Being ‘paid to breastfeed’ - your thoughts?

[SarahMumsnet]

The BBC's reporting this morning that new mothers living in some areas of Derbyshire and south Yorkshire are to be given vouchers for shops including Matalan, Mothercare and John Lewis if they breastfeed their babies. These will be given out as part of a study by the University of Sheffield, aimed at discovering whether “financial incentives” will increase the uptake of breastfeeding in parts of the country where rates are low; mothers will receive vouchers worth up to £120 if they breastfeed until six weeks, and another £80-worth if they continue to the six-month mark.

The scheme, according the senior researcher on the project, is intended "as a way of acknowledging both the value of breastfeeding to babies, mothers and society, and the effort involved in breastfeeding. Offering financial incentives ... might increase the numbers of babies being breastfed, and complement on-going support for breastfeeding provided by the NHS, local authorities and charities."

We've been asked by the beeb what Mumsnetters make of the idea; what's your reaction?

I think it isn't the best idea because giving people shopping vouchers for breastfeeding, instead of giving them formula vouchers is not really the same thing... I understand why some people find it insulting.

On the other hand, if it worked and people gave breastfeeding more of a chance, or perhaps even tried it when they might not have done otherwise, it would be a great step forward. I think breastfeeding is 'one' of the best things that a mother can do for her baby.

If it 'can't' be done, then that is one thing, and I would never want a mother to be looked down upon because she truly can't, but I think most of the time it could be done with the right attitude and enough knowledge, determination, perseverance, encouragement and support.

Assuming that this scheme will only be targeted at one specific socio-economic group, then saying £200 or milk tokens does actually deal with the lying factor.

I suppose the £200 carrot might encourage some people to try breast feeding. Trying to overcome the "eurrgh" and the "I want to leave the baby with my mum/gran" factors are very hard and perhaps when it comes down to it hard cash is the only thing which may do the trick.

I would prefer that the money was spent on providing more support to women who already want to breastfeed but are struggling.

Women don't need money in the early days with a baby they need support - good support - about whatever feeding choices they make. I am on the pro side of breastfeeding (still going with a 2.5 year old) but I know how hard it is in the early days to establish feeding days - I had a nightmare in my first 8 weeks. And in the work I do with a family support charity I know that too often women are judged either way for how they choose to feed their child and not everyone can feed. Instead of giving £200 to 200 different women why not use the cash to fund a health visitor or a peer support adviser - far more cost effective long term to the whole community. This study is just a diversion from what any women who has had a baby in recent times know - early days support is woeful. We need support if we want to breastfeed, we need support if we are unable to feed and we need support if we choose not to breastfeed. As I say while I lean to the pro bf side, I am far more pro women's rights to decide what they do with their own bodies.
And what's best for a child - its not breast milk, its a happy, confident, well supported mother.

It's so full of flaws it's ridiculous. I don't understand how they can ensure that the baby is being breastfed. Just by the mother saying so?

I don't often agree with Katy Hopkins but she made the point that this money isn't addressing any of the issues as to why the breastfeeding rates in the UK are so low.

Why doesn't the money go towards education and supporting breastfeeding. I'm sure that a major issue is that mothers think that breastfeeding is going to be easy therefore when they experience problems with it they think it means there is a problem with them and they give up.

Breastfeeding can be bloody hard work. A decent support and education network to help mothers get through the tough days of breastfeeding would be a much better way to spend the money than vouchers.

Just saw Kate MN on the ITV news.

Great to see her but I thought the report as a whole was very brief and superficial, with no-one really getting to say anything of much significance.

• Would have liked to see the Prof (of infant nutrition?) getting more in on health benefits of BFing for example - to counter the messages given out by the FF manufacturers (in spite of the baby feeding code of practice)

Thinking that a "men's issue" would never be quite so superficially covered ?

Just seen the discussion with Kay on Loose Women too which was better - at least they gave an expectant Mum some decent time during a phone-in session to tell us what she thought of it all - basically she hasn't yet decided how she will feed her baby but wants to try BFing, and doesn't think the vouchers would make any difference to her - she will do what suits her and her baby.
Of course, well said that woman !

"But the information is presented in such a way as to make mothers who can't or don't want to feel that they are somehow inferior mothers who are making bad choices."

If you can find me ONE example of an NHS leaflet which clearly sets out to 'make ff mothers feel inferior' I'll give you a fiver.

