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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Another article about how awful breastfeeding is, this time in a feminist publication

560 replies

Caligula · 10/01/2007 15:06

I thought some of you would like to read this.

This misinformation bugged me:

"Times change though, and the formulas on the market are hopefully as close to what comes out of your boob, as they will ever be".

Wonder what the rest of you think

the new breastfeeding taboo

OP posts:

SturdyAngel · 10/01/2007 15:18

I agree with the article, to a point.

I absolutely love breastfeeding. I fed DS1 until he was 14 months and am still happily feeding ds2 at 9 months. It hurt for the first week with both of them- my nipples were agony but I didn't mind as I knew it would get better and despite the pain I still loved feeding my baby.

I would recommend that everyone give it a go. I think that sometimes the health professionals give unrealistic ideals to expectant mothers, that bf will be lovely and easy and fulfilling. For many people it is not. Mothers quite often are not prepared for this and are not offered enough support when they are having problems, them are made to feel demonised for switching to formula.

I do believe that "breast is best" it certainly was/is for my babies but for some people it is not that simple. For whatever reason some people can't or don't want to bf and they should be entitled to the same level of support and encouragement you would expect if you chose to bf. I have come across so many mums, who feel guilty for ff their babies- years later. This should not be the case. As a mother you must choose what is best for you and your baby. You should not be made to feel guilty about those choices.

Socci · 10/01/2007 15:20

Message withdrawn

IntergalacticWalrus · 10/01/2007 15:25

I agree Socci.

I also think that woman don't get the help they need from health professionals with correct positioning etc

When I had DS2, I stuggled with bfing for the first month. I had no help from anyone, but I knew, from hav9ing fed DS1 for 15 months that it would get easier.

DizzyBint · 10/01/2007 15:25

what a sad article. she's had an awful time yes. but as we all know, if you rely on the nhs and 'helth professionals' then this story is all too common.

i did not like the bits where she suggested most breastfeeders don't actually like it and only do it because they feel they have to. and i thought how sad that she's decided the next baby will be bottle fed, rather than thinking ok, i need to get better information next time.

shonaspurtle · 10/01/2007 15:25

Well, if you believed as she obviously does that there are no real benefits to be had by breastfeeding and it's just stopping you getting on with your life and bonding with your child then you would be on the bottles like a shot - no brainer...

I believe that by struggling through when it has hurt - a lot - for the last 8 weeks, I am giving my baby the best start possible. From a purely selfish point of view it gives me enormous pleasure to see him growing and know that I'm continuing to nourish him in the same way I did for the 9 months he was inside me.

I also believe that every day it is getting better and that it will eventually be pain free (and it's already less hassle than bottles - I know, having been doing a fair amount of expressing as well).

She's entitled to her opinion, but that's all it is - one woman's opinion. The poor thing has had a rotten time and it's a shame she didn't get more support through it which might have changed her mind, or at least made her more likely to give it another shot next time. It echoes a lot that has been said in the post on here about giving up before you're ready.

Not sure about the accuracy of her conclusions about the abs and lactulose changing the taste of her milk though as I've taken both without any discernable difference in ds's feeding (he's a greedy little sod though so it'd take a lot to put him off )

expatinscotland · 10/01/2007 15:27

I also agree w/the article to a point.

I, too, had a very traumatic first delivery (forceps) and subsequent infection.

I ff'd DD1 from about day 2.

DD2 I was able to bf, but I expressed her a bottle at 4 weeks, b/c I also knew I'd have to go back to work full-time when she was 4 months old and there's no place to express.

Yes, there's supposed to be via EU policy and blah blah blah but you know, if I make waves and lose my job, no one's going to pay my rent.

expatinscotland · 10/01/2007 15:29

FWIW, I never got ANY advise about bottle-feeding in the clinics or in hospital.

I think that's just as wrong.

Socci · 10/01/2007 15:29

Message withdrawn

Piffle · 10/01/2007 15:30

I'm surprised she has already vetoed the idea with her next child though

norkmaiden · 10/01/2007 15:30

What a pile of w*nk, is what I think.

Yes it hurt like hell (for me at least, for a fortnight), yes I'm bloody-minded about formula and wasn't for giving up bf just for that.

Actually, I'm really cross now, I think its the knowing/smug tone - on the second time mums and their formula for eg - which sounds to be like a desperate attempt at self-justification for ff. I'm cross this writer thinks she's uncovered some great myth of womanhood - that bf is crap and actually not so very necessary. I'm off to read the Graun's wetnursing article again

Socci · 10/01/2007 15:33

Message withdrawn

lyndyloo · 10/01/2007 15:35

i would never criticise anyone for not bfing as it can be difficult - I know, I had thrush, mastitis, bleeding nipples - the lot. It was only sheer bloodymindedness that kept me going. Plus - lots of support from the health visitor who was great.

