QUICK POLL, IF YOU BOTTLE-FED ......... NOT FOR A ROW, GENUINELY INTERESTED!

[lissielou]

if you ff, did you choose to because of packaging?
advertising?
logos?
and if not, why not?

[clutteredup]

I ff because I tried and failed 3 times to bf - I used SMA with DS as it was what they gave him when he was born after i couldn't feed him so I used on DD1 as it was what I used first time round- this time I actually made a considered decision and chose Aptamil as it has DHAs and Omega 3 in which I give the other 2 in vitamins and also take myself after Professor Winston showed the effects on concentration, learning and behaviour - it smells a tad fishy to my over developed sense of smell but so much better than SMA - my HV only agreed with my choice she never suggested it and was actually concerned with the price. Mind you but it from Tescos, Asda or Sainsburys it can cost up to a quid more a some other places.

[nallydoolally]

oooh sorry, your name has changed again. i need to keep up!

[nallydoolally]

hi slugsy I have been making myself ill recently staying awake using the internet...please please please, if you see me on here after midnight, tell me to bugger off to bed!

[Twinklemegan]

I wanted organic formula (this was before I ended up formula feeding, it was "just in case"). Tesco had two - Cow & Gate and HIPP. The HIPP came in individual sachets which I thought would be wasteful, the Cow & Gate didn't. I chose C&G and stuck with it when I switched to the cheaper regular formula.

[SlightlyMadSecret]

Yay Nally - where you been????

[nallydoolally]

I bf DD1 and DS first, then both were ff with Farleys (not sure why i chose Farleys as can't remember that far back, maybe because i like rusks..?). I don't think it was anything to do with advertising.. I can't actually picture Farleys formula ads anyway... Our dd2 is ff Aptamil as it was recommended by midwives and HVs.

[NuttyMuffins]

No, nothing whatsoever to do with packaging, advertising or logos.

FF was just what I preffered to do. Used SMA with Dd1 and 2 because it was the one you could get anywhere, and used Farleys and then Omnio Comfort with Ds.

[Cazee]

One thing stands out from this thread, Aptamil have done a FABULOUS job with midwives and HVs!

[loopybear]

I started off on SMA because that's what the midwife gave DH at 3am when I rang in desparation because after 1 days my milk hadn't come in and DD was starving. We swapped to Aptimil because DD was constipated on SMA and loads of friends recommended Aptimil. I do like the fact that the box has a leveling thingy. I din't really know which to choose as I'd wanted to BF and didn't even have a bottle in the house

[dingdongjustforyoufg]

topped up DTs with cow and gate in hospital to start with (they asked me what I wanted to use when the paed told me to top them up, I had no idea, didn't know any brands, hadn't inteneded to use formula at all ) then tried to exclusively bf them but advised by MW to use aptamil as a supplement in evenings or to let DH feed one while I bf other...little support with bf and choice of formula down to MW advice, nothing else. Still not happy about it more the 3 yrs later

[lunarlandingplace]

Now with hindsight don't think it's that great, I mean (now I've used others too).

[lunarlandingplace]

It can be agony while you're getting the latch right IME - the more experienced help (BF counsellors not just MWs/HVs) you can get with checking latch and giving info the better, to speed that up.

I think we're all influenced by advertising for all sorts of things, directly but also indirectly. The health professionals recommending certain formulas don't have any more information than normal customers about what's in them, so all they've got to go on is advertising and anecdote, too. Same goes for hospitals deciding to stock one or another. So even someone using a particular formula only because it was the one used in hospital has had their choice influenced by marketing, indirectly.

Mums who only BF are just as influenced by advertising etc., but they're a different market so it's different products. The Avent Isis pump was recommended to me by loads of people but I'd be lying if I said I didn't see loads of adverts for it and other Avent products as well - probably far more than I'm even aware I saw, given how subtly advertising works. It's not the only manual pump out there but it has huge visibility thanks partly to all those adverts, so it seems like one of the main options. Successful marketing at work and I don't think it's that great a pump, either.

[Hulababy]

When I went onto FF with DD I chose SMA as it was the name I was most familiar with. I remembered the tins from when I was at school - the pens, etc. used to be in them SMA suited DD so I stuck with it.

[powder28]

Tbh, before I had ds2 I thought I would take to bf really well so i bought bf bras and cami-tops in preparation, but I got such a shock when I realised how painful it was and how it was so bad that it brought on a terrible migraine. I think if I had another now I would push myself to get through the pain barrier!

Is it really painful for everyone or was I just being a big wuss?

[yacketyblah]

I couldn't bf either although I wanted to. Was terrified to tell mw but she just called me daft and told hubby to get down to the supermarket for some formula before she had to readmit dd due to weight loss etc. Hubby bought the cheapest formula and we stuck with it. SMA I think. He also has old tins filled with screws etc in the garage.

[PanicPants]

I chose SMA initially as it seemed to be the brand everyone uses.

On reflection, I think Aptimil probably was the best to chose, although I'm basing that opinion on the sole fact that it's what they use in the hospital with prem babies - so it must be ok - isn't it?

[PanicPants]

When I had to stop breast feeding (due to lack of weight gain etc etc) I put ds onto SMA. He was terribly sick on it and the dr suggested aptimil, which they use in hospital for prem babies.

[LieselVentouse]

Do ASDA not do a smart price one Seriously though this thread has been very englightening cause I thought it was only me that couldnt BF.

[Janh]

I couldn't bf successfully either - I hate hearing that all women can do it, that is a big fat lie

ff is a no-brainer in those circs

[Twinmummyx2]

I bottle fed 7 of my 8 children. I used SMA with most, but DD1 couldn't keep it down so switched to Farleys oster milk which helped.

Last set of twins were alwasys sicky with their milk, so we tried SMA-stay down milk (i think that was the name-in a lilac tin)..it didn't make much difference and a nightmare to make up!My H/v recommended it-had never heard of it before.

We used SMA becasue that is what they were started on in hospital.

[Blondilocks]

I bottle fed, just carried on using the brand that the hospital used (think it was Farley's??)

Didn't try breast feeding at all - was advised that as I was going back to school it probably wouldn't be that practical.

Looking back it is strange that although DD was premature they didn't seem to mention breast feeding at all.

[AitchTwoOh]

fiofio, my dad had the SMA tins filled with screws and gizmos, nailed up to the side of his garage. it must have been on some tv show as a top tip!

[kimi]

I could not BF, but I was not swayed by any brand because of the Ads or packs.

[sunnysideup]

advertising, logos, packaging had absolutely zero to do with me FFing.

When I chose the actual formula in a shop those things had zero to do with which one I bought; that decision was based on advice I sought from healthcare professionals, about what would be best for ds given that BFing was not a possibility for me.