Read this shocking article about the damaging effects of formula and the immoral practices of the companies who peddle this junk.

[moondog]

From The Ecologist magazine.

Here.....

Grim reading.

The statistics are actually pretty clear on bf and formula, at least in the same way that stats on smoking risk is.

I agree that the title is inflammatory and likely to cause upset, though.

I have whole areas of MN that I do not dare to go into because I know they will make me very very upset (I am painfully envious of anyone who has had anything resembling a natural delivery, as I have not, and never will.) But I don't get annoyed at anyone posting anything about their lovely natural deliveries, accusing them of making me feel bad, because they don't. I make me feel bad.

irony being missed here on many posts....

big up moondog!

Well put franny.

Oh no. We're going along the route of the "no-one can make you feel guilty" thing aren't we?

What LaDiDa, tell me what? I do want to know.

god I'd never not extol the virtues of breastfeeding in case someone felt guilty

its your choice, live with it

No, Squarer, I don't really agree with that "no-one can make you feel guilty thing", but I want to know how posting factual information about bottle feeding is meant to be responsible for making people feel guilty.

Moondog I think it's time you made a reappearance on this thread.

It's begining to look like a hit and run and I don't think you'd be so flippant.

I think that if F&Z (whose posts I usually enjoy) read carefully some of the posts on here and on the other thread in this setion re bottle feeding then she may understand what she is missing.

Although I take your poinrt NQC I think that no one/ very few people would have a problem with a thread that talked about how lovely breastfeeding can be (because it can be great) and the benefits of it but a thread that tells me I'm giving my baby junk when I have no other choice but to do so really sticks in my throat.

I don't feel remotely guilty. I bfed ds1 until 13 months and ds2 until over 2. I bfed ds3 for a short time (can't remember how long, as long as I could, 8 weeks? 10 weeks? 4 months? Really have no recollection). I couldn't manage more than this. I wasn't unsupported, having successfully bfed 2 children I know and understand why it didn't work with ds3, and whatever- it;s life- my life is far from perfect at many levels.

However I agree with everythin Blu said way down in this thread. This thread title is smug and utterly ridiculous. I don't think its to be taken very seriously though. Moondog doesn't appear to have posted again so no doubt is enjoying the little fracas. Having a little laugh at other's expense. Whilst feeling oh so terribly good about herself. Nice. There are ways to be passionate about things without upsetting people.

For anyone left feeling guilty by this, don't. No-one else knows what your life is like, so its not up to anyone else to criticise it, even in a slightly underhand "oh but I wasn't syaing anything personal you're so oversensitive" type way.

I was thinking more along the lines of "light the blue touchpaper and retire", Spidey. "Hit and run" sounds so crude.

stats are all about likeliehood (sp?) not absolutes

And sample size, and who is sponsoring the reaearch, and etc

I agree with Franny. Why is there a special dispensation allowing mothers who formula feed - through choice or necessity - to be "protected" from having to hear uncomfortable facts/others' views about formula? We all have topics which we're sensitive about. It doesn't entitle us to supress discussion about them, does it?

In my opinion Franny, it is the difference between factual and inflammatory is the problem here. The key is in the title

I do strongly believe we have to take responsibility for our own feelings of guilt. Otherwise we render ourselves powerless to change and we willingly embrace victimhood. Is that a real word?

I don't honeslty see how that can be a controversial view. Perhaps I'm missing something which you must feel free to point out to me. I won't be offended. Honest!

Mercy, absolutely.

So what Evil Vested Interests are out there funding research that is unfairly biased against formula-feeding?

Exactly squarer. Though it does annoy me when others express things with more clarity than I can muster .

i agree totally greeny

nothing worng with thread title IMO

article syas formula is damaging

and in moondogs opinion it is junk

I agree, formula IS a load of junk

will be giving it after 6 months though and not worrying a jot about it

Ladidadi

i think people who had no choice get upset at the way people rip into botfeeders, like the thread title does, without thinking 'maybe i was lucky, i had a choice' and spare no thought for people feelings.

I also prefer 'lighting the blue touch paper' but tried and failed to call it to mind.

Now I'm deeply offended that you pointed out my verbal inadequacies F&Z. No everyone can be so articulate as you ye know.

LaDiDa I have read the posts and I find a lot of them confusing. I can understand people feeling regret, sadness, and even guilt over not being able or not choosing to breastfeed. But I don't understand why they blame their feelings on information or opinions posted on here.

I found the same thing on a birth thread recently. I chose to have an epidural when ds was born and ended up with a high-intervention birth which must have been extremely distressing for ds and left me with some unpleasant medical problems, at least in part, if not in total, as a result of that decision. Sometimes I regret that. Sometimes I feel sad. Sometimes I even feel guilty. But people posting on here about how epidurals lead to a higher rate of epidurals don't make me feel guilty and I welcome seeing the information out in the public arena where it can help someone to make an informed choice. Maybe it will help me make a different choice, next time.

I would say 95% of people DO have a choice

Except we're not allowed to start thread titles saying "in an ideal world everyone would have a special needs child" are we???? Because that's offensive, and upsets people. Even though it was clearly tongue in cheek. But upsetting people seriously over formula is OK?

Right. Yep. I get it.