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)?

Hi Loony, there were quite a few posts earlier on about breastfeeding mothers who smoke, and I felt they may have given the wrong impression about the protective benefits of breastmilk

My post wasn't meant to refer directly to yours, and I am sorry if it seemed like it did

Elasticwoman, yes because the midwife on the ward told me who she was. The midwives never batted an eyelid once I told them how strongly I felt, but somehow this woman found out about me and decided to help me. I saw her once on the ward the day later but she ignored me and I ignored her. I had an emergency c-section so I didn't need this woman to lecture me as I was trying to recover. To my mind I've done my best to be make sure my dd had a healthy start in life in the sense that I don't smoke (never have done) and don't drink, didn't put on a lot of weight during pregnancy and watched what I ate.

Franny, that's OK. I'm trying not to be defensive but just want people to know that bfeeding is not natural for everyone and there are other ways you can make sure your dc have a fab start in life.

nah, you didn't need that. bang out of order, if you ask me and miles out of her remit. look, a phobia's a phobia, it doesn't have to be rational, it's just Very Real to you. you should have a look at the emetophobes freaking out cos their kids have upset tummies. on the one hand, it's barking, but on the other hand as someone who gags at the sight of other people puking i have great sympathy.

Poor you Aitch. I have to tell my SIL about you because her dd runs from the room and hides if she only suspects someone will be sick, she thinks her dd is the only person like that! You're right of course, what seems natural to me is completely weird to another person.

i'm not so bad, but there really are people on here who fffrrreak at the thought of being sick. it's awful for them. emetophobia. it's An Actual Thing.

It has a name, I had to practise saying that one a few times . Must tell SIL! See how different we all are, personally sick or poo or whatever (child or cat) doesn't really bother me. Wonder if there is a name for breastfeedingphobia ...

yeah, milkynorkophobia, haven't you heard of it?

LOL! Excellent, I will use this complicated medical term next time I come across someone a tad too overzealous! Am just pg again so will be in the sort of near future. Am going to watch some mindless telly now, nightynight Aitch, hope things don't go puke in the night!

loony - I seriously doubt it was a breastfeeding counsellor, at least not one that deserves the name!

Breastfeeding counsellors are usually unpaid volunteers, by the way, so there would be no money saved by not using them

has anyone seen the "any facebookers" thread? not sure how to link but all bf'ers in fact all normal people should read it and put there oar in!

sorry to add to an already full thread having only read the first few posts but OMG if you BF (and I do) just get on with it and leave other mothers alone for gods sake, and if you feel the need to air this kind of point of view go to a local playgroup full of mums and raise it in the real world instead of the internet where parents come for advice and support.

and I notice the person who started this thread is long gone. Off to breast feed the world I presume.

and I notice the person who started this thread is long gone. Off to breast feed the world I presume.

I don't see MN as just advice and support, ChocPenny. It is for discussion.

Hi Tiktok, it was a breastfeeding counsellor, the midwife on the ward told me. And I saw her the next day on my ward again talking to one of the other mums. Didn't actually know that they were volunteers, assumed they were paid. I'm all for volunteering but just help those that want to be helped.
Nothing to do with this thread but what annoyed me was that I asked a few times to be shown how to bath my dd before I went home. The other mums were all shown even though these were their second babies, but when I left, there was no one around although I asked a few times and they knew it was my first baby and I had been struggling as she had a drip in her hand. The aftercare (or lack of) when you go home is really my bugbear.

I formula fed from birth (complicated reasons to do with recent breast surgery) and I really can't complain about the treatment I got from the breastfeeding support midwife - she was lovely to me. She did a tour of all the beds, and I didn't think she'd bother stopping by mine, as I was the only mum using formula on the ward and I felt a bit of a pariah! But she did, and we talked about my decision (a discussion I instigated), the reasons for it, the guilt I was still feeling, etc - and she was very helpful and supportive. I think you were very unlucky, loonyballoony, and I'm sorry you had such a difficult experience.

I'm sure I'm not the only mum who formula feeds and feels guilty every day for doing it - because of people like the one who started this thread. I can not breast feed i tried with my first child and failed miserably and had such a traumatic birth experience with my second (horrific c-section which we were both lucky to survive) that i could nt face trying. I should nt really have to justify my choices because it is my choice and i believe best for me and my children. If i was FORCED to Breast feed then chances are i would have had a nervous breakdown and babies would have starved to death.Mums have enough to worry about without having to deal with this kind of abuse from fellow mums. I hate to think theres a mum out there feeling terribly guilty for not breast feeding reading this thread and feeling even worse.

Thornola - I would have been one of those mums a few months back. Thankfully I am now starting to move on and I hope you can too in time.

me too, thornola. it gets better.

poor old malaleche, though, she didn't really think her OP through. i'm CERTAIN that she didn't mean to offend, although i know that she has.

Is this thread going to be deleted or what? Why is it still here? Poor Malaleche must be pretty by now.

Well if this thread is going to be deleted anyway...
There are a lot of women who do not give bfing a real chance.
When I do the school run out of the mums I chat to all nice middle class people carrier types I am the only one who even wanted to bf after 3 months.
One of my very good friends never liked the idea of bfing her dd1 and ds1 and they have really bad skin, when she was pregnant with ds2 she said I know I should, but I can't be bothered.
I disagreed with her and was sad for her... but it is her that has to put cream on them round the clock and it affects the baby's appearance...not so cute.
Maybe it is just a personal decision, would you rather bf or rub cream into itchy skin at 2am...even when they are 9?
I also think a lot of women do not really want to bf and make up excuses as to why they can't.

Well if this thread is going to be deleted anyway...
There are a lot of women who do not give bfing a real chance.
When I do the school run out of the mums I chat to all nice middle class people carrier types I am the only one who even wanted to bf after 3 months.
One of my very good friends never liked the idea of bfing her dd1 and ds1 and they have really bad skin, when she was pregnant with ds2 she said I know I should, but I can't be bothered.
I disagreed with her and was sad for her... but it is her that has to put cream on them round the clock and it affects the baby's appearance...not so cute.
Maybe it is just a personal decision, would you rather bf or rub cream into itchy skin at 2am...even when they are 9?
I also think a lot of women do not really want to bf and make up excuses as to why they can't.

Voldie, my DS developed really bad skin very early on (it's gone now thank god) when he was still being breastfed. It can be caused by hormone changes I believe - not sure breastfeeding protects against skin problems (but I may be wrong).

Voldie
Her children have bad sib bcause she didn't breastfeed them!?

If you think that then you are
seriously deluded.