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.

By whizzmum Tue 12-Jan-10 21:10:36
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.

Whizzmum - one of the things I have noticed is that bf-ing mothers can always explain why they want to breastfeed. Interesting that - isn't it?

So WWC what do you propose that the poor people do? You said yourself that you used an IMW. How do you expect them to get the £3K for that?

I come from a city which has one of the highest rates of heart disease, lowest life expectancy and lowest rates of bfing in Europe, never mind Britain and I think that you seem to know absolutely nothing about what its like.

How exactly do you think an add campaign like this will work. What people need is free support and education.

Didn't think of any reasons myself just shoved my tit in their mouth.

"Whizzmum - one of the things I have noticed is that bf-ing mothers can always explain why they want to breastfeed. Interesting that - isn't it?"

I assume you mean the incredibly yawnsome ones like you? Most people don't feel the need to pontificate about their personal choices.

"bf-ing mothers can always explain why they want to breastfeed"

i don't really see any significance in that, particularly if we should really just be regarding is as the normal, biological thing to do?

not to mention, i think my reason to BF was mainly to do with peer and family pressure.

have reported this thread

WWC has just crossed another line with that gem of wisdom

I think you'll find that Whizzmum said that she wouldn't be explaining herself, not that she couldn't.

You're hardly to know it, but you've quoted another generalisation, into which I don't fit. I'm aware that statistics indicate that those who choose/chose not to b/f are in the lower income brackets and poorly educated.

Perhaps it's just little ole me who's different and all those other mums on here who opted not to b/f come from a long line of toshers who left school at 12 and who can barely spell their own names.

No?

Didn't think so somehow.

PLEASE LADIES STOP POSTING ON THIS THREAD

PLEASE LADIES STOP POSTING ON THIS THREAD

PLEASE LADIES STOP POSTING ON THIS THREAD

PLEASE LADIES STOP POSTING ON THIS THREAD

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

I have a household income which is low enough to qualify us for tax credits and a big mortgage. I remortgaged to pay for my IW. Really - there are plenty of people on average incomes who'd think nothing of paying £3K for a car. We've got a shit old car which is worth about £50, but I when it comes to maternity care I thought my baby and I deserved better than what was on offer locally.

By the way, my friend also had an IM - she lives on a council estate and is a primary school teacher.

"Nobody is denying, that in optimal conditions, BF is good for mother and baby".

Actually bf is best for baby even in 'sub-optimal' conditions, which is why there is such a huge push to encourage higher breastfeeding rates among deprived families in this country.

"But not everyone is able/willing to do it".

Well, no. We all know this. What the OP and others have pointed out on this thread is that maybe if breastfeeding was seen as something that might save your life (reducing chance of developing breast cancer) or your baby's life (lower risk of SIDS) then more people might want to do it. Is there anything wrong with that? (not saying I'm enthusiastic about the clunking proposed ad in the OP but I do understand the point that's being made).

Tethersend - I find the suggestion that a mother's decision to choose not to breastfeed might be partly motivated by a desire to thumb her nose at over enthusiastic or clumsy efforts to promote bf quite bizarre.

TBH WWC sounds quite reasonable in her last post. And at least she's not making personal attacks.....

AF - my independent midwife cost £2,200 in total. That included all my antenatal visits, attending my birth and post natal up to 4 or 5 weeks. She was brilliant. I had quite a difficult birth,and we had real difficulties establishing feeding. But she was over-whelming patient and was prepared to spend as long as it took (several hours a day) for the first week making sure I got there.

It also made a big difference that we knew each otehr well from the weekly ante-natal visits of an hour or so over tea in my home - whilst all the post-natal visits were in my home too.

This is gold standard support which I think every woman should have on the NHS. I am big supporter of the one woman, one midwife campaign - if we had care like this, I firmly believe it would pay for itself many times over.

