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.

"Carmen, there is some great free bfing support available through La Leche League, NCT, ABM and Baby Cafes"

And the NHS if you know who to pester! Most maternity units will have at least one specialist midwife who will also be a trained bf counsellor or lactation consultant.

PDAs??? Not understanding, sorry.

I'm not sure it touched me in a good way WWC. I clicked out of curiousity - and it is provocative if not quite troll-worthy - but also to test myself to see if I'm over it. Nearly, but not quite.

Yes I'm pregnant. Sadly no doulas up here (probably couldn't afford one anyway) and IMs are a no no as well. I am much better informed than last time (can recognise a tongue tie for example, which apparently many professionals can't ), but honestly there comes a point when the struggle is not worth it. I think many women care alot more than you give them credit for, but perhaps they just find much needed perspective earlier than I did.

I talked at length to our local NCT breastfeeding counsellors, and also spoke briefly to a holistic therapist, to ask if there were any ways to improve the quality of my milk, but they didn't have anything radical to suggest, as I was feeding on demand and for long periods.

I also asked my doctor if there were any medications I could take to improve my milk supply and was told there wasn't anything available to me.

Good support for mothers wishing to breastfeed is vital - and I want to say here and now that although they didn't have a magic solution for me, I had the utmost of respect for the care and support and information given by the NCT breastfeeding counsellors I met. I haven't spoken to anyone from the LaLecheLeague, but have heard them praised very highly too.

I do also agree that it is important to spread the message about breastfeeding, but it is a very sensitive subject, so has to be handled very carefully indeed - something which I think that WashWithCare has yet to grasp.

Personal Display of Affection GS

Congrads on your pg - I think if it touched you, that's good enough for me. My utmost desire is to engage other woman in thoughtful discussion . I believe you can almost certianly bf, and I think it is a good thing to do. But it is obviously up to you.

Up here?? Where are you?

Staying - I do understand you tried very hard. Just a real stab in the dark here - but do you suceed at most things you attempt? I just ask because I find failure difficult, largely because most of the time I do what I set out to do?

I can't believe that mumsnet is allowing this thread to continue

"I find failure difficult, largely because most of the time I do what I set out to do?"

Well that's just luck really, isn't it? Most people who are lucky about certain things realise that it is only that. However, for the more socially retarded it's harder to grasp.

Clue's in the name WWC. I know I can bf physically, but whether I can put up with the prolonged agony of every single feed is another matter. The jury's out on that one, and it may be different this time. I've had just about enought thoughtful discussion on this topic in the past to last a lifetime. I'm very matter of fact about it this time around - except when people imply I was lazy or uncommitted.

If I can be just-a-little patronising in return?? Glad to see your posts are getting a little more sensitive and I hope it continues. I did give you the benefit of the doubt on other threads - even if you did wind me up with this one - and I'd hate to be shown up as a naive fool.

SDTG - but did anyone OBSERVE you feed? Quality of breastmilk is rarely an issue when a baby is failing to gain weight, but latch and positioning often are, as are hormonal problems in the mother.

BTW - Motilium is sometimes prescribed to boost supply. Did your doctor rule this out as unsuitable for you?

DH and I are debating... Western Isles? DH says they just say bahh where ever you are... nice chinese in stornoway though...

I thougth I was always v sensitive....

SDTG - but did anyone OBSERVE you feed? Quality of breastmilk is rarely an issue when a baby is failing to gain weight, but latch and positioning often are, as are hormonal problems in the mother.

BTW - Motilium is sometimes prescribed to boost supply. Did your doctor rule this out as unsuitable for you?

lucyellensmum - why on earth would mn scratch this thread? (apart because of the multiple personal attacks here on WWC)

Nah, mainland. I hardly speak any Gaelic - I'm an incomer.

I thougth I was always v sensitive....

I not really sure that your proposed ad campaign is all that sensitive.

