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

[FourArms]

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.

absolutely no way! far more important things to petition for. not formula fgs!!

I'm so relieved to see that the response to this was less militant than I thought it might be. Totally stupid idea - and so sanctimonious!

No way.

I would sign petitions about advertising and branding, especially to not permit the same branding on infant and follow on milks (to close the loophole for adverts), but suggesting people who choose to can't buy it is madness, and a massive waste of GPs time...

Absolutely no way.

ok...yes i agree that for the 2% who have medical reasons for being unable to bf then formula should totally be available on prescription - it would be a medical necessity.

otherwise its a bit daft - if you could claim formula on prescription i dont see how you couldn't claim pretty much any other food products on the nhs.

plus theres no way call me dave would justify the expense!

"better than the current situation?" - What do you mean by that?

If it is true that FF fed babies have more illness than breastfed babies and the idea is to save the NHS millions, what they should be doing is investing in providing proper support for mothers who want to breastfeed.
I desperately wanted to breastfeed but did not realise how hard it would be for me and for DS, despite all the research I had done and confidence I had that it would work out. I had about 10 different people trying to help me when I was on the maternity ward, so everytime someone new came over I felt like I was starting all over again, everyone had their own personal ideas about what to do and they didn't really have the time to devote to this because the place was run to capacity and massively over stretched. More resources for maternity units is what's needed!

And how exactly would a doctor be able to determine the reason why the bf wasn't working out without spending at least 24 hours with you or something?
As already said by many posters on here, this is a ludicrous idea.

Absolutely Not.

I wanted to bf but had a prem baby was unable to latch so I expressed for a week and it was the longest week of my life. I have since been made to feel guilty for giving up too easily!!! Believe me it wasn't easy but my DS is happy and very healthy at 6 months having been ff ever since.

Absolutely, categorically not.

(a) my child/my choice - if anyone wants to FF it's up to them.

(b) it wouldn't reduce costs for the NHS as most GPs would be very sympathetic and thus the cost of the milk would transferred from private to public purse - you can bet that a prescription would be for months' worth of formula, not just a couple of tins.

Another no here too.

I'm all for breastfeeding, but I think there are bigger problems in this country these days than whether babies are breastfed or not and I just don't get this nanny-state attitude of wanting the government to control and take responsibility for every little aspect of our lives.

If a woman wants to breastfeed then she should be given good support to be able to do so. This support should be easily available, free and from individuals who have been well-trained in this area.

However, if a woman does not want to breastfeed, that is her choice. No new mother should be made to feel pressured into breastfeeding against her will and nor should she be made to feel like she is any less of a mother for her choice.

People have many different reasons for choosing not to breastfeed and they should not need to have those reasons "validated" by a doctor or midwife in order to prove themselves.

Oh crap, privet....I misread what you wrote!

"that it should be available on prescription for people who can't (rather than won't) b/feed"

I read it as "available on prescription for people who can't (or rather won't)

Am sorry for my rant, in my defence, it was late here & I was trying to get to bed!

Rob1n When I said: 'I don't think there is any way this would happen now in the UK, but would it be better than the current situation?' I meant the current low bf rates in the UK. I do believe that exclusively bf babies are healthier and suffer less illnesses. Yes, more support would be the ideal, and as someone is pro-bf, I am training to be a peer supporter to work on post-natal wards so I can help people who are struggling. Hopefully I can be the person who can devote a few hours to one mum and baby and make a difference. We'll see...

No!

No.

(otoh would make it a damn sight cheaper as I cant see average gp refusing to prescribe it!)

Nope. Not helpful at all.

Ah phew, differentname good morning!

So, fourarms, would you sign it?

no.

More bf support (at new mums houses, not halfway across town), fully paid 1 months paternity leave for dads and mothers helps on the nhs would raise the bf levels much more good than banning formula.

No, absolutely not.

It seems to be based on the idea that women are too stupid to make their own decisions and need to be controlled by doctors.

No PrivetDancer.

No way.
All the arguments have been given really. Clogging up doctor's surgeries, waste of public money, some mothers might switch to cow's milk too early to save themselves hassle. And it's santimonious shite.

I would sign such a petition if the word "only" was omitted. I seriously objected to having to pay £6 upwards a time for something that by rights should have been free if things had worked out properly. I can get E45 and Calpol on prescription till it's coming out of my (or should I say DS's) ears - why not formula if it's medically necessary?

Hell no, I hope that the PM does not take that seriously. This sort of thing helps proliferate the sterotypes of bf matrons or nazies and does NOTHING to promote bf whatsoever.

Gaelicsheep totally agree with you on that, but conditions should not be included. It should be a medical right if bf is not going well and the baby is loosing weight and health affected. Why should we pay for what should be a babies biological need to be fed.

Having read the title of the petition now, it would need fundamentally rewording for me to support it, omitting all the b/f stuff. But my sentiments still stand - formula should be available on prescription to those who need it.