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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

What to say to people who say "this formula is CLOSEST to breastmilk" -

405 replies

Lucy1977 · 05/11/2006 21:56

Hi

I don't want to cause offence to anyone, but in my mind an infant formula cannot be "closest" to breastmilk but I cant get my words together to explain this to people who say "I use "x" formula because it's supposed to be closest to breastmilk".

Anyone help?

Thanks
Lucy

OP posts:
Moomin · 05/11/2006 21:58

why are you wanting to say anything to anyone who uses formula? are you a health professional? not being rude, just asking, i'm curious about why you'd need a retort to this answer.

lockets · 05/11/2006 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

WelshBoris · 05/11/2006 22:03

You choose to feed your child as you see fit, and leave others to do the same

misdee · 05/11/2006 22:03

i just nod along with a vacent look in my eyes.

hairymclary · 05/11/2006 22:03

I wouldn';t say anything. breastfeeding doesn';t always work out. if it doesn't then a mother has no choice but to use formula.

formula IS the closest alternative to breastmilk.

so there is nothing to say

Original poster
Lucy1977 · 05/11/2006 22:05

Hi

Sorry, I wasn't very clear in first post. I certainly don't want to say this to any formula feeders, I (poorly) tried to put context to my question. I have no issues with formula feeders at all - it was more getting it right in my mind.

Recently I saw a reply on a thread from someone giving a really good account of why an infant formula can't be "closest to breastmilk" and that's what I was looking for.

Thanks
Lucy

OP posts:
beckybrastraps · 05/11/2006 22:06

Presumably you aren't expecting them to jettison the formula and go back to breast? The decision has been made. All you can do is make them feel bad about it....

So why say anything? I'd go with misdee's suggestion.

lulumama · 05/11/2006 22:06

someone may not want/be able to breast feed for a million reasons..if it is a comfort to say they are giving their baby the closest they can...leave well alone........! just nod & smile...and i say this as someone who was unable to BF and would have been narked if my choice of formula had been criticised..even with the best of intentions.....

beckybrastraps · 05/11/2006 22:06

x-posted.

Apologies.

lulumama · 05/11/2006 22:06

x post lucy....

Original poster
Lucy1977 · 05/11/2006 22:08

Oh no, I can see myself getting bad rep here.

I'm really knackered today after only tiny spells of sleep last night (DD is teething).

I wouldn't say this to formula feeders, I am just trying to get this straight in my mind.

Please don't take offence to my question and apologies if noone can help answer my question.
I totally agree - not everyone wants/can breastfeed and that is none of my business.

Sorry if I'm confusing anyone, please - I don't mean to upset anyone.

Lucy

OP posts:
lulumama · 05/11/2006 22:10

no offence taken here....can you do a search for that thread and find the original answer?

somethingunderthebedisdrooling · 05/11/2006 22:11

no brand of formula is closest to breastmilk. they are all closer to other formula.

it is like saying the Earth is closer to the sun than Mars is. With the Sun being breastmilk. Really, they are closer to each other than to the Sun.

but like others said, i would only give this analogy if someone asked me pointedly for my opinion. and i would possibly only say the topline depending on how well i knew the person and her state of mind.

Moomin · 05/11/2006 22:12

no probs lucy, it's just that you said in your 1st post you wanted to explain to people about it. and i think that's what's confusing, the fact that you'd in any way 'need' to explain to anyone who uses that reason why it isn't close to breastmilk.

Original poster
Lucy1977 · 05/11/2006 22:13

LM - tried searching but I can't remember anything about the thread so loads of threads came up but after trawling through some of them I thought posting would be quicker.

I really hope noone does take offence, I thought it was a good idea at the time of posting but now I am thinking otherwise.

Thanks
Lucy

OP posts:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 05/11/2006 22:14

You should see the "advertisement feature" in Sainsbury's magazine this month......from

Moomin · 05/11/2006 22:16

I'm sure no-one's offended Lucy, but I'm pretty sure if you sat there explaining to a friend who was formula feeding why her choice wasn't as good as breastfeeding, it might be a bit of a lead-balloon moment!

bctmum · 05/11/2006 22:16

Not a patch on breastmilk - which contains imunological factors and is a living substance - formula is dead and this is the difference I would point out.

Original poster
Lucy1977 · 05/11/2006 22:19

Moomin - I totally agree my choice of words was really crap and please believe me I would never, ever dream of mentioning anything to formula feeders.

TBH the only person I would possibly give the analogy to is my awful HV who since my DD was born has been an absolute pain (I've posted before about her comments to me regarding putting DD on formula)

For the record - my DD has a bottle of formula every night.

SUTBID - thank you, your analogy has really helped.

Thanks
Lucy

OP posts:
bctmum · 05/11/2006 22:20

Me too - I wouldn't say this just like that as I respect how others chose to feed their LO's - but only if provoked on bf

Original poster
Lucy1977 · 05/11/2006 22:24

bctmum, thanks for your reply.

OP posts:
harpsichordsgoingBANGandWHOOSH · 05/11/2006 22:25

fwiw on a professional basis and when talking to pregnant women I emphasise the living nature of breastmilk too - that it varies during the feed and from feed to feed and adjusts to the baby, something formlua can't get within a million miles of. I would also say that breastmilk is designed by millions of years of evolution to help babies grow and develop, while formula is cow's milk modified in various ways so that it is OK for human nutrition.

southeastastra · 05/11/2006 22:25

when your children get older you really do forget about early feeding. i have no idea why women need to compete in this issue.

harpsichordsgoingBANGandWHOOSH · 05/11/2006 22:26

human baby nutrition I should say.

hairymclary · 05/11/2006 22:27

I think you're taking it the wrong way.
formula is the closest alternative to breastmilk. if it isn't then what is?