Could somebody please explain to me why the promotion of FF would be such a bad thing?

[conniedescending]

because as long as they don't say or imply its better than BF then I can't really see the problem? Or why we have to get hysterical about how other people feed their babies?

maybe if FF was made out to be not such a bad thing then there would be more mothers actually bf'ing for longer and with subsequent children as they could be supported by mixed feeding their children.

Really ? HVs refusing to discuss FF? I was under the impression both the MW in the 4(!) hospitals i have given birth and the HVs I have been so unfortunate to come across were all working for some FF-company. None of them knew much about bf except what they had come across on a poster on the wall perhaps and I had the feeling none of them had actual experience of BF themselves. You really need bf-supporter on hospital wards to help new mums, but most likely that would just been seen as "pressure" on new mums

I think most women start ff on the hospital wards. They want to feed their babies and worry because they don't have any milk yet. Noone bothers to explain to them that the milk comes in after a few days. There are noone to reassure them.

"I don't think anyone should be made to feel bad about what is easiest, prefferred or sometimes the only option for them"

No - of course nobody should set out to deliberately make anyone feel bad, but I'd tentatively suggest that this doesn't actually occur anywhere nearly as often as people say it does. HP's have a professional duty to make sure that mothers are making an informed decision when they stop breastfeeding or decide not to bf in the first place. I think there's very, very good evidence that many women make this choice without being fully or even partially aware of the possible health implications for their babies. Mums HAVE to be told about this - they really do. And of course when they are told they feel bad and experience this as bullying and pressure and deliberate guilt tripping - but it's really not.

As for the quality of the evidence that health professionals refer to - most don't have the skills or the time to trawl through individual studies in detail. But then they don't really have to if organisations like the NHS, the WHO and UNICEF have done large scale reviews of a range of studies and made recommendations based on their findings. That's why most HV's and MW's will only mention gastro-enteritis, respiratory disease, atopic disease, diabetes, obesity, infections and admissions to hospital as risks connected with ff and generally not refer to things like leukaemia and cancer, as there is still still significant debate about whether there is a connection with infant feeding.

DKMA - I'm wondering if the research on mental health and its infant feeding your HV referred to was that done by the Telethon institute in Australia a couple of years back. Do you remember? I'd be very interested to know what your professor friend's concern about this study was - I haven't haven't been able to track down any analysis of this study at all.

I resent being told I am scaremongering - I gave the information I was asked for. Am I to say, 'ooh, no, I can't answer that because it's a bit too fwwightening....' or do I say, as I did, 'here are some research papers - take a look'.

K999 - sounds to me that you were given wrong info about having to switch to formula. Secondary lactose intolerance - that is, LI that develops after birth as a result of gastro-enteritis - is a temporary condition, that usually clears up by itself. Very rarely, babies may need a short time on a lactose-free formula, if they are very poorly indeed. They can then go back to full bf. The vast majority of babies with secondary LI just need to continue to breastfeed, as the healing properties of breastfeeding do the job.

You would not be the first mother to be told to switch by a healthcare professional without any good reason though - not your fault at all that their level of knowledge is so poor.

I'll try and find a link to show you info about secondary lactose intolerance.

By youngbutnotdumb on Sat 03-May-08 00:13:01
Well said DKMA-

A new strategy is needed to promote BF but also too market and inform us on the truths of FF so that those who can't/don't want to BF so we can all make a practical and realistic decision based on the facts not the fancy packaging or peer pressure some may feel on either side.

Exactly what we were saying on the other thread
Pleased you finally agree.

K999 - here is info on treatment of secondary LI:

www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/lactose.html

Thanks for that.

You're welcome....and I'd be interested if you think the doc did misinform you