Why is MN carrying breastpump ads now?

[Brollyflower]

Anyone else think this is a bit odd? Especially as it's promoting the brand name of a well known nipple cream too...

Meglet -women of course should know about pumps. That info does not need to come from a pump manufacturer with a product to sell to them.

i have never needed the cream btw.

i did need patching up and bandaging though when dd4 actually ripped the skin off the upper part of my boob with her tiny little fingermails. was bloomin sore. she did it in the night when feeding and co-sleeping. no-one tells you THAT part [ouch]

Look, I am not saying MN should have no info about breastpumps. I am questioning the appropriateness of allowing ADVERTISING of this product on their feeding forum, frequented by many breastfeeding mothers, often struggling. Introducing a pump (and often then a bottle) into many situations where bf isn't going well can actually be counterproductive.

As I've already said, in other cases a pump is appropriate and necessary.

Yet in a fair few of those cases Brolly- what's to say that expressing some milk by pump and getting someone else to feed the baby isn't going to do wonders for a tired, irritable mother whose nipples feel like they've been napalmed?

My sisters description by the way.

So is your stance that no breastfeeding related products should be advertised?

I found lansinoh good for sore nips even though I didn't have a problem with positioning/attachment.

I do know what you mean. It;s about the commercialisation of breastfeeding. Women say "I'm breastfeeding, what equipment will I need" (I did exactly the same with DC1). Because god forbid a mother should be able to feed her baby naturally - anything created by scientists and costing money must be better, right?

Yes Santa. That is up to the mother. Why does she need a product ADVERTISED to her by someone who wishes to make money out of her in order for her to access info about a breastpump ?

I wonder sometimes what people think the purpose of advertising is?

Moon: what is the benefit to a breastfeeding mother of receiving advertising materials for breastfeeding products?

Thank you Stealth! Glad you and Booy get what I mean .

Advertising isn't designed to benefit the consumer, it's designed to sell things.

My children would never have had any breastmilk if it were not for breastpumps, as the first one had latching problems, and the second one was in ICu for a bit. If it were not for a pump they would have been on formula from day 1 ,instead of week 6 plus 2 and week 18 plus 4.

But never mind.... crucify me if you will, OP.

(thinks to self, this is possibly the post that has led me to finally flounce for good).

Well quite Moon . I see you get my point too then ?

and BTW I have no problems with breastpumps (used them myself) and no problem with formula. I do have a problem with the "Breastfeeding. It will be hard. you will fail unless you buy...." myth

Eh? Not following this at all. Surely pumps could be viewed as a Good Thing which allow mothers who are going back to work to continue giving their babies breastmilk rather than formula?

Don't see any problem with advertising them, any more than advertising particular brands of clothes/toys. Lots of mothers need them.

There are mountains of unnecessary baby products, or products that only some people will need. Advertising sells these products, Mumsnet accepts adverts.

Why is breastfeeding a special case?

Actually Clear, I could not have breastfed my DC1 without an industrial-strength double pump. Having one also later on enabled me to donate milk to a milk bank. I am NOT opposed to breastpumps. I am questioning the advertising of this product and brand on the MN breast and bottlefeeding forum.

I have not nailed anyone to a cross as far as I am aware .

I am very sorry to hear that you went through such an ordeal and you obviously went to a great deal of effort to ensure they got breastmilk from you.

OMGoodness RRP if £140

Exactly MoonUnitAlpha.

It's like saying that MN shouldn't advertise cots because some people don't use them and implying that by advertising cots MN are belittling co-sleeping.

Because I would hope MN as a whole would avoid advertising products that can interfere with breastfeeding, or promote the myth that breastfeeding is hard. "You'll never be able to get by with just your breasts!"
TBH I don't have too much of a problem with it, I don't think it's worth raising with MNHQ, but I do see what the OP is trying to say.

I'm one of the people who have breastpumps to thank for allowing me to continue BF after going back to work.

To answer your question, Brollyflower, (what is the benefit to a breastfeeding mother of receiving advertising materials for BF products?), it's helped me.

When I went back to work when DD was six months I bought a cheap electric pump - it was OK and I managed to express for a further year. But now my job is busier, I needed something more efficient when I returned after having DS. I saw an ad for a particular (pricier) pump - did some research, which backed up its claims, and bought it. Result - quicker and more comfortable expressing.

So that's helped me. I didn't want to commercialise how I feed my child, but I had to because I had to go back to work.

Honestly though....where DO you get information from? You do get some from advertising, it is just a fact. i really needed to combine feed from the beginning (In retrospect), but i got NO info from the hospital. I had to fight and beg in the case of DC1 for some formula, even though the lathcing issue was KNOWN and diagnosed as something separate. i got nothing about feeding, about how to prepare formula, and nothing about pumping until I had been home for some days and rang the mw in hysterics.

second time round I googled for info, and NEEDED information. I know what you are saying.... some famous fast food companies claim that their food is nutritious. They have a vested interest. But to keep info silent, or to have an advertising ban on something that might be useful is not the answer. Although- I do not know what the answer is.

Unless your argument is that Mumsnet shouldn't carry any advertising, I fail to see why a breastpump advert is wrong whereas an ad for a pram or washing powder is fine.

and of course you don't need a pump to express - something else which isnt widely known

Maybe I don't get it because I don't find the existence of breastpumps implies that breastfeeding is hard.

Have you actually followed the link Brolly?

These companies invest time and money to make their product stand up to the claims made. If they can advertise to sell their product then there is more money available for research and development of products which may benefit other people. Which I have no probelm with.

Breastfeeding is a special case because not breastfeeding places the mother and baby at increased risk of certain health problems.

Yes, I know and I will say it again (for what the 4th or 5th time on this thread): some people require a breastpump in order for their baby to receive breastmilk and they can be a vital bit of kit in these cases. This does not necessitate them being advertised. They are not essential for breastfeeding. Information about breastpumps in general is very different than advertising a product.