Suggesting an IM is a practical suggestion I think. I know I earn a lot, but women who choose IMs come from all walks of life and income brackets. I know it is a lot of money to some people - but boy is it worth saving up for!

washwithcare prior to being diagnosed with PCOS I would have agreed that there needs to be a harder push to get women to breastfeed.

However, because I have PCOS I don't produce an adequate enough supply. I felt so guilty and ashamed, that I continued to try and breastfeed my DS which resulted in him losing so much weight after birth that the health visitors were threatening to admit him to hospital.

Everyday they would come around, weigh him, look at me in discust and threaten to admit him to hospital.

After a month of breastfeeding alone, I combination fed with formula. I can remember crying whilst feeding him that bottle and subsequent ones.

At 8 months, DS was eating 3 meals a day and so didn't need as much milk. The only milk he had was formula during the night.

DS was very much wanted and the result of 2 1/2 years trying. But I suffered 6 months of PND, I didn't feel this rush of love and things were very hard. If low milk supply and guilt wasn't what caused it, then it didn't help either.

Unfortunately, some women, even if they want to, cannot breastfeed.

By Ineedsomesleep Tue 12-Jan-10 21:39:15
So WWC what do you propose that the poor people do? You said yourself that you used an IMW. How do you expect them to get the £3K for that?

I come from a city which has one of the highest rates of heart disease, lowest life expectancy and lowest rates of bfing in Europe, never mind Britain and I think that you seem to know absolutely nothing about what its like.

How exactly do you think an add campaign like this will work. What people need is free support and education

I thought I was rather clear above that it wouldnt' work in these circumstances, it will only work on people who might almost have breastfed... - the almost rans if you like....

I agree that all women should receive this service. The birth experience does have a hugh outcome on whether or not a baby is being bf.

The one woman one midwife campaign is a good campaign to support. Have you seen the latest NCT campaign to give women the choice of where they would like to give birth?

However, we aren't particularly poor. I no longer lie awake at night from hunger or wondering how I am going to manage the bills, but saving up is just not possible. We save for a small holiday, and if we are lucky we get a week a year and we save for Christmas. Saving £2.5K would be a dream.

"Unfortunately, some women, even if they want to, cannot breastfeed"

I'm sure the OP knows this. She hasn't said anything to indicate that she thinks EVERYONE can breastfeed.

Vllahalla - I said there was a postive correlation between poverty and low breastfeeding rates... actually I didn't say it - I just repeated a statisical fact.

It doesnt' mean poor women never bf or high earning women always do...

How do you know that people from my city aren't also rans?

Surestart have been doing a great job setting up Baby Cafes in some of the really hardcore areas and they've even got some of the poor people to bf

The point I was trying to make is that you seem have opinions on poverty but don't really seem to know an awful lot about it.

Ineedsomesleep - I borrowed the money to pay for my IM. I'll be paying it off in years to come. Wouldn't that have been an option for you? Most people are happy (and are able) to borrow a couple of grand to buy a car or a new kitchen.

But then I don't think most people would prioritise an optimal birth experience and the best start to being a mum (or a smooth experience of bf) above a new car or a kitchen......

standanddeliver - had to read your post several times... and then I suddenly realised that you were agreeing with me!

Just to add, most IM practice as they do because they have a passionate belief in women-centred materntity services...

My IM took landscaping her backyard as payment from a cusotmer who didn't have any cash...

It's not about private maternity services - not that many women want a drug free home birth after all!

I wouldn't borrow for a kitchen or car either, but perhaps that makes me a bit weird. Having experienced real poverty, I'm not that keen on borrowing money at all.

Hoever, I did have two fantastic birth experiences at our local birth centre and a great mw with dc1 who supported me all they way with bfing and was a real inspiration.

Sometimes the NHS does get it right

The point I was trying to make is that you seem have opinions on poverty but don't really seem to know an awful lot about it.

I spent most of my life living in it, so should know a thing or two, I think....

Sorry, that should have been however. Think Ineedsomesleep!