To be a bit [hmm] at Figleaves?

[mrsgordonfreeman]

I confess I used to work for them, but I was a bit annoyed at this.

Why have they not linked to the NHS breastfeeding site, but linked to Cow and Gate? I have sent them a very detailed email pointing this out which I know they will appreciate.

No judginess involved. I guess it's like the Tesco newborn nappy packaging.

can't believe they've put "nappies and wipes" when wipes are strongly discouraged under 3 months

"cow and gate is a feeding company as well as a formula company, not everyone want to BF, and they are doing nothing illegal or discriminatory."

Well if mums decide to FF it's hardly going to help them flog nursing bras, is it

Not sure how FF can be the lazy choice..? All that steralising, boiling, making up, washing up, taking a giant cool bag wherever you go... never mind the cost!
Far harder than flopping your boob out!
fibilou is that true about wipes?

that's what i was told - to avoid for the first few months because the baby's skin can't cope with the chemicals. Ditto all baby bath products. advice is just to use plain water.

I don't use anything on DD - I use cotton wool/flannel + water and she has her bath in plain water. She is terry nappied so doesn't go near any chemicals other than those used in the washing.

Wow, I must have walked around with my eyes and ears closed throughout my pregnancy and the first couple of years! Im always hearing things that i shouldnt have done but had no idea about!

MrsGordanFreeman, I completely agree with you.
I'm PG with #4 I BF all my other 3 for at least 12 months. I fed DD for 18 months.
I bought a baby mag, and there was a picture of a woman breastfeeding her baby - DD (8) recoiled, and said she couldn't believe that someone was doing that, it was disgusting. When I asked her why she felt like that, she pointed out that her doll has a bottle, on telly, the adverts show babies with bottles (a 6 month old still looks like a little baby)
It is drummed into everyone through advertising (and I'm sure that the C&G link is a well thought out pay as you click advert, making money for figleaves, not just a free link from the goodness of their hearts) that FF is the norm. All those so called "breast-feeding nazi's"(disgusting term ) are fighting a losing battle because everyone defends formula.
Of course there is a place for formula, and no-one needs to feel guilty for choosing to feed their baby that way, but there is no getting away from the fact that, from an early age, FF is seen as the acceptible method of feeding babies. Well placed formula links are proof of this, whether they are on feeding bra websites or not.

Sorry - long hormonal rant, just ignore me

aww smallones that must've been annoying after you fed her for so long! what did she say when you told her you'd BFed her?

The marketing is insidious and of course it works or they wouldn't spend millions of dollars on it.

A link here and there, a picture of a rosy cheeked happy baby next to their logo, it all adds up.

She went slightly green!
At least she'll get the chance to see it happening at an age that she'll actually remember this time

my stepdaughters were 9 when DD was born (now 12) so they've seen me BF both babies. They asked loads of questions and were totally cool about it

but who knows what they'll feel about it by the time they have kids!

I have written a nice letter explaining about bf rates in the UK and how they can do their bit to improve it but linking to a bfsupport site.

There are more important things to worry about, but there always is and that will not help the 'breastfeeding is normal' campaign, will it?

Oh, splendid, posie.

The marketing is surprisingly subliminal. I don't know a great deal about formula but I know that Aptamil, for instance, isn't any different from the other brands (it's a tiny bit more expensive, no?). However, they have managed to convince many very otherwise bright women that their milk is in fact synthesised human breastmilk and not adapted cow's milk - without ever explicitly making that assertion.

I have actually met a woman who thought that she was not using formula because she was using Aptamil.

It's not their fault: it just means the marketing's worked.

I was asked the other day if DD was on Cow and Gate because she is so chubby - breastfed babies are all skinny apparently .

Aptamil are the ones with the words "Breastmilk Substitute" on the front of the tins aren't they?

The second MW I had here clearly didn't believe me when I said DS2 had had only breastmilk on Day 13, she said "are you sure you haven't given him formula? He is very big", like I might have gotten confused or something.

"I have actually met a woman who thought that she was not using formula because she was using Aptamil."

probably been mentioned, not going to read thread as there wil be the usual snide remarks [thankfully usually very few] 'FF is okay if you genuinely have trouble' then in a lot so loud whisper 'but breast is best and anyone who god forbid, just wants to FF for their own selish reasons is damaging their childs health'

oh and they linked to the NHS, so FF and BF are equally represented here dont see whats the problem, its not like linking to a site selling illegal slimming pills for that after birth body or somthing....

mrsg - DS is a chunky monkey too, completely defies the FF-equals-chubby rule!

lol @morloth maybe the Formula Fairy replaced your boobs with bottles while you slept?

Britfish, nobody has said that.

MMM, I was 14 and my sister was 11 when my half brother was born, we saw my stepmum breastfeed and I went on to breastfeed DS, and my sister thinks that she will probably breastfeed any future DCs as well, because it's the thing she has seen more often.

Funny, we were discussing BF/FF at toddler group this morning, one of the mums has got a tiny new baby, she breastfed her older DD but chose to bottlefeed this one because she couldn't cope with the extra night wakings. Most of the other mums agreed with her and said they'd choose FF in the future. I said I'd rather do the extra waking up in the night, and not have to wash bottles constantly - each to their own!

Brit, they did not link to the NHS breastfeeding site, just the NHS. You might be surprised how pleasant the discussion has been.

bertie, i probably should have read the thread
have had that impression on other threads though, i mix fed mine and they've turned out okay [bit odd, but then we all are in this house..]

Oh but of course I forgot to mention during this discussion DS (20 months) heard the word "breast" and immediately started pawing at my chest which made me feel a bit self conscious and wasn't perhaps a great advert for breastfeeding!

the NHS site is good though, at least i've always found it to be! [wish it was around when my two were babbas!]

oh and Bertie, my DS would whine everytime he heard any word describing a meal for a while. me muttering to myself in the supermarket about what we were having for dinner would end up with a crying child!

Just heard back from figleaves. The link wasn't paid for and they are 'reviewing the page content.'

A modest result.