Now here's an article that's going to settle the breast v. bottle debate once and for all...

[emkana]

\link{http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article360047.ece\or maybe not}

I particularly like the paragraph about the German nutritionist . Now that bit has totally convinced me that the benefits of b/feeding are being exaggerated. [snort]

Honestly, what a piece of cr*p.

The Independent excels itself. Stupid article on how women are made for housework really yesterday, misinformation-spreading stupid article about breastfeeding today.

How many sweeping generalisations can she get into one article?

Let me guess, all of you must breast feed?

hey what's wrong with German?

and... my kids are 4.5y and 19m and I'm still tired, cold, hungry and miserable without breast feeding

I don't flutterbee. My youngest is 4.

MrsBigD

I think it is a shame that rather dodgy "scientific" evidence was quoted. However, the article does highlight a number of valid points. That not all women take to bf like ducks to water, that it can be painful & tiring, that there is so much conflicting advice about how best to do it and the awful feeling of guilt if you make a decision not to bf.
The experience of the woman in question is legitimate & many of us out there have had worse experiences. I don't think the entire article is stupid, I just think the references were poorly choosen.

I think that breast feeding is best as long as it is what the mother really wants to do. If the mother feels pressured into breast feeding or gulit tripped into it like many do it could create many negative feelings between mother and child and that I feel matters more than the type of feeding you choose.

I mixed-fed (expressed and formula) and "even" I think this article is pretty pants really. Although, if you read it carefully the author does promote the need for better information for expectant mothers on breastfeeding - how to do it and what to expect.

Parpity-parp!
There was a really similar article in a German newspaper the other week - in the science section. Bf backlash goes international?! (Maybe the nutritionist was in it too )
"Perhaps breastfeeding has been the worst-best solution for women for centuries, but now it's time to move on."
PARP (my first ever on MN :) )

Bugsy, ISWIM - I had a hell of a time at first too - but surely the point that should be being made is that the support isn't there?

Ahh well at least she felt 'liberated'. Not a word one expects to associate with being a new Mother.

FIT - that German article, was it in Die Zeit?

\link{http://www.zeit.de/2006/14/M-Stillen\for German speakers}

yup em.
how are you today?

excellent, I'm a puritan

Not too bad atm, thanks for asking!
How are you?

Hausfrau!

I think her feelings on breast feeding at first were in my case totally accurate and how SOME of my friends felt too - though not all (I bfeed for approx 4 months). Think 2 weeks is too short a period of time for her to make statements though, first 2 weeks is tough.

However, I do think there is too much pressure on women to breastfeed and they are made to feel like bad mothers by midwives/health visitors etc if they don't- even resorting to lying to avoid their scorn!!! all true!!! I'm also pretty sure that some women probably wouldn't have enough milk, just as some women have loads of the stuff! Or they could have a really hungry baby who could always be behind spurts in milk production so hungrier and not satisfied.

maybe she should have contacted the la leche league who would have told her how do it properly instead of just using them for quotes.

I'm alright em - back in semester now :(

PMSL HF!!!!!

Hausfrau love the Alpenhoerner!

Alexmum... maybe she didn't think about contacting LLG as one would think midwifs/HV's know what they're talking about? ... I know I got different advise from eveyr single one I saw