Bottle feeding culture in the UK

[TeenyQueen]

This morning I saw a Facebook photo of my former colleague's newborn baby being bottle fed by her older sister (toddler). I suppose it was a cute photo, but I fundamentally disagree with the idea that anyone should be able to bottle feed a baby. What I mean is not just the baby's parents but all sorts of friends and relatives. Isn't infant feeding part of bonding? When did it become a 'thing' for siblings to feed a newborn?

I have three issues with this. 1. Breastfeeding mums are still being told that breastfeeding in public is undesirable and photos of breastfeeding are censored on social media (but it's ok to have pictures of bottle feeding).

1. We seem to be moving away from this idea that feeding a baby is part of social interaction and bonding between the baby and parent.
2. We're teaching young children that bottle feeding is the normal and usual thing to do and breastfeeding is not.

FYI the baby was in a completely wrong position for feeding anyway and didn't look very comfortable.

Any thoughts?

@CayrolBaaaskin Even the formula companies acknowledge that none of their artifical products are as beneficial to baby as breastmilk.

@sqirrelfriends - you were wrong. I got all the breastfeeding propaganda too and now I’m pretty disappointed with the NHS. Interestingly enough I had a private obgyn with dd2 who told me there was no difference

@sqirrelfriends and as I've been saying all along it depends on your area. In my area breastfeeding is the norm. You never really see anyone feeding via a bottle and our area has signs for pretty much every shop saying BF is welcomed etc.
Both BF and FF should be considered normal as at the end of the day you are just feeding your baby.

However going off at someone because they took a picture FF is wrong the same way that if OP had complained about a BF picture it would've been wrong

Oh god, you people don't listen. Of course formula is better than nothing, or better for a mother who has trauma or PND or any other reason. But breastmilk is healthier, it's a fact. I'm sorry you don't like facts and they upset you.

@RainMinusBow again still no conclusive evidence formula feeding makes any difference

@sqirrelfriends - it’s you who doesn’t like facts and is getting upset. There isn’t difference in outcomes to babies and we need to take into account the cost to mothers on their mental and physical health.
.

@CayrolBaaaskin breastfeeding leads to lower levels of PND overall. Of course if someone is suffering and breastfeeding is a factor then they should consider formula.

@sqirrelfriends - lol at breastfeeding lowering PND. I was told by a Nhs Midwife breastfeeding would protect against all sorts of things like autism and eczema. Luckily I was smart enough to look into myself and realise it wasn’t true .

@CayrolBaaaskin very lucky you protected you baby from that poisonous breastmilk.

You believe breastmilk has no advantages, I disagree, let's leave it at that.

Now on one hand I do believe if you can bF you should. However if baby for what ever reason is having a bottle, why can,t a family member feed to baby. Do we say mum has to do all the nappies, all the baths ect. I met myum is still doing the lions share of the feeds.

Front screen of SMA formula website (Nestlé no less-see previous scandal from history). Guess this is a legal requirement to present this information now...

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. SMA® Nutrition fully supports this and continued breastfeeding, along with the introduction of complementary foods as advised by your healthcare professional.

The best way to feed a baby is to breastfeed, as breast milk provides the ideal balanced diet and protection against illness for your baby and also many non-nutritional benefits for both baby and mother. We recommend that you speak to your healthcare professional when deciding on your choice of feeding your baby. Professional guidance should also be sought on the preparation for and maintenance of breastfeeding. If you do choose to breastfeed, it's important to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Infant formula is intended to replace breast milk when mothers choose not to breastfeed or if for some reason they are unable to do so. A decision not to breastfeed, or to introduce partial bottle-feeding, will reduce the supply of breast milk.

If for any reason you choose not to breastfeed, do remember that such a decision can be difficult to reverse. Using infant formula also has social and financial implications which must be considered. Infant formula should always be prepared, used and stored as instructed on the label, in order to avoid risks to a baby's health, as advised by your healthcare professional.
When introducing weaning foods, remember that they need to be suitable and safe, and fed appropriately to minimise any risk to your baby's health. The pages ahead and other subsequent communications we may have with you provide you with information on infant feeding and SMA® Nutrition products, including infant formula.

If you continue you will be accepting that SMA® Nutrition is supplying this information at your individual request and for educational purposes only.

I agree with you OP but the way you've wrote your post is abit.. ermm.. harsh.
I bottle fed my first but breastfed my second and although it was alot harder as she refused a dummy and EBM from a bottle, the benefits were worth it IMO. I've noticed a huge difference in bond, development and how strong my BF childs immune system is compared to my first.
I wouldn't judge another for not breastfeeding but I do disagree with how promoted bottle feeding is in the UK yet breastfeeding is so stigmatised.

