Mumsnet has showed me the meaning of prejudice

[Hannie55]

OK, so i breastfed dd.
Intend to bottlefeed this one (due end aug).
Must be pretty neutral right?
So why is it when i read the debates on here that its clear as day to a neutral that its mums who bottle feed formula to their babies that are the ones being judged and harangued?
Yet its some of the breastfeedrs who shout loudest and demand the acknowledgement that they are in fact the opressed?
What makes it worse is its so underhand and sly, if any bottle feeders come back they are accused of being prejudiced, paranoid and of supressing guilt (wtf?!).
Mumsnet has really opened my eyes to some wierd views, none moreso than the anti-formula lobby (who of course are not anti formuls at all).

Really did not realise these people existed, thankfully they only appear in cyber-space!

See hearing your story, KMM, that is what some women are frightened/wary of when thinking of B/F their own.

Despite statistics Kerry, I think why so many have taken umbridge with your posts is because you seem to have a very black stance.
Although I initially BF my dd, I only managed to do it for a short while and like countless others I felt huge guilt.

Staying in the problem does not solve the problem, from what I can and have seen on these threads is that the like of hunker et all are not against FF but the misinformation that goes with it, ie claims of being near to breast milk etc.

I did manage to BF ds succesfully but only wish I'd found MN because it was bloody hard in the early stages. Really whoever suggested setting up more support groups hit the nail on the head.

I'm not anti FF fwiw but it saddens me that there seems to be such a divide and I really have to applaud hunker et all for the sterling work they do in encouraging women not only on BF/FF but what's mostly overlooked on these threads, the most helpful way for mum and baby whether it be one or the other or combined.

OOOO lookey, double post, magic

Agree Mhamai

i wish this site would be more passionate about 5-11 year olds than it is to bf.

KM, I understand what it's like having unsupportive things said to you about bfing.

But I don't feel the urge to slate those who don't bf in reply.

I've been told I'm "like the natives" for bfing past the first three months, for instance, which is wrong in so many ways!

Oh feck Southeastra I'll gladly second you on that!

Well, for the ladies you have incounted KMM, maybe they have been slightly warped by the media as to what breasts are for. And rather then trying to beat them with sticks, just give them the facts. Ultimately, you can't make them b/feed and this agressive stance against those who F/F does make us pro b/f look like loonies ...

Rant over

SEA, why the posts about babynet and 5-11yos?

There are plenty of people who post about older children - aren't there?

I don't go and post about bfing on threads about skateboard choice for 8yo boys

i do find it a bit bonkers

I wish more people would be passionate about the things they want to be passionate about and stop worrying that other people are more passionate about things they are less passionate about, actually, but that's just me.

no i find mumsnet very under eight based

By hunkermunker on Mon 13-Aug-07 00:28:30
"JV, you keep talking about pretence - who's pretending?"

For a start those further down the thread who say they wont post what they really feel as they dont want to get lynched/offend etc.

kerry - its great you overcome yr probs and was able to carry on, but every situation different. Family Support is a big one as to yr ability to carry, as well as many others factors. unfortunely not every can or feel they have the ability to

"a bit bonkers"?

Have a read of some of the news items on this site and tell me it's a bit bonkers to be passionate about infant nutrition

Breathe hunker breathe

Kerry, why does it bother you? You don't need to worry about all the the other children, that is their parents job

Some women do find it abhohorent (sp) to breastfeed. That may because they have no experience in the their lives of bf, no role models, not enough support and education about it, embarrassment or just because that is how they feel! It is ok for them to do that and you don't need to feel badly or judgemental or anything!!!!!!

Just because you worked through the problems you had, doesn't mean everyone has to carry on. That makes some relieved and makes some very sad, it's still none of your business

comments like yours are remembered over all the supportive comments given and this is how we get a thread like this

Just get on with your child rearing and let people with compassion and fabulous advice give the support, cos you don't have a clue

BTW, i apologise for saying i didn't believe you weren't anti formula the other day.

Have read LOTS of posts re BF/FF last couple of days, you are always consistent.

KMM- didnt mesn literally beat,sorry, So what is the main thing, in your opinion, that makes these mums still choose f/f over b/f after you have explained the advantages of b/f to them???

JV, I had a read back through the thread a minute ago and I wonder whether (and I don't know, because I don't know what the posters in question meant), but is there a chance that they won't say what they want because it's something like,

"I'm really proud I managed to exclusively breastfeed my babies for six months"?

The oddest things can be taken as judgemental of ffing - even when the statement that Jordan made about her boobs only being for one person was questioned, that was taken as being judgemental of ffing earlier.

I didn't read it as automatically being a negative ff thing - I know one of those posters, for sure, hasn't got an axe to grind with ffing.

Thank you, JV, I really appreciate that

bonkers in a nice way! but i wish more people were passionate about over 5s. we seem to be in a baby centered trend.