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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Would you sign a petition to make formula only available on prescription?

310 replies

FourArms · 17/02/2010 08:35

I've just been sent a link to this petition.

I don't think there is any way this would happen now in the UK, but would it be better than the current situation?

The further petition details are:

Breastfeeding has always, and will always be the best way to feed a baby. If Infant Formula Milk is only available on prescription, it will mean that a mother will have to physically talk to her doctor about any issues (including physical, emotional and mental)she has with breastfeeding. This will mean that the incidence of breastfeeding will increase and the level of support that women have with their breastfeeding will also increase. It will also mean that there will be fewer illnesses in babies and young children, costing the NHS millions less in resources, and leading to a generally healthier population.

OP posts:
BooHooo · 17/02/2010 08:36

No

SofaQueen · 17/02/2010 08:36

Absolutely not! Why shouldn't people be able to choose and decide for themselves (as long as they are informed and blah de blah...)

ditavonteesed · 17/02/2010 08:37

Absolutly not, what a gaurenteed way to make new mums feel even worse about themselves.

DuelingFanjo · 17/02/2010 08:38

No - I certainly wouldn't. Fags, yes. Formula, no! what an awful idea.

liath · 17/02/2010 08:39

No, I'd never sign a petition like that. Lunacy!

LadyintheRadiator · 17/02/2010 08:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mii · 17/02/2010 08:39

No

And I am a peer breastfeeding supporter at the hospital who would love to see the numbers going up for BF.

But nobody should ever have to explain their own very personal reasons for not bfing if they don't want to, we thankfully do not live in a police state.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 17/02/2010 08:39

No

ButterPie · 17/02/2010 08:40

I dunno, if you have to use formula, would it not make you feel better to have it acknowledged that it is a medical necessity? When I had to give DD1 formula, I felt so guilty, I always worried people thought I was someone who hadn't even tried.

thighsmadeofcheddar · 17/02/2010 08:40

No. How ridiculous.

Blackduck · 17/02/2010 08:45

No. In the end how I feed my baby is my choice and this is limiting (potentially) my choice.

Wheelybug · 17/02/2010 08:46

Absolutely not.

I formula fed dd1 as she had IUGR, came out early so guess I would have been 'allowed' formula. DD2 was breast fed.

Firstly, I fully support that people should have choice to do what they want to do (within reason obv but we are fortunate to have a safe, good alternative to breastfeeding)

Its very simplisitc to say things like 'it will cost the NHS less money as there will be fewer illnesses in children'. Apart from the fact dd2 (breastfed) has probably cost the NHS more in illness in 11 months, than dd1 has in 5 years (formula) there would be other issues that will cost money -

  • cost of patients seeing GPs to get prescription and cost to NHS for the cost of the formula over the prescription charge
  • cost of counselling mothers who persevere causing PND etc
  • cost of treating babies with dehydration, undernourishment where women haven't wanted to seek help

Perhaps the money, and lobbying, could be better spent in improving feeding support systems (some help with dd1 but it was terrible and none with dd2).

teasle · 17/02/2010 08:47

no

waitingforbedtime · 17/02/2010 08:49

no

TrinityIsFallingApart · 17/02/2010 08:49

no I wouldn't
and I am desperate to raise the bf numbers

I think the biggest problem is mothers who have babies and dont even think to bf

I mean they dont even give it a thought, not a single glance

to them its not something that is done or even thought about

I'm serious, I know some of them

Blackduck · 17/02/2010 08:50

Actually I'd want hard evidence for a lot of the claims in that statement - where are the trials proving this stuff (can't you tell I am in the middle of reading Bad Science...!)

chibi · 17/02/2010 08:50

mother will have to physically talk to her doctor about any issues (including physical, emotional and mental)she has with breastfeeding.

GPs do not receive much training about breastfeeding. how would making formula available by prescription only change this?

the level of support that women have with their breastfeeding will also increase

again, without more training of GPS, why would this increase? without more funds being plowed into hiring more lactation consultants, where is this support coming from?

If anything, it would cost the NHS more - as well as dealing with the poorer health outcomes (statistically speaking) for ffed infants, they would have to finance their feeding.

the points made by other posters are valid too, so in short, NO!

Original poster
FourArms · 17/02/2010 08:50

I am v.v.v.pro bfing. But apart from the fact that I don't think you could make this work in the real world, I'm not sure I agree with it.

I do think every woman should be informed of the hard facts about ff vs bf before the birth though. I think that bf should not be touted as best. It is the perfect natural, normal and right way to feed a baby. FF is less than perfect. However, if having been given the facts, you make the choice to FF, then it is the choice of the mother to make.

I know many mums have problems with BF, and I do think that most of these could be solved with early expert intervention. I'm currently training to be a peer supporter, and although I thought I knew virtually everything there was to know about bfing (bf 2 DSs for 55m in total), I've still learnt a lot.

OP posts:
abbierhodes · 17/02/2010 08:51

Absolutely bloody ridiculous.

bratnav · 17/02/2010 08:51

No, I fully support bfing and believe that it is the best way to feed a baby, however, there already seems to be a culture of tutting at formula feeding mums and not enough support for those who wish to feed but are having trouble. A petition for increasing bfing counsellors, that I would sign.

Asan aside, DH was rushed into hospital last night and a very kind neighbour offered to have 5mo ds, I had a carton of pre-mixed formula for emergencies which I gave to her. If it was only available on prescription I would have been stuffed and had to take a tiny baby to a&e. An extreme example I admit, but such situations do occur, even to mums like me who have exclusively bfed from the word go.

GreenMonkies · 17/02/2010 08:55

Hmm, I'm tempted to say yes, but I think there is a middle ground.

I do think that those who are really unable to breastfeed (because of lactation issues or maternal medication etc) should get formula (or banked breastmilk) free on prescription, as I think it's unfair that those who have to formula feed and didn't choose to have to pay for it. This might alos encourage Drs to properly research medications and make sure they are or aren't compatible with breastfeeding rather than just saying, "oh, you take paracetamol/anti-depressants (or other safe drug) you shouldn't be breastfeeding" just because it's simpler.

I also think that formula should be less freely available. Not sold in every corner shop etc. Of course, it goes without saying that formula shouldn't be given out free in hospitals either, those who don't wish to breastfeed should have to take their own ready made formula into hospital with them or have to buy it from vending machines.

But at the end of the day, the only way to increase our breastfeeding rates is to make sure every member of staff who comes into contact with pregnant women/new parents has proper, up to date training on breastfeeding support and infant feeding issues, and also make sure that all prospective parents understand the truth about formula. As it stands most people don't really know what it is made from, what the "added extra" ingredients are and how they do (or don't) effect babies growth, immunity and development. This film is very informative, it's not biased, just honest, and tells everyone what they need to know about baby milk.

No, restricting access to formula by making it prescription only isn't the way, not until all NHS staff know how to help mothers get breastfeeding established and all parents know the reality of the difference between breast and formula milk.

But that's Utopia..........

tummytime · 17/02/2010 08:56

No, like others I am bf and keen to gently encourage other people to do so BUT GPs are pretty useless when it comes to bf, certainly can't put in the time to sort out latching probs in 10 minute appt.

The support should be dramatically improved first to enable the huge majority of women who give up bf before they want to to carry on.

rainbowinthesky · 17/02/2010 08:57

I am very pro breastfeeding but I am more pro choice plus all of what chibi said.

So, no.

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 17/02/2010 08:58

No, ridiculous.

SilveryMoon · 17/02/2010 09:02

No way. What a joke of an idea.
People have the right to make their own decisions.
I wouldn't want to feel pressured into bf. Ridiculous.