not going to sit on my msierable FFing arse feeling bad when I can at least attempt to make a difference. Ladies who have had similar difficutlies; do not feel guilty. Do not read the BF benefits, because it's irrelevant if you've struggled. Assume you child will be happy and healthy. Why worry now?

noddyholder · 19/08/2009 13:20

I don't believe there are risks with FF just benefits of BF.Anything to make women feel even more guilty!

noddyholder · 19/08/2009 13:20

I don't believe there are risks with FF just benefits of BF.Anything to make women feel even more guilty!

diddl · 19/08/2009 13:20

Prettybird, does your SIL have children?
Why doesn´t she like the idea of bf?
I bf,and do think it´s sad if mothers don´t even want to try.
That said, there seems to be such a furore about bf, and I think some mothers who want to bf give up too soon as it doesn´t immediately come easily.
And some don´t try at all in case they fail.

Olive11 · 19/08/2009 13:23

ElieRM - well said

Thunderduck · 19/08/2009 13:25

But saying that there are benefits to breastfeeding implies that formula feeding is the standard by which other options should be judged, which makes little sense when breastfeeding is the biological norm.

prettybird · 19/08/2009 13:31

diddle - she has 3, two who are significantly older than ds and one that is much younger.

I wouldn't dream of making her feel uncomfortable by lecturing her. She said to me once that the idea of bf made her feel unconfortable and I left it at that. TBH - I think it is just becasue noone in her peer group who bf - which is a common problem in the West of Scotland, where in some areas, bf is still seen as "different" and a bit "lentil weaver-ish".

StealthBearWipesBumOnDailyMail · 19/08/2009 13:42

"I don't believe there are risks with FF just benefits of BF"
But it's the same thing
Not comparing ff to smoking using it as an example of the language use *
Benefits of being a non-smoker = the opposite of risks of being a smoker

HumphreyCobbler · 19/08/2009 13:47

this happens again and again

someone says there is no risk in bottlefeeding

someone else says that actually there is

others come on to say how dare you point out the risks of bottlefeeding and make us all feel bad, honestly you evil breastfeeding people, it's all your fault

If it is some massive conspiracy to make us all breastfeed how come rates are so low?

I get fed up of all the attacks on here. The women on here, who have enlightened me about breastfeeding, are responsible for my ability to bf my second child with confidence. My first child was formula fed, I knew nothing about breasfeeding and had no support so it failed.

If I had had talked to those 'nutters' (as Nancy66 calles them) the first time I am sure I could have succeeded.

So please keep talking about the benefits and mechanics of breastfeeding, don't let the abuse put you off.

Olive11 · 19/08/2009 13:52

How are the stastistics on the benefits/risks etc. compiled? What I mean is if a child of 4 is admitted to hospital with a chest infection the parents are not asked whether or not they breastfed - this happened recently to my friend so I asked her out of interest and she said no it wasn't mentioned. So the only record they would have of whether the child was breastfed would be the mothers maternity notes and these would only cover the period of time under midwife care. Am I just being thick? So how do we know who are breastfed and who are bottle fed that go on to have infections/allergies etc. Just interested to know.

StealthBearWipesBumOnDailyMail · 19/08/2009 13:53

"I get fed up of all the attacks on here. The women on here, who have enlightened me about breastfeeding, are responsible for my ability to bf my second child with confidence. "
Me too - I was lucky though that he was my first. Doubt I'd have managed without MN, and that includes the information as to why it's done.

noddyholder · 19/08/2009 14:03

It is just my opinion I ff my son and do not believe I put him at undue risk.I would have breastfed if it had been possible as I believe it is the natural way and has many advantages but I too would like to know where the stats come from becaus I have never been asked how ds was fed when at the docs

TheDMshouldbeRivened · 19/08/2009 14:07

I'd like to see more training in bf of disabled babies. There seems no support and poeple getting embaressed and shuffling their feet.

MorrisZapp · 19/08/2009 14:11

In the rest of our lives we don't live by the correct statistical advice so why use statistics to hassle FF mothers?

Statistics show that kids whose parents don't live together have poorer life chances, but I don't see anybody telling people to stay in crap relationships to avoid a statistical drop in their kids wellbeing.

Ditto most of the other stuff we get told by researchers and the gvt every day - the MN mantra is your kid, your choice, and only you know yourself and your kids etc etc.

But for some reason when it comes to babies milk, we're supposed to read the statistics and obey their advice.

Last week it was processed ham, and there was a rush to say sod that, I'm still giving my kids ham even if it does have a small chance of risking bowel cancer.

Why is this one area so damn emotive - leave it up to the mums, they're the poor buggers getting up in the night and they're the ones who know what their baby wants and needs.

Highlander · 19/08/2009 14:15

Like all medicines, there will be some benefits for some families who choose to FF.

However, like all medicines, there are risks associated with FF, and new mothers should be given a list of these to think about before they whip out the bottle.

A poster detailing these risks should also be prominent in all GP surgerys, ante-natal units, post-natal units etc etc.

Olive11 · 19/08/2009 14:18

There are posters in my gp surgery, ante-natal unit, post-natal unit, weighing clinic etc. Whether you call them benefits or risks I don't think anyone could be unaware of them surely?

noddyholder · 19/08/2009 14:20

Even using the words 'whip out the bottle'is a back handed dig tbh. Like everything in life it is up to the individual.

Olive11 · 19/08/2009 14:22

and I was given a talk by my midwife on breastfeeding at my ante-natal clinic and also on the ward in hospital. I just don't understand how anyone can go through pregnancy without coming across this.

MrsBadger · 19/08/2009 14:22

the stats don't come from retrospective analyses (eg 4yo with chest infection - how was she fed?)
but from prospective analyses, where they recruit hundred or thousands of mothers before the birth and follow the child.

FuriousofTunbridgeWells · 19/08/2009 14:23

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Olive11 · 19/08/2009 14:24

Thanks MrsBadger, I guess that makes sense.

CyradisTheDMSlayer · 19/08/2009 14:25

This reply has been deleted

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