Breast vs. bottle (am I brave or insane?)

[emkana]

article in Times today

What interests me, both in this article and in previous threads on the Mumsnet, is how there is a feeling that the "breastfeeding lobby" or "mafia" as I believe it has been called is regarded as so powerful and influential and as having such a large impact on new mothers everywhere to make their lives an utter misery. I just can't see it! I see formula etc. on sale everywhere, articles on how to bottlefeed in every baby magazine, which always always say that you shouldn't feel guilty for bottlefeeding, I see bottlefeeding on TV, I see bottlefeeding celebrities, bottlefeeding mothers at toddler groups...
Breastfeeding? I vaguely remember a poster on the maternity ward, but it wasn't particularly in your face. I might have been given a leaflet on breastfeeding by the midwife. That's it.

I just don't get it, I really don't.
I don't mean to upset anyone, by the way. I'm just genuinely interested in your experiences. Honestly.

this site really does get worse.........

i am lost?

In Sweden rates in hospital are 90 percent for bf and 70 per cent 6 months later. I dont think they are physiologically different to the UK who's rates are far lower so something must be different.

no, I don't think that they are lying, but I do think that you are making too much of it. It is as though you are some kind of expert.

And it would seem that yes it is doing a Suzy Wong!

If their women are getting the necessary support and assuming they're not bf as they feel guilty not to then perhaps the UK could learn something from them about how to support all those women who wanted to bf but were unable to.

Whispers >Hercules the swedish women have numb boobs with bigger holes in!!!

can someone explain the Suzywong thing?

Flossam

suzywong will always ask "has this thing kicked off yet?"

Am off to bed now.

Good night.

so I'm making too much of my SIL being openly relieved at being able to call me and ask a few simple (well to most of us) questions about bf and me telling her - after she'd asked all of her immidiate family (my oldest SIL, her mother and other female relatives - all of whom she's close to) and been told "just put the baby on the breast like every other woman does"

Suzy Wong is always quoted as saying: "has it kicked off yet?". So in my mind when a thread starts to kick off I say that it's doing a Suzy Wong. No offense Suzy!

what about Sweden?

QoQ I think that you just want a fight and to be honest there really are more important things.

I respect the rights of your SIL to ask you for advice and ask questions etc. However, I do not think, that you can speak for ALL African women. You certainly don't speak for my experience or the experience of the many women that I know within my family or wide circle of friends.

None taken Marslady

I've just got up and haven't read all this thread, tell me is it same old same old or anything new?

sameold, sameold allbeit a slight variation.

nothing new. I don't normally get involved but felt the need to speak up tonight.

to be honest I was going to YAWN, but my goat was got!

I am never ever going to take part in a weaning or bf thread again. Life really is too short.

how very tedious

"QoQ I think that you just want a fight and to be honest there really are more important things. "

oh so it's ok to start a thread (which was always going to be controversial) but not to disagree with it??

FGS this site has become very pathetic in recent months

so it's ok for you to disagree with me because your "goat was got" but it's not ok for others to disagree????

well I hear that they are missing you on BW, so if it's too pathetic for you here.........

The only breastfeeding 'mafia' I've come across is on this site - just a select few (not naming names).

Everyone in RL supportive of whatever is best for both Mummy and baby IME.

Bagsy me be Rober De Niro

I'll be Al Pacino, love him

but who's going to be Joe Pesci?