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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

bf in the news again, for increasing intelligence

186 replies

robinredbreast · 06/11/2007 08:28

so far its been on bbc1
radio 1
yahoo homepage

three cheers for breast feeding

also i thought alison baum who was interview on bbc1 put the message across so well, so tactfully done

well done alison,ive already signed your bf manifesto

OP posts:
theUrbanDryad · 06/11/2007 16:47

that's a very good point Breizhette.

well done that man!

MumOfTwoMinxers · 06/11/2007 18:00

Had to come back on to see how this spanned out...

It wasn't an attack on those who can't or eaters of readymeals/cheese strings. While I'm no angel and often take the easy option when it comes to feeding my kids I also feel its important that what they do eat is as nutritious as poss.

Surely milk/food is of greater nutritional value in its natural state, i.e non-processed cheese better than cheese strings, meals made with fresh ingredients better than ready meals. Therefore bf of more nutrional value than ff?

Thinking about changing name to YuckIHateCheeseStrings!

hunkermunker · 06/11/2007 18:03

MoTM, it's not the point though. Imagine that there's something you tried to do, couldn't and can't now change. Something that caused you massive pain.

And then people write judgemental things about it and tell you (or imply) you're a failure because you didn't try harder and that they are doing what you wanted to do so desperately and that it's excellent and they can't understand why you're not doing it.

Can you see that that's unkind? And that there are better ways of encouraging women to breastfeed than that?

FioFio · 06/11/2007 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

YuckIHateCheeseStrings · 06/11/2007 18:13

As I said in my first post...My heart goes out to those who can't and it was in no way a critcism of them. It was a criticism of those who can and choose not to.

FioFio · 06/11/2007 18:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

hunkermunker · 06/11/2007 18:15

"I think it's only a small step between formula and feeding children ready meals and those ghastly cheese strings."

But only formula that's been given willingly and not the formula that's given by mums who don't want to?

pointydog · 06/11/2007 18:21

we recent;y had research like this.

Why more? Have we a surplus of researchers in this country?

lljkk · 06/11/2007 18:26

This study IS different from previous research in that it identifies a genetic marker for when breastfeeding seems to make a diff to infant intelligence. The wider research, what the researchers are most of all interested in, is about interaction between genes and environment. But it will improve their careers (as academics) to publish the partial findings as they discover them rather than wait until they get all their results and put it all in just one final academic article.

I was able to breastfeed... but if I weren't, I think I'd welcome this study. Makes for better understanding which formula might be best to buy (those that have fatty acids added).

YuckIHateCheeseStrings · 06/11/2007 18:28

Hunkermunker, you seem to have an axe to grind and have used my post as an opportunity to do so.

I agree, it's sad that some women can't breastfeed (I know a few - all with genuine reasons). We all have different issues that we have to deal with. I should be able to voice my opinins about the nutritional value of brerastfeeding without it being misinterpreted as an attack on those who can't.

VictorianSqualor · 06/11/2007 18:33

I'd like to rephrase what I said earlier.

I have great respect for those who try to breastfeed and for whatever reason cant, and maybe because of these experiences, do not try with a latter child. It is understandable.

I have great respect for those who manage to breastfeed for however long, and encourage them to continue.

I also understand that some people will not try breastfeeding because of attitudes from society or the media etc, and am disappointed for them, because I feel it is a great experience I wish they didn't miss out on.

However it is none of my business, and unless they ask for advice about it or make ridiculous remarks like 12lbnaturally's "Having a baby chomping down on my boobs was not something I ever wanted to do, and all that flopping my knockers out in public was a definite no no" then I won't comment but a comment like that is exactly what makes mothers who are unsure of whether to give it a go or not, decide not to!

I fully understand the pain of wanting to breastfeed and not being able to, I have been there myself, and it is not nice, but IMO awareness is just as important as support.

southeastastra · 06/11/2007 18:37

am i too late to start now? (with my six year old) he could do with some more brain power

LOOBYLOU2 · 06/11/2007 18:40

Getting back to original point .....
My DH was adopted and naturally bottle fed
and went on to get first class law degree.
I breastfed our DD for about five months before going back to work ..... I just hope she's "inherited" enough of his genes rather than rely on my 2:2

pointydog · 06/11/2007 19:05

lol southers

a rush on bf in time for the SATs might be worthwhile

pointydog · 06/11/2007 19:07

loads of individuals can come on with their own individual stories of formula-fuelled brain power. AT least research does try to be objective and robust. Well... dependin gon the funder I suppose.

