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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Mumsnet undermining breastfeeding mothers

9 replies

AbsolutePixels · 30/04/2023 17:07

This Mumsnet advertisement for MAM dummies and bottles is so undermining of breastfeeding:
https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/daily-newborn-routines

Firstly, the whole idea of getting a newborn into a routine, and feeding them according to the clock is so unhelpful because to establish breastfeeding, babies need to be demand fed!

Secondly, they promote the use of dummies without explaining how they can disrupt the establishment of breastfeeding and cause supply problems.

Then they describe how a woman can use formula to supplement poor supply, without discussing how detrimental top-ups can be to longterm breastfeeding, how a woman can boost her supply, or how often women's fears that they have low supply are unfounded.

It's so disappointing that Mumsnet have decided to make a quick buck peddling this dishonest, one-sided rubbish, which is totally at odds with the International Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.

By the way, this isn't a post intended to trash mums who use formula or dummies. I used both, but would have dearly loved to breastfeed my child.

Real mums share their daily routines with their newborns | Mumsnet

To help you establish a newborn routine that works for your baby, we’ve asked three mums to share their own daily schedules.

https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/daily-newborn-routines

OP posts:
Wenfy · 30/04/2023 17:10

Mumsnet gets it’s ad money from mums who buy formula. It’s a sad fact and it has long been suspected that’s the reason why they ‘encourage’ hounding of breastfeeding support threads. My sister had nct classes recently where they advised mums to stay off mumsnet and go to other, less sponsor led, forums for breastfeeding support.

Topseyt123 · 30/04/2023 17:12

I formula fed from day one and felt that the pro-breastfeeding arguments were given so much prominence that they dissed my choice to use formula.

Everyone does what works best for them and their babies. That's all there is to it.

Original poster
AbsolutePixels · 30/04/2023 17:17

Wenfy · 30/04/2023 17:10

Mumsnet gets it’s ad money from mums who buy formula. It’s a sad fact and it has long been suspected that’s the reason why they ‘encourage’ hounding of breastfeeding support threads. My sister had nct classes recently where they advised mums to stay off mumsnet and go to other, less sponsor led, forums for breastfeeding support.

Shocking. I work with expectant mothers and will now do likewise.

OP posts:
Original poster
AbsolutePixels · 30/04/2023 17:23

Topseyt123 · 30/04/2023 17:12

I formula fed from day one and felt that the pro-breastfeeding arguments were given so much prominence that they dissed my choice to use formula.

Everyone does what works best for them and their babies. That's all there is to it.

However women want to feed their baby, I support them 100%. But it becomes difficult for women to make informed decisions when organisations like Mumsnet peddle deceptive half-truths.

OP posts:
Original poster
AbsolutePixels · 30/04/2023 17:24

Should have added... also some of the information in this advertisement could end up sabotaging a woman who dearly wishes to breastfeed her baby...

OP posts:
Wenfy · 30/04/2023 17:28

Topseyt123 · 30/04/2023 17:12

I formula fed from day one and felt that the pro-breastfeeding arguments were given so much prominence that they dissed my choice to use formula.

Everyone does what works best for them and their babies. That's all there is to it.

They get given prominence because Mumsnet either deliberately create the thread (and the OP disappears magically when real posters know how hard it is to get anything deleted on here) or they encourage other posters to ‘hound’ the poster off the forum.

It happens so often that official / hospital / expert led breastfeeding support groups even advise users to stay off MN.

Original poster
AbsolutePixels · 30/04/2023 17:34

I don't usually hang out on Infant Feeding because my DCs older now. So what happens, someone asks for breastfeeding support and then there's a bun fight?

OP posts:
RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 17:39

100% agree.

This content is being widely promoted across the site. I have seen it and I do not actively read the boards aimed at pregnant women or new mums as my kids are older.

Companies like MAM and the formula companies create content like this purely to get around the ban on marketing first stage formula.

And we wonder why UK breastfeeding rates are so low.

Original poster
AbsolutePixels · 30/04/2023 17:46

I'm actually so angry about this, I want to report it. Does anyone know who sanctions breaches of the International Code on the Market of Breastmilk Substitutes, is it the Advertising Standards Agency?

OP posts:
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