I can't say I liken formula to cheese strings but I really was not offended by this. It's one woman's opinion and I suspect it was more directed at those who don't try to bf rather than those who try and are unable to. No-one. No-one would ever direct such a statement at someone who couldn't bf because we are all human. Obviously there are people who cannot breastfeed and non-breast-fed babies DO grow up to be healthy adults with high IQs.
However, mothers that don't try bf because (and these are a number of reasons I personally have heard from Mothers in the last six months) 'It's just not me' 'It's gross', 'I don't know why I didn't, just didn't fancy it' or 'never even thought about it' do really really really frustrate me.
And- at what point do we have to take responsibility for ourselves and cease to blame NHS, nurses, doctors, the system for not giving us information and assistance. Why not search for this information ourselves- actively seek help. I live abroad, with no family (besides dh), no such thing as a health visitor, no mum's groups, no ante natal classes, no community. When my daughter couldn't latch on and I was in agony for the first 8 weeks, (and I was essentially alone) I got on the internet, read books and sorted it out myself. Please note- I may not have been able to, it was touch and go, but the point is I TRIED!! (And it must be noted, I very almost did give up as the pain was horrendous but the internet showed all sorts of bf positions all of which I tried). Please also note that I am not an earth mother, I couldn't give birth naturally, I had a C-section and I would have one again.
I heard an interesting story from a friend who had heard on the news that a baby in a hospital had become critically dehydrated when the mother hadn't been able to feed it whilst in hospital and no-one had helped her. The newborn received no milk for 30 hours. I mean, come on, in third world countries where there IS no NHS, no education, no facilities at all, they get on with it and find a way to feed the baby. The UK is a cushy society which has left us unable to use our perfectly wonderful amazing brains. If your baby hasn't fed for 30 hours, try and do something!! Don't say- well no-one helped me. You're the Mother!! (I must add, I haven't researched this news story and I am basing my opinion simply on the facts which were given to me by the aforementioned friend).
PS. I hope this hasn't offended anyone and I welcome all those opinions which differ from my own. These discussion groups would be pretty pointless without a difference of opinion.
I say- bf rules and ff is a wonderful very close second when bf isn't possible. In days gone by it would have been cows milk.