LittleBella · 06/11/2007 19:28

Those of you who don't understand why some women won't even try to bf - read flopping her knockers outin public woman's post.

It's exactly attitudes like that which are all-pervasive in our society and intimidate women from even trying. We shouldn't be blaming individual women, we should be blaming a lack of will from the state, the medical profession, the media and all of us, for creating the conditions where because of the over-sexualisation of breasts, the ignorance of the mechanics of bf and the lack of support from the law for women to feed without harrassment, it is possible for this sort of attitude to be normal.

tiktok · 06/11/2007 20:05

LittleBella - I agree. It is a public health matter, a social issue, and one where we can all play our part.

I don't blame people for not breastfeeding - how ridiculous that would be.

I do feel other women could take responsibility for the words that come out of their mouths, though - and just think about the effect they might have on someone's else's attitude and feelings. If someone thinks breastfeeding equals 'chomping' and bf in public is 'flopping your knockers out' then I suppose they can't help thinking that .... but why don't they keep the idea to themselves?

Who on earth benefits when people air those views on a forum?

MamaCocoon · 06/11/2007 20:17

Great to hear BF in the news again - will be good for my new business venture I have started www.mamacocoon.com selling organic cotton maternity and nursing tops also swedish designer clothes bara Glad. Please come and shop here so I can stay looking after my twins a bit longer!

LittleBella · 06/11/2007 20:17

Ah well... lots of people don't think of the effect their words will have. And to be fair, some are completely unaware that their words will have any effect at all, until they come on forums like this and find out...

StrawberryMartini · 06/11/2007 20:27

I knew a woman who treated her body like a temple when she was pregnant. Made sure everything she ate was organic, didn't touch a drop of alcohol, no caffeine etc. Yet she had no plans to breastfeed, and indeed didn't breastfeed. I cannot understand this. She wanted the best for her child while it was in the womb, yet didn't blink at giving it second best once it was born.

Breastfeeding is the most selfless thing a mother can do for her child. I 'couldn't' breastfeed, but had milk so expressed it. I would like to know some of these genuine reasons that women give for not being able to give their baby breastmilk, even if it's just for the first few weeks. A friend of mine did have a genuine reason. She had no milk whatsoever, it never came in. That along with beast surgery complications seem to be the only two valid reasons I can think of for not bf, unless someone can enlighten me.

StrawberryMartini · 06/11/2007 20:28

That's breast surgery complications .

LittleBella · 06/11/2007 20:35

SM, women don't need "valid reasons" not to bf.

In a society which discourages bf, it is not unreasonable for a large percentage of women not to do it.

The point is, to change society, not to bitch at the women who absorb its mores.

StrawberryMartini · 06/11/2007 20:37

Sorry I disagree. I think they do need a valid reason to not even give colostrum or bm in the first few days.

LittleBella · 06/11/2007 20:47

Why? To whom are they required to present their valid reasons?

Theochris · 06/11/2007 20:55

Hi, I'm mostly a lurker But I felt I would like to say that I was lucky and got great BF support on the NHS. Mostly from health visitors. My local authority runs a BF clinic with squash and biccies 4 days out of five where you can turn up for help or just to feed and chat. I attended a couple of times with early worries. While I was there I saw a woman with a 1 yr old and asking for help cutting down night feeds. They were encouraging and supportive and full of nice things to say about her son. I remember it well as I thought, "1, gosh I won't be feeding then" and here I am nearly 14 months later

They were really supportive when I went back to work at 9 months and thought I'd have to ween, they had all sorts of suggestions and generally were again quite encouraging, most of this was at the weighing clinics. Sorry this has turned into an essay but I have thought for a while I should say that I got loads of support, I guess not every one is so lucky.

I mean once in a while someone makes a silly comment, (my boss muttered something about yurts the other day when he found out I was still BF)