IMO there is no intention to criticise or judge in the materials.

If women who have chosen to ff feel guilty and inferior it's probably not because of anything in a leaflet. It's probably because their conscience is prickling them about their choice not to breastfeed, or to stop breastfeeding in the face of difficulties.

The easiest thing to do in this circumstance is obviously to offload your guilt onto the nearest easy target: the slightly clumsy midwife, the friendly but rather dim-witted breastfeeding supporter, the well-intentioned overtired mother on the bus next to you who makes a rather ill-considered comment about breastfeeding. All of these women become 'breastfeeding nazi's' who 'made you feel guilty' or 'tried to force you to breastfeed'.

The first thing my husband said was, "£200, that's nowhere near enough".

I breastfed both of mine, but with tremendous difficulty. Had lactation consultants, tongue tie divisions, La Leche groups, helpline support, endless weighing, "failure to thrive", mastitis, thrush, expressing round the clock to refeed, biological nurturing blah blah. You name it, I tried it.

Ds1 - 75th centile at birth, 2nd centile by 24 weeks, 75th centile at one year (having started solids and switched milk).
Ds2 - 91st centile at birth, .04 and dehydrated by 21 weeks, 91st centile at one year.

I basically starved two babies. You can see it in the photos of them. They look PITIFUL. I was determined though . £200? Dh thinks it's about a grand too little...

Yeh, £200 is a rather paltry and patronising incentive anyway isn't it?

So, about 2 days pay, or not more than a week's pay anyway, for 6 mths work 24/7 !

It's absolutely ridiculous to think that women will only breast feed their babies if they get paid!! My daughter is 23 years old and I was so desperate to breast feed her but I was unable to, there are mothers out there who will not be able to!!

The money offered should go to mothers on low income who are unable to breast feed to make sure they're getting the right nutrition for their babies in any form.

It seems to me a real shame that breastfeeding is such a controversial thing... and also seems that sensitive support from birth would better enable women who want to feed.... I instinctively think that breastfeeding is 'natural'... women have breasts after all... yet somehow for it to seem normal and for those who really struggle and aren't able to feed to feel OK seems an almost impossible thing.

I am not sure that tokens are the answer... but having listened to an academic involved in this pilot study.... I wonder if, given appropriate support, it may help women breastfeed / be part of a catalyst for change?? (or maybe if the appropriate support is given in the first place the money becomes irrelevant??)

It takes time and effort to breastfeed. Many mums can't be bothered to do this. I don't think cash will improve this selfishness.

Minifingers - it's not possible for me to comment properly on your post without breaking talk guidelines. Your bigoted response shows a complete lack of empathy. You should be ashamed.

Well my initial response to the idea was rage - how patronising. That said, although money had nothing to do with my decision to breastfeed or not, it did impact and will impact on how long I do it for - I need to go back to work to pay the mortgage. But a £200 John Lewis voucher wouldn't be any help with this - as others have said perhaps supermarket vouchers would be more help, but it's cash in the bank I need. All the things I could get from John Lewis/Mothercare have already been purchased or gifted second hand. While on maternity leave, breastfeeding is cheaper, so I doubt anyones decision to start or not has anything to do with finance. I actually live in Derbyshire and felt very well supported, and have managed to continue and come back from a >10% birth weight loss to continue feeding - but it was touch and go as to whether we were doing the right thing. It wasn't the hardship to myself that concerned me, but the perceived risk and harm to my child of continuing - I wouldn't judge anyone for pulling out in this situation and formula feeding. Financial incentives to continue could I feel be dangerous if they worked. It's the support to work out whats wrong and pull the situation back that is needed and the money would be better spent here.

Frankly given what you need to spend on extra fruit and veg and dairy for yourself, breast pads, spare t-shirts, nipple creams and so on, not to mention ruddy savoy cabbages for inside your bra, £200 seems a bit low. I think £25 a week would be more realistic. If we are thinking in strictly accounting terms.

I have a 5 week old baby who I currently exclusively breast feed. This was a personal choice that I made; however, I was also in hospital for the first week after having my daughter and I had real difficulty in breast feeding. I can categorically state, if it wasn't for the support of the midwives and breast feeding support team, I would not have been able to get my baby to latch and therefore, the incentive of £200 would have been null and void in my case. The support is needed in getting mothers, who want to breast feed, established without penalising those who don't or who can't. There is a societal divide amongst mother and baby groups into those that do breast feed and those that don't, (in my limited but current experience) this proposed voucher incentive will only serve to continue creating that divide and nothing positive will be gained from it.

