Do you persevere with the virtual (that's what it says on the tin) breastmilk?

[AutumnLeaves]

What if you would have like to have breastfed, but decided it wasn't working for you.

So then you put baby on a formula milk, baby is happy, feeding well putting on steady weight. But then you decide to change the milk because you've been recommended another brand that is vitually the same as breastmilk, so they say.

You try it, baby is not happy, being sick, having runny poos, not settled. Do you go back to the 1st formula brand? Or do you persevere with the virtual breastmilk?

It is formula not 'virtual breastmilk'. No such thing as virtual breastmilk - sorry.

If the baby is unhappy on the new formula, switch back to the old one.

I don't believe there is such a thing as virtual breast milk I'm afraid. If your baby was happy before stick with that one.

Nothing is virtually the same as breastmilk, and they are both legally and morally wrong if this is what they are claiming.

Why bother with it if it's making the baby ill? Go back to what suits him, and don't buy into the hype of the new one.

No formula is virtual or otherwise anywhere like breatmilk, who on earth told you this?

If the formula is disagreeing with your child go back to the original one.

Thankyou! I thought exactly the same, it's my SIL, she was recommended the brand by a HV. SIL has decided to stick with the new brand. Not what I would do, I would use the 1st brand, wouldn't like my baby to suffer the upset, would upset me too.

the HV needs a slap round the head with a wet kipper

I'd like to mention that I'm going to use this thread as evidence in any future debate about how no woman thinks that formula's anything like breastmilk and that formula advertising doesn't play any part in their decisions.

AL, you know the answer, I think - can I ask - is it Aptamil she's been told to use?

Don't know what the brand is, but it was recommended because apparently it has something in it very similar to breastmilk supposedly. My SIL is sad that she can't breastfeed, probably took it as the next best thing .

Could your SIL use a 'virtual brain' to work it out for herself AL?

pentapetides..wait no that's a made up thing in make up or something... ok is it.....immunofortis? yes that's the made up thing in formula.

Oh - hope that wasn't offensive AL. Didn't sound like she was sad about bf from your OP.

And they say advertising doesn't work....

AL, this is why I get angry at formula companies.

They keep women ignorant of the facts and baffle them with meaningless terms on tins. And advertise at the very people who are meant to be informed and supportive in this sort of thing - no sodding wonder HVs aren't meant to recommend formula if this sort of thing happens.

Look through a nursing/midwifery journal.
Full of sodding formula ads.
It defies belief.

Think maybe there should have been more positive support on how SIL's baby was progressing on the 1st milk, and what a good mum she is for getting him this far.

It is sad if you want to breastfeed but can't for whatever the reason may be. I had my own problems with BFing too, I could only latch my DS onto one side but persevered with positive help from a midwife.

Think the HV should be helping my SIL to overcome her sadness of not BFing, not recommending virtual BFing formula milk.

I know, MD, I was gobsmacked when I first saw. You can find some of them online if you look hard enough. They're buried in formula websites and make all sorts of wild claims.

Cantsleepwontsleep no I'm not offended. I just can't get across what i mean sometimes when typing.Hence getting an average grade in English.

My SIL's DH would like her to switch back to the 1st milk, as all was fine before. But I believe there has been some suggestions from his MIL that they should make do with the new milk and perservere with it!?

why does MIL think that? based on the HV? based on the adverts? what?

Don't know but too many cooks spoil the formula milk!

I think they've all been brainwashed into thinking the virtual milk is better. Especially since the info came from a HV.

oh dear, poor SIL having all and sundry sticking my oar in. I agree with the other posters - formula milk is much of a muchness, so no point in pesevering with a brand that isn't agreeing with her baby.

Feel sorry for the baby now. I always and still do take my lead from my DS, they are very good at letting you know how they feel from a very early age.

Sorry for going on but I had to get it off my chest (no pun intended), thanks for the replies, have to go to my bed now I should have gone a couple of hours ago.

Oh dear....this whole situation seems to me one of disempowerment, AutumnLeaves, with your SIL unable to see the wood for the trees. Common sense would indicate the only option is to return to the brand that was not upsetting the baby - but she is listening to someone who is overriding her common sense

She is (probably) desperate to do the very best she can for her baby, and is upset at the breastfeeding going wrong. That can addle a mother's brain - it really can. It affects confidence and self-esteem. It's here that the promotion of formula milk has its worst effects - peddling psuedo-science to HVs who then peddle it to upset and confused mothers.

We can safely assume the health visitor may have had something to do with the breastfeeding going wrong, as well, or is that just my bitter, cynical experience talking?