To be annoyed at someone on the bf/bottle feeding forum saying that formula should only be available on prescription

[pigletmania]

That person obviously has found bf a complete and utter doddle and might not have encountered any problems with it. These comments do nothing to promote bf imo only reaffirm the stereotype of bf matrons. If formula were to only be available on prescription it would penalise those who are struggling to bf and need that extra to top up, or those who have made the choice not to bf though respecting their decision is a bit to me.

"My mil is still sad that she failed to bf nearly 40 years ago and has I know found it hard to watch me bf as it has brought back sad feelings for her."

There is so much guilt and upset that women go through if they fail to BF. The system, with an almost complete lack of support, is to blame for this. Most women, however, silently blame themselves.

More support for mothers who want to bf. Yes.
More help to carry on bfing for longer. Yes.
FF available for those who can't bf for any reason. Yes.
FF being marketed as the norm, rather than just an equal alternative to breast milk. No.

IMLH, yes but proper BF support and high levels of BF is in the end, cheapest.

All you need is a govt that recognises that and acts upon it.

SOrry as an 'unequal alternative.

Eh?

A small minority of women cannot BF. Sad but they need to feed their babies and they will do their very best as I did with my dd.

But if formula is on prescription who is it hurting?

It might just mean that women who might not have bothered will try BF and like it, and pass the skills to their daughters and so on.

Honestly who is the loser?

WeThreeNinks - the formula companies.

my mother, who i always thought had fed all of us, cried and apologised to me because she hadn't bf me cos she'd haemorrhaged. it's MASSIVE for people, not bfing, the medics are FAR too quick to give up on people, quite clearly.

The issues surrounding BF success rates are just not a vote winner so I can't see any political party bothering.

My MIL on the other hand has asked me approx every 3 days whether I am "still" feeding ds2 and has blamed the bf for every bit of windiness and every ailment he has had. He is 3 months old!

She is very much of the school that formula is best. Never tried. Fair enough (though could do without the subtle digs). My mother quite opposite, thankfully (though should add MIL is great in every single other respect).

crackfox - 30 years ago environmental issues weren't a political issue so no mainstream politicians bothered.

We have to make things a political issue.

that's true, hb, but i do think it's a dead duck. just look at the responses on this thread and the other, talking about bfing in anything other than apologetic terms brings out the absolute worst in people.

Nobody has to be apologetic@Aitch. But it's an emotive issue which requires sensitive handling.

Yes I don't think it will happen any time soon. But we have to believe that BF will become the norm eventually and keep advocating it, otherwise it definitely will never happen.

and why is it an emotive issue?

because so many of us have failed and been failed and are or were profoundly unhappy about it. people have to see beyond their own pain and want something different for their daughters, surely?

plus, as it happens the OP of the other thread was not particularly insensitive. this thread, otoh, is nasty stirring.

THANK YOU Herbie. The formula companies will lose out.

DH is saying that prescription formula will "drive it underground"

It's hardly the fucking same as backstreet abortions and would improve quality-control no end when advertising bollocks is removed from the equation.

I dont get the problem with people just having a choice. I formula fed my first two the started breastfeeding my third who then had to go back into hospital with severe jaundice (wouldnt wake up to feed, no strength to suck). We did mixed feeding for a couple of months which I was proud of no matter what anyone says.

formula being on prescription would only work if access to a doctor is much easier. We have had to use out of hours doctors and its a nightmare I wouldnt like to do that with a hungry, screaming baby in tow.

at drive it underground.

i felt like such a loser not being able to bf, i would have loved extra help and if it hadn't worked, the validation of a doctor handing me a script. i don't think it would be a humiliating experience and i don't understand why people happy with their choice etc would feel that way.

Thanks for starting this thread Piglet. I have read it and the other one and the links with great interest. I hope you don't feel bad about starting a thread about a thread on my account. I hope that anyone who was unable to breastfeed does not feel a failure on my account. And I hope that anyone who has chosen to formula feed rather than breastfeed does not feel bad about that choice on my account either.

This thread has moved on, I think. Very little nastiness left, I'd say. It's more of a genuine debate than the original thread.

I was devestated about my failure to BF DS1, seriously I am convinced it led me have PND. However what really helped was finding Mumsnet [brown nose emoticon] as it was the first time I could speak to women who felt the same. Previously I felt like a freak for being bothered but I now know most women feel upset when BF doesn't work out.

I don't have a daughter but I hope any future DIL's will have a more positive experience regarding BF.

I successfully BF DS2 and it was a lovely experience.

i don't get why people are so close-minded to this tbh. one script, handed over by the gp at the six week check or by the HV later, put on repeat. it's funny how people think that the system need remain the same, given that we are talking at a pie in the sky level in any case.

Yeah but Aitch how often do people come on MN saying their GP has been a total twat about something perfectly reasonable? How many people have been refused pain relief in childbirth? I can quite easily see a scenario where some cock doctor decides a woman hasn't 'tried hard enough' and refuses to prescribe. Quite a lot. Plus the difficulty of even getting an appointment in some surgeries. It is taking power away from women.

IMLH fines work! Delayed discharges are almost unheard of since the NHS started charging SS a fee.
Yes, it's all about shifting money around, but my basic idea is that if one PCT fails to do the job then the money would go to the SHA, say, who would spend it on bf support at a regional level.
Increasing breastfeeding is meant to be a priority for many PCTs, a scheme like this would mean the money's there too. OK my scheme was a bit flippant but I do think something is needed to make HCPs all realise that if a woman wants to breastfeed and is struggling it is important that she gets help to achieve it, as opposed to the attitude of "oh well, there's always formula"

what power, exactly?

Does any country actually have it on prescription?