Gather round all pro-bfeeding anti-formula MNers I have a question..........................................

[Malaleche]

Shouldnt there be a be-all and end-all bible of breastfeeding info, experiences and statistics etc which every woman should be given at the first pregnancy check-up and MADE to read (yes, I know, maybe we could be examined on it and !) , which has been written by the WHO and breastfeeding experts and which could be the final and last word on bfeeding(...until new evidence means a new edition has to be brought out.....)

I just dont understand why there has to be so much conflicting advice out there and why some women are still so woefully ignorant about bfeeding at the end of the day....

I also agree absolutely that formula should be avaliable only on prescription but before that happens there needs to be a lot more education and (24 hr)support avaliable or there would be a lot of hungry babies and suffering mothers out there....and why don't govs give 9 months maternity leave on full pay if the WHO recommends 6 months exclusive bfeeding (am adding 3 months for establishing weaning)?

I am uncomfortable with the idea of a clique of pro-bfeeding, anti-formula MNers tbh. No one has the right to be "anti-formula" per se until they have walked a mile in the shoes of a failed breastfeeder.

BTW, I am with you on formula being available only on prescription. If only because then it would be free instead of costing a blooming fortune, which just adds insult to injury.

AND, all the knowledge in the world about breastfeeding sometimes just isn't enough

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I think the idea of formula being only available on prescription is bloody scary.
What would you do in an emergency?

There seem to be so many more things that could be done first to do with supporting breastfeeding (like your book idea - or there could be a free dvd or video, cheaper to produce as well) rather than restricting choices.

I agree that advice is woeful in many instances but think even providing good info on breastfeeding know-how is insufficient without a big culture change. In this country mums bottlefeed because it is the norm. Changing the norm is what is needed and that won't come about by telling mums that breast is best if they see breastfeeding as an unachievable ideal because formula is 'good enough'.Start the culture change by signing the Breastfeeding Manifesto online.

I object to the idea of formula being on prescription.

I had my DS, I was going to BF, my heart failed post labour, they put me on strong heart drugs that saved my life ergo I could not feed.

Had formula only been available on prescription it would have been the end of me. I was dealing with the information that I could not have any more children. Did I really need to feel stigmatised further by not being able to feed my child without being organised enough to make sure I got to the surgery for a repeat prescription.

I am aware that my post is not very articulate.

I guess I was being a little flippant before, but I really objected to having to pay £6 a pop for something that should have been free if it had worked out. That was the least of my worries about formula feeding I must say, but it still really irritated me. I don't see the problem really with formula being on prescription, as long as it is backed up by proper breastfeeding support. But then I should know enough about the NHS by now to know that it would be handed out as an easy solution, because in the end it would be cheaper for the Government. So I've convinced myself out of it actually - no, it's a bad idea.

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Couldn't breastfeed for a lot of reasons and ver y at op, very insensitive

I don't think formula should be prescription only either. I do think breastfeeding support/education is f*cking lamentable in this country and it's a crying shame so many mothers are labelled (by themselves and sometimes others) as "Failed" before the child can even hold its head up . I think forcing women to formally admit failure/go cap-in-hand to the medics and request formula (on prescription, with all the overtones of "physical inability to function normally without medical intervention" would be horrifically damaging and cruel and would simply make EVERYTHING worse. You won't improve breastfeeding rates/normalise breastfeeding by punishing and blackmailing women at the "sharp end" IMO. All that will do will be to feed more anger, grief and divisiveness into an already inflamed situation. The solution lies in the same place it always lies IMO - better organisation, more resources, more initiative and more action at the preventative/primary level, to facilitate successful breastfeeding rather than stigmatising formula feeding.

I already felt stigmatised though. Wouldn't anyone else have been glad to get something free. After all, I needed it for a medical reason but had to pay around £30 a month for it, which is a lot of money to me and my family.

Bree/LGJ Reaches over and gives Greeny a huge hug.

Wot Greeny said.

Sorry, that post was utter cr*p. I meant to say, wouldn't anyone else have been glad to be able to get the formula free since it was needed for medical reasons?

Yes, sorry about the thread title, i wrote it like that to try and attract the Mners who are more articulate and better informed than me. I've just been thinking lately about some threads which were about certain multi-nationals whose products are pushed in developing countries, other threads, many many of them, about bfeeding problems, others of the 'can i give my 3-week-old baby rice?' nature, the difficulties of bfeeding and returning to work, HVs and their sometimes advice, etc etc and im naive but i just wish the right info could be getting to the people who need it and that real support could always be avaliable round the clock. I know bfeeding can be hell and that even all the will in the world sometimes isnt enough if circumstances are not easy. I should just go to bed.....im not coherent...

Fank yoo LGJ

Like everyone has said, the government needs to start putting the money and effort into getting more information and staff trained to help mothers with breastfeeding....

I remember having dd1, and just being left, quite literally, half an hour after she was born... And not seen until 11am the next day.. I had no idea as to what I was doing, i was fortunate that my very hungry 3 hour old dd1 was so keen to latch on to me and feed!! Although i actually learnt how to HOLD her properly whilst feeding from the back of a pack of nursing pads [blush.]. But of course there are mothers out there who do wish to b/f but arent supported in doing so correctly, some mothers like breevandercamp, didnt have this option....

Although the 9 months maternity pay should be introduced definately

If formula was only available on prescription, wouldn't there be lots of people who wouldn't bother going to the doc and just give their babies ordinary cow's milk from day one?

Sadly that's probably true.

I can certainly see that consolidating all the available advice - especially on the norms of breastfeeding - would be very useful. I've argued before that a checklist of what's normal (very frequent feeding in the beginning/feeling like you haven't got enough milk/infrequent dirty nappies after a couple of months etc) would be useful as a lot of that kind of thing comes as a surprise to even the keenest breastfeeders and well-meaning grandmothers etc who bottle-fed can really undermine things subtly if the parents don't have an answer.

Formula on prescription, though, is a silly idea. You are not going to change the prevailing culture by scaring, angering and alienating the vast majority of parents. IMO getting b/f figures up is something that needs money throwing at it, spending on proper training, b/f mentors, free and copious support. Rather than the rather wishy-washy 'Reasons to breastfeed' leaflets we get at the moment.

There is a huge difference between "available on prescription for medical reasons" and "only available on prescription, because you must make your case to a medic before you can have it" though, isn't there?

Greensleaves

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Is it currently possible to get formula on prescription for medical reasons does anyone know? Ordinary formula, I mean. If so, I wish I'd known. I agree that it's probably not a good idea to force parents down that road.

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