"there is no medical evidence to show that BF is better than FF when in that particular circumstance the latter happens to be better for that particular mother for their well being....and their never will be......"
So are you making a case that if a mum doesn't want to breastfeed - maybe because she finds it inconvenient/and/or embarrassing, she wants her sleep at night, doesn't want to have to wear manky nursing bras etc, but she does it because she feels it's best for her baby - then her baby will not experience the benefits of breastfeeding? That somehow, because its mother isn't entirely happy with her feeding choice her baby WON'T therefore receive protection against diabetes, diarrheoa etc?
That somehow not 'enjoying' breastfeeding makes all the hard health benefits that come with it somehow disappear....
hmmmmmmm
What do you suppose the mechanism for that might be?
Does finding breastfeeding emotionally/socially or physically difficult make all the antibodies and probiotics disappear from your milk or something? Or will not actively 'enjoying' breastfeeding (even though you're enjoying holding, loving and being with your baby) somehow damage them emotionally to the point where it'll compromise their immune system?
Have to say - that's the best one I've heard yet.
I didn't enjoy feeding much with my first initially - found it embarrassing, painful and quite stressful. I carried on because I thought it was the best thing for her and eventually it all came good (as it usually does if you can get through the tough bit at the beginning). Do you think that those weeks when I was struggling with breastfeeding I was damaging my child? Because I thought I was just loving her and being a good mum. Bf was hard and I did shed some tears over it - but it didn't make me hate her or be abusive to her. If I'd developed PND related to bf difficulties then - yes - I can understand that if untreated then PND in a mother can be very destructive for babies - but simply not actively 'enjoying' breastfeeding? Or finding it embarrassing or inconvenient? It never occured to me that you had to 'love' breastfeeding to want to do it for your child. I don't much like changing nappies or helping my child with her homework but I do it because it's part of the package and it's important for them.
Scottishmummy
"there is no definitive medical evidence/ebm/peer reviewed data to show FF is harmful"
Actually there's plenty - sorry but there is. There's clear evidence that populations of ff and mixed fed babies in developed countries have FAR higher rates of hospital admission for diarrheoa and vomiting, and for respitory infections. If you feel this information is spurious I suggest you write to the chief executive of the NHS and ask to have this information taken off the NHS Direct website, and removed from all current NHS evidence based patient information on infant feeding. You might also want to write to the Royal College of Midwives and request they remove references to this research from their current textbooks which are on every student midwife's reading list. While you're at it you can contact UNICEF and the World Health Organisation as their recommendation on 6 months exclusive breastfeeding are based on this research as well.
Unless you think that the NHS, the WHO, Unicef and the Royal College of Midwives (not to forget the American Academy of Paediatrics) are also a bunch of breastfeeding nazis/zealots etc as well who are just out to befuddle mothers with medically unsupported recommendations.....