I'm assuming WWC was being ironic...

lol - well i hope you are at least in the Highlands with a name like that.. as we can claim mainland Sc too... so cld possibly pop round to check ya latch lol

Apparntely MSN have received numerious compalints bout thsi thread, so maybe would pull it... had an email to that effect this afternoon... that would be a real shame, as I think it now contains lots of useful advice.

Sorry ineedsomesleep - it was indeed meant to be provocative... just wanted to stir up some debate, not cause WW3 - silly me...

Sadly the thread is tarred by association, and it has offended a lot of people WWC. It's probably better for all concerned if it is pulled. People will forget and if you are not just winding us all up (?) then you can be a little less high profile for a while until it blows over. Having said that, I don't think you're minding the attention all that much are you??

To be honest, I don't think AIBU is the place that most people would be searching for b/f advice. There is shedloads of brilliant advice on the b/f threads and many many amazingly helpful posters. Worth a look through the archives if you're genuinely interested.

Standanddeliver - the doctor didn't mention motilium, and I didn't know to ask about it - this was in the Stone Age, before home pcs were the norm, and way before google had been dreamed up, otherwise I might have been more clued up about that, and about asking someone to observe me feeding.

You mentioning hormonal problems is interesting - my mother has an underactive thyroid, and I once attended a lecture from a well known doctor who theorises that PND is due to hormonal imbalance - specifically testosterone (if I recall correctly), so maybe my inability to breastfeed was tied up with my PND.

WashWithCare - I don't have a very high opinion of my abilities, and consider that I fail at a lot of things - having depression makes me far more likely to look on the gloomy side of things. I find it far easier to list the things I can't do/have failed at than to list the things I can do, or to accept any praise.

Good Lord! As a 'failed' breastfeeder (who is actually rather glad of formula, as it saved my son's life) I am appalled by your thread.

Do you realise, WWC, that many women in developing countries who don't have breastmilk lose their babies every day? Or that other babies die because their mothers die in childbirth and there's no substitute? We all know that breast is best, but there is always going to be an ideal situation and then reality. If you can't breastfeed, we should all be thankful that there is something else out there, for many there is not.

I suggest you take a step back from your smuggery and think about your comments and the impact they will have on people who may be feeling very vulnerable, especially your comment that you succeed because you try harder. You are not really in a position to comment on how hard everyone else has tried are you? Or do you have a camera in each post-natal ward and home?

As for your OP re. cancer WWC, that is beyond distasteful. But then you knew that, didn't you?

If you'd spent just a little time looking around at the site WWC you would see that there are many many threads about breastfeeding. Indeed there is a whole section on it, and it's not hard to find. There you will find both big enough fights to get off on, and far more useful and supportive information than the small amount here.

You are clearly a highly insensitive idiot, please don't pay yourself on the back for anything other than upsetting people who need support, not sanctimonious lecturing about how if only they just tried a little harder.

As for such gems as buying an independent midwife costing the same as a birthday party (WTF). Your advert idea is frankly completely stupid, and would be utterly counterproductive, but then you (unless you really are utterly stupid) knew that didn't you.

Oh, and I breastfed both my children, and it didn't hurt. I know perfectly well that's because I was lucky enough that they latched on properly from the get go. Nothing to do with determination, or money for that matter, and I don't go about boasting to anyone about it, because that would be a bloody horrible thing to do.

WWC - you couldn't resist a sarcastic reply, could you?? I didn't say I COULDN'T explain my reasons why, I said I WOULDN'T be explaining why - none of your business. Read it carefully next time,.

WWC, is your DC a boy? If so, can we use him for a hard hitting campaign?

(Scene 1) You feeding your DS, aged 3, 12, 17, whatever.
Caption: My mum gave me the best start in life.

(Scene 2) You and your DS, older, sitting in matching flowery chairs watching daytime tv.
Caption: Unfortunately even though I was breastfed I still live at home at 47, unable to form functional relationships with women as my mother is a nutter.

Could be useful in highlighting the effect of bonkers parents on children, even the ones who are breastfed. Or does breastfeeding protect against this

Oh good, another person who gets their information on breastfeeding from Little Britain. Just what this debate needed...