The trouble is during the 60s and 70s lots of women bottle fed and so they don't have the knnowledge to pass on to their daughters on how to do it so the norm of breastfeeding is lost I think.

I keep thinking about the money I've saved as well!!!! Formula is really expensive!

hunkermunker · 10/01/2007 15:37

I think largely, the problem is that this woman is very clearly an idiot.

I will expand upon this further later on.

oliveoil · 10/01/2007 15:39

My computer won't let me read it so I will have to remain in ignorance.

I envisage 765 messages on this thread tomorrow though when I return.

expatinscotland · 10/01/2007 15:42

Good for those who are 'bloody minded'.

But what about those who aren't?

Are they all idiots?

It turned out I had severe PND w/DD1, too. Attempted suicide, in fact.

People who looked at me like I was an idiot b/c I formula fed her, thanks a lot!

shonaspurtle · 10/01/2007 15:47

Anyone who looks down or disparages any individual because of how they choose to feed their child is an idiot.

My "friend" who is currently looking down on me because I'm perservering with bf'ding as "why cause yourself all that grief when he'd be fine with a bottle" (ie I'm wasting my time) is also an idiot.

Mumpbump · 10/01/2007 15:49

I think the main point of the article is that people can be very militant about breast-feeding and it is a personal choice so if someone chooses not to, other people shouldn't give them a hard time about it.

I was lucky enough to have no problems whatsoever with bf and only stopped because I had to return to work. I loved it and would very much have liked to continue longer, but my milk just stopped once I was down to one feed a day. Conversely, I know someone who simply did not want to bf for no particular reason, as far as I am aware, and that is her choice. Whatever the choice, I do not think that the decision to bf is a moral issue, which a lot of people make it. I remember from my NCT antenatal classes someone recounting a story about how they knew someone who had cracked nipples and "fed through it". The bf counseller said "oh well done!" in a terribly zealous kind of way which I personally found very off putting.

On the other hand, I do think it rather sad that she seems not to be open-minded to the possibility of bf for the next one, if she in fact wants to bf.

norkmaiden · 10/01/2007 15:50

Totally agree Shona.

People who write articles discrediting bf - also idiots, imo.

norkmaiden · 10/01/2007 15:52

Mump - feeding through pain not a moral issue ime. It's the practical thing to do. What alternative is there? FF not an option - but then I said I was bloody-minded about it

DizzyBint · 10/01/2007 15:53

has anyone left a comment such as 'parp' on it?

Original poster

Caligula · 10/01/2007 15:58

My problem with the article was that she is writing in a feminist publication and I would expect a journalist to do some basic research for anything they write (are my standards impossibly high? I wouldn't dream of writing an article for publication unless I drew on other sources apart from my own experience).

So while her experience is a valid one and should be discussed and the lack of support she got (and she's obviously unaware of how little real support she got) is a real disgrace, what bugs me about the article is that her conclusion appears to be, that the feminist choice is to give up on the normal method of feeding a baby and turn to the expensive and not nearly so good method offered us by multinationals, without actually examining any of the other issues involved here.

I'd expect this sort of thing in the Daily Mail, but was disappointed to find such a lack of analysis and real research in a feminist publication, tbh.

OP posts:

DizzyBint · 10/01/2007 16:01

have you added a comment caligula?

Original poster

Caligula · 10/01/2007 16:06

Not yet. Am wondering where to start, tbh.

OP posts:

hunkermunker · 10/01/2007 16:12

Can I just clarify that I am ONLY referring to this woman as an idiot. Not any woman who doesn't breastfeed. Just in case anyone wanted to make wild and convoluted extrapolations. I can back up my case too - and I will later.

suzycreamcheese · 10/01/2007 16:22

i had emergengy cs,after being in labour for 2 1/2 days and a huge baby 10 lbs 2 1/2 oz to feed.
Although bf was the only option in town, mid wives brought me formula in hospital after 2 days (5 day stay!) as i physically could not produce enough milk to satisfy him..he would be feeding for 16 - 18 hours at a time!
after returning home and going through 3 bouts of mastistis (ever had a razor blades slashing through your breasts?) i just couldn't do it..

bf was option i wanted, but it didnt work out..i think the support needs to be changed to case by case, but the looks of disgust and disbeleif i got from docs and health professionals, after all they had done for me, really didnt help my guilt at all this..

its a huge enough change in life without extra guilt and problems....good if bf works for you but it doesnt for everyone....

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