I've got a photo on my wall of ds1 feeding ds2 a bottle of expressed breastmilk. Ds1 was just over 2 years and ds2 was about 3 months. He wanted a go so I let him try for a couple of minutes and took a photo. I was feeding him from the bottle anyway, I wouldn't have expressed specifically for ds1 to feed ds2. Ds1 was chuffed to bits and it's one of my favourite photos of them both.

@CayrolBaaaskin your made up link between PND/poor maternal health is a very good example of the culture we have in the UK. Breastfeeding = bad for mum, hard, painful, you'll get depressed and exhausted vs formula= Happy mum, no sleep deprivation, anyone can feed the baby, how lovely! This is definitely the case on this forum.

There is no link between breastfeeding and PND, successful breastfeeding lowers the risk of PND. Difficulty with breastfeeding can increase the risk of PND but the biggest risk of all is having a baby, so should we not have babies in case we get PND following that logic? No one knows if they will find breastfeeding easy or not until they try it, if it's hard there is support out there, if it doesn't work out then formula is available.

For the record my breastfeeding experience has been pretty smooth, fed DD for the first time in recovery after an emergency c section, continued to bf her whilst we were both being treated for sepsis. Nipples were hurting for the first week, after which I had no problems whatsoever.

Well put OP, I doubt you'll be able to change her mind though.

I don’t think there’s a bottle feeding culture at all. In fact, with my first, I felt horribly judged for bottle feeding! Breastfeeding was heavily pushed (and rightly) but I couldn’t & I felt horrible. I’ve experienced less this time, probably as I’m doing all this with experience & was confident in my choice. But a health visitor recently expressed her surprise that I used a sling & local sling library and that baba has naps in it. She didn’t think it would be ‘my thing’ as I don’t breast feed 🤯 shockingly, I do enjoy cuddling & being close to my baby. I do love her with all my heart. I am fully bonded and enjoying our first few months very much. I’m just not breast feeding.

My OH feeds our daughter and our 3 year old had a go for about 5 seconds with our support before deciding it was boring 😂 obviously, not seeing family at the mo but with my eldest her grandparents fed her too.. safe to say I have a wonderful, loving, happy relationship with my eldest daughter!

Get off your high, opinionated horse OP. You want to breastfeed and believe you have a more magical bond than those you look down on for bottle feeding, then go ahead. 🙄

Those of you who feel "judged" for formula feeding: how many negative comments did you actually get and what did people say?

Breast feeding mums are also judged and people say things like: "yuk", "you're just doing it for yourself", "breasts are for husbands, not babies", "disgusting", "you'll get droopy boobs", "are you going to breast feed until he goes to school", "there's something sexual about it", "it's not neccesary", "it's ok as long as you don't do it in public", "you're just like a cow".

@Abbccc

Oh you aren't breastfeeding, why aren't you breastfeeding, only 1% of women can't breastfeed so I doubt you were one of those, you're not giving you baby the best start in life, you'll never bond with your baby, did you even try and breastfeed, your baby will never have a high IQ with that milk, you're damaging your baby, you're baby will always be behind, you're so selfish that you didn't breastfeed, do you not care that your baby has a greater chance of SIDS

@grumpyorange I think you might need to surround yourself with more positive people. I have friends who have formula fed and none had any comments like that, in fact the only thing they moaned about was the feeding question every time they met a new midwife of HV.

@Abbccc same, someone I'm very close to (and didn't expect this from) told me that kids who are breastfeed end up having inappropriate feelings for their mothers (not envy)

Also the boob droop I hear all the time, it's a myth wand my boobs look great thank you very much

For any woman who comes to this thread looking for advice, or because you're feeling bad - FED IS BEST.

Wow, who's cares if the baby is bottle or breast fed and how lovely the baby gets to bond with both sister and mum, strange outlook on things, op.. Really mind your own business if you are so uptight about things

Op, after reading all your posts, you have not made one valid point, I actually feel sorry for your children that they will grow up with such a small minded mother, I hope they don't choose to FF your grandchildren God forbid

I think the OP and a few others on here have 'issues' over the subject which need sorting.

The bitterness over formula feeding is unreal.

@CayrolBaaaskin your made up link between PND/poor maternal health is a very good example of the culture we have in the UK. Breastfeeding = bad for mum, hard, painful, you'll get depressed and exhausted vs formula= Happy mum, no sleep deprivation, anyone can feed the baby, how lovely! This is definitely the case on this forum.

@Raaaa what's there to be bitter about? It doesn't affect us BF mums if you give your baby formula, we're just curious why it's the cultural norm. I would have a look throughout the thread at which side has been slinging insults before you go calling people bitter.