To demand a harder hitting campaign to promote breastfeeding?

[WashwithCare]

I?m sometimes taken aback to hear mothers gave up bf-ing because it was sore, or involved feeding for hours at a time? What did they expect? What did they think newborns do? Didn?t they imagine that anything chewing on your nipple for 10 hours a day was going to nip a bit?

But then again, who can blame them? Breastfeeding for the minimum WHO recommendation of 2 years is practically unheard of. Nearly everyone will tell you it?s absolutely your decision, and fine to stop. The public info campaign is fluffy and vague about the benefits, and the baby on the follow-on formula milk box looks decidedly peachy. Lots of women are so mis-informed, they believe that formula is almost as good as breastmilk.

Is it time for something a little harder hitting? How about this for a tv ad; (scene 1) mum feeding her newborn a bottle telling her mate how hard bf-ing was. Caption: Breastfeeding Hurts. (scene 2) same mum, but now older, bald and sick, hugs toddler. Caption: So does breast cancer. FADE to caption: "Breastfeeding significantly Reduces your Life Time Risk of Breast Cancer". Followed by cheesy inspirational slogan.

I bf for a year, didn't have a problem with it. I didn't bf because of some 'campaign'. It's just almost tradition in our family. That's what we do. My mum helped, my MIL helped, but I wouldn't go round saying to anyone that BF is the only way! Or else there's a chance you can get breast cancer!

Do you even care about breast cancer? Or bf? or the benefit children get from bf? Do you really care? honestly?

I dont think that the op is a troll just someone who is a misguided (hence that stupid campaign) and who never experienced any difficulty hereself with bf so is not fully aware of the struggles, guilt and anguish that many mothers go through when trying and not succeeding with bf, not just painful nipples but a host of other factors involved with giving up bf

I still struggle with my guilt sometimes even now that dd is a happy and healthy 2.10 year old, and this proposed campaign by WWC is enough to make anyone feel like crap. If you dont bf your baby you will get cancer, thats the message that its trying to promote.

Ultimately, women have to do what's best for them. And you, above all, should understand that one!

And no, I don't agree with children spitting at anyone. But now I wonder what you must have done to them to deserve such an attack? By the reaction on MN, it sounds like you need to improve your social intelligence. And children, after all, don't have as much control over their emotions as we do

And perhaps now she is aware of "the struggles, guilt and anguish that many mothers go through when trying and not succeeding with bf," pigletmania, maybe she will acknowledge that her hard hitting campaign idea could do more harm than good.

OW - yes, I do care actually. I would prefer to live in a society where everyone fed for at least a year, and prefereably 2 - and bf-ign a toddler wasn't somehow seen as a bit freakish!

Piglet - did you read my post above - if women gave up because of specific difficulties, then bf wouldnt be concentrated in certain social groups and certain counties - would it? If you can explain why that is the case, without it being a result of culture - than i will be impressed...

Right off to fix the healhy supper for the family Xx

It just does not seem like it SDTG as you know its not just as simple as popping baby on your breast and away you go, if it was like that the bf rates would probably be highter. Just makes one feel bad. I would love to bf the second time round and seek support if we have another dc but will give formula if my babies wellbeing is in immediate danger, not what might happen in 5-10 years time.

Yes I was aware. Thank you very much.

I was living in Saudi Arabia at the time. Whipping a breast out to feed was not really possible in a country where women can't show their faces.

My children have not "suffered" because I didn't breast feed them.

I think you are spending too much time on this site and might be better off attending to the children you have.

My children are all here beside me, debating this issue with me.

What are yours doing whilst you ignore them and spend all day on here?

sorry pigletmania, that last one was to WWC.

What a pile of cack. It's all completely random anyway. While there is evidence that bfing can reduce the risks of some things, it's not all or nothing. So for some children it really doesn't matter whether they are breastfed or not. Ditto cancer - there are things which put you at much more risk from it, such as genetic factors and weight, than bfing.

Obviously it's good if you can, but there's no point making yourself miserable about it. I think some people (like the OP) make such an epic deal out of it because it's one thing they've managed to achieve themselves (in contrast to lots of things they haven't?), so they like to view it as a life or death issue.

And, OP, why do you give such a shit about what other people do or don't do, when it doesn't affect you in the least? 'I would like to live in a society where everyone breastfeeds for a year, preferably 2.' Why? Why do you even care? Did someone give you shit for breastfeeding a toddler or something?

thats ok OW she is temporarily off line now to prepare her healthy organically grown supper, had to throw that one in eh

Piglet - the chances that you can't bf are very, very low. If you want to bf next time round I think the most important thing is to be determined. If you set yourself a goal to feed for 6 months in the first instance, and just decide to ride out any difficulties, you'll be surprised how much easy it can be.

It also helps to have proper support in place. One of the best things I did re my pg and bf-ing was to realise I wasn't going to get the support I aspired to on the NHS and to use an independent midwife. Yes, it does cost, but the benefits of having a midwife you know to support you, and proper time to do it in, is just worth its weigth in gold.