Apologies for Lal of paragraphs, typing on phone.

Stupid patronising scheme

Did countries with high bf rates (Norway, Sweden and NZ - the latter is where I'm from) get there by offering financial "incentive"? Errr no, they got there by providing comprehensive support to new mums in the immediate postnatal period.

Hire more midwives and give them better breast feeding training and more professional support? No no, that's too obvious. Daft reward scheme, that's obviously the way to go!

I feel the other way round - that it was one of my most pleasurable life experiences and one of the most important and I would pay a huge amount to be allowed to do it and wish others were lucky enough to have the same experience.

The suggestion breastfeeding costs a single penny of money is ridiculous. You don't pay a single thing. Even if you don't enough fruit the baby will get what it wants as that is how breastfeeding works. I never bought a nipple cream in my life. You just feed. You don't need any kit. That's another advantage it is entirely free of charge. you don't need to buy a bottle or anything like that. it's dirt cheap and wonderful.

Elizabeth you may not need to buy any kit, or you may need to spend £200+ in the first week alone on private lactation consultants because you got zero bf help on the postnatal ward. Like me.

More money for midwives, less daft schemes.

Just another point - there is much talk of babies should be breastfeed for 6 months. I would prefer if there was no fixed date and a more relaxed 'feed as long as you like' or '2 to 3 weeks is fine but I you want to change do' - because at first looking after a newborn, trying to establish bfeeding, getting enough sleep are all demanding enough, thinking OMG I have to do this for 6 months might put potential bfeeders off.
If ladies not sure about wanting to bfeed can do it for a few weeks, enough to get it established, they might choose to continue. Likewise the money might be an incentive to keep it up.
There is not always encouragement from family or partners, sometimes the opposite, so the money incentive might work in these cases too.

I think that the page 3 of the Sun being a totally acceptable item in every day life is the problem, attitudes need to change so that breastfeeding is a comfortable experience in public. But you are changing the direction of the titanic with that type of thing. Meanwhile paying people to incentivize them is better than nothing.

I think the 'not needing any kit' is true for some, but as has been discussed here, lots of women need to, or choose to, express. If you're on a really low income you might also struggle to fund maternity bras (or at least larger bras to support your newly engorged bazookas). Breast pads are pretty much a must for most people (whether you are a reuse and wash or disposable kinda woman). If you come from an area where bf isn't the norm, you might like to have an apron type thing for bf in public (I never used one but have plenty of friends who liked them).

And like Zara says, that's before thinking about any sort of healthcare fees that people end up paying because they desperately want to feed and cant' get the support or procedures they need on the NHS.

mini I disagree with you about that leaflet. The statements it makes about breastfeeding are all positive (as far as I can recall). But the positive statements are not balanced by negative ones, and there are negative sides to bfeeding, well documented on this thread, which surely need to be mentioned too. The positives of ff need mentioning too, alongside the negatives. The NHs is a public body and has a duty, imo, to educate using all the available facts. Then women can make informed decisions.

I agree dozey that there is slightly too much emphasis on BFing for 6 mths, especially "exclusively" I'm sure this is because that's the WHO recommended guidance, which is great, except then it's used on somewhere like Loose Women today saying only 1% of women exclusively BF to 6 mths, well I BF my two for a so called extended period (of over 2 yrs) but because I tried DS with a few solids from around 5 mths I wouldn't make that exclusive 1% - so I just think that's a slightly silly and misleading stat to use - how many are exclusively BFing or BFing and mixed feeding at 3 mths might be more interesting ?
Sorry, did you want a full stop in there ? . There you go!

Elizabeth, that's just not true, at the very least most people do end up needing bigger bras, the odd tube of cream or a breast shell pack, some extra t-shirts, and some breast pads. You may be of the lentil-knitting-nettle-weaving persuasion, where any investment in kit is seen as recklessly giving in to some kind of manipulated consumer weakness, but for most of us, the odd trip to Boots or Mothercare for operational kit comes with the territory. If people recognised that we'd be half way to getting people actually bloody feeding their babies themselves, instead of pretending it's all natural and simple and serene.