I know it's not as simple as just popping lO on the breast - I do appreciate how miserable women feel about not establishing feeding. I also think it is very easy to give up in the face of poorly informed HVs MWs etc telling you baby is jaundied and needs a bottle, or baby isnt' thriving and s on...

But all of this just spurs me onto follow my line, that women need to be even determined to over come these obstacles. BF gives baby the best start, and you are laying the foundation for a lifetime of good health. I think that is worth fighting for.

There are any number of people who will tell you there's nothing wrong with not breastfeeding and what's good for mum is good for the baby. I think people need to hear the opposite - maybe mums here will go away and think about it... once they have calmed down. Maybe it will encourage them to persevere next time?

OW - I would be horrified if a child of mine spat at anyone - whatever the provocation. People need to take responsibility for their own poor behaviour - it always says more about the perpertrator than the victim.

WWC indulge me.... what have you to say on the issue of good old-fashioned choice?

How far would you go to push your campaign at women who do not want to breast-feed?

There are any number of people who will tell you there's nothing wrong with not breastfeeding and what's good for mum is good for the baby. I think people need to hear the opposite - maybe mums here will go away and think about it... once they have calmed down. Maybe it will encourage them to persevere next time?

No. Actually I dare say they won't.

Please stop this now.

If you want to live in a society where the majority of women breast feed for more than a year, move to Malawi.

Sadly I can believe you are a peer supporter, when I tried to b'feed dd1 I came across lots of MW/hcp and a couple of bfc who were awful, lacked empathy, believed that if only everyone could have the determination it would work for them.

Well hey you know what everyone is different. I was very determined, but not determined enough to last longer than 3 months expressing each feed and trying to b'feed, through the agonising pain in my blistered bleeding nipples (like a hacksaw blade going through them) which lasted throughout the feed and when expressing, thrush, a tongue tie and frankly some fucking appalling 'support' from the people that I sought help from.

'Do women in Malawi have strange African breasts or nipples that don't bleed?' I don't know whether they do or not, but they probably do have a support network of women and family around them who provide genuine help and understanding.

OP - no ad agency would ever take on your ridiculous idea, they'd have riots outside their offices. By all means, governments can advise, but that is all. It's none of their business, your business or anyone else's damn business if they b/f or not. I did not. My choice. There are lots of reasons people don't b/f and I always said that if I did go on to have other children, I would bottle feed right from the start because I feel happier doing that. Myself and my 2 siblings were all bottle fed, we're fine, mum's fine, blah, blah, there are risks with everything. My reasons for not b/f are personal, so I will not be explaining myself.

No, actually I think you should take this idea to an ad agency. One of the big ones, with a nice open-plan office so everyone can see you. See what they say. Go on now, off you toddle.

Twat.

I am a failed breastfeeder, twice over. In the olden days I would have had to use the services of a wet-nurse

Am not going to detail the reasons why, because you would belittle them and be under the mistaken belief that if I had only applied myself a little more, I would have succeeded

How many people (who are not super-high-earners ) can afford an independent MW, you are not living in the real world, WWC

Nobody is denying, that in optimal conditions, BF is good for mother and baby. But not everyone is able/willing to do it.

That is fact. Thankfully, we live in a culture where we have choices and options and (usually) women are not put under undue pressure to conform to someone else's version of what is ideal.

I have never responded to a MN thread in anger before, but OP you are a smug, spiteful bitch! You may have filled your children up with your own sweet glorious milk, but I hope you have drawn the line at filling their heads with your poisonous views.

Was going to write more but my story won't touch you so no point, and yes, I was privileged enough to bf 3 children of my own, that isn't the issue for me. Hope you are a troll and not a real person.

Now hiding this thread so no need to respond.

By Vallhala Tue 12-Jan-10 20:55:04
WWC indulge me.... what have you to say on the issue of good old-fashioned choice?

How far would you go to push your campaign at women who do not want to breast-feed?

Interesting question... here's a tentative answer..

I think it's very unfair that children born to poorer households have a shorter life expectancy - in some cases many years shorter - than children born a few miles away to better off parents.

It's not just about bf-ing of course - it's the whole package of diet, smoking, alcohol, poor parenting, weak educational expectations, worst jobs etc...

But what do you do - Emotionally, I feel quite sad and sorry for the kids and angry with the parents. HOWEVER, I know that the parents are not really to blame - they are trapped in their situation too.

We also know that hard hitting campaigns are not very effective - what they do is alter behaviour of the people on the edges... so those who would nearly have breastfed before, are pushed a little harder, and do.

But what about the rest - the majority? Well, you can't make them.. And you can't replace them - because the State is usually a worse parent that all but the very worse parents...

So I would say, you push it hard - you hope it changes the behaviour of mums on the edge to the benefit of their children. But you would have to accept that the majority of women would not change and there is nothing you can do about that.

I had many reasons for giving up Bfing, and may more for not wanting to do it again.

Now I have another...

...You, WWC

Keep on with that winning bedside manner of yours, and I'm pretty sure we'll see the numbers of BFing mothers actually decrease.

Individual choice for each mother - no amount of bullying tactics from people like to OP would make me change my decision not to BF, and I mean NOTHING!!