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?

I breastfed, formula fed and expressed and I was in my maternity jeans for 6 months

I'm pregnant atm and if bf works out this time around how does it work regarding allergies, I never looked into it before because I was swamped by information.

I suffer from hay fever and eczema so I guess I have no resistance or whatever you would call it therefore offer no protection to baby from them? If that makes sense..

@Shmithecat2 so I don't think that's a proven BF factor that if you BF you will be back in your clothes quicker 🤷🏼‍♀️

@grumpyorange if it was purely down to choice then why do the FF get so angry with the BF when it's pointed out what is best for baby. It's a fact of life unfortunately that there is nothing better than a mother's milk made especially for baby.
I'm entitled to my opinion as you are yours if you FF then that was your call. Your decision.
My decision is what's BEST for MY baby

@grumpyorange the release of oxytocin which is stimulated by breastfeeding helps your uterus contact back to normal size quicker.

Studies on breastmilk long term benefits are limited in the way that literally every study on any lifestyle factors are. There are thousands upon thousands of confounding factors. There really aren't that many studies on breastfeeding surprisingly, probably because it can’t be monetised and it’s an issue that affects women and infants who are voiceless. What we know about breastmilk as a substance and the physiology of it concludes that formula can and will never compare to it. They are two completely different feeding methods and substances. So no, you can’t quantify benefits of it beyond infancy, not sure anyone has actually claimed you can. Even taking into account the MN gospel ‘sibling study’ (which has limitations too but we won’t mention those) Breastfeeding will reduce a babies chance of gastro illness in the 1st year of life. It has health benefits for women. Formula feeding has a massive environmental impact and is costly. Considering how many families are living in poverty and watering down formula that’s quite a big issue. And I’m talking about the U.K., not the developing world.

www.itv.com/news/2018-11-14/cost-of-infant-formula-having-significant-impact-on-family-budgets-report/

I suffer from hay fever and eczema so I guess I have no resistance or whatever you would call it therefore offer no protection to baby from them? If that makes sense..

It doesn’t work like that. Allergy is an auto immune response, it’s not caused by anything attacking the body from the outside. You can’t have a resistance to getting allergies. Your baby will probably be more likely to suffer allergy as inheritance plays a part. No one knows why allergies occur. There is strong evidence that earlier weaning (from 17 weeks) can help prevent food allergies. I have 2 dc both b/fed, one with a severe allergy, the other has not shown any symptoms of it yet (touch wood). I did wean dc 2 earlier after reading about the LEAP study and on advice of several doctors.

@MondeoFan unfortunately I didn't get to read you deleted post. Clearly aimed at me. What was it you had to say about me? Please tell me?

Like I said, for me formula feeding WAS best for my child @MondeoFan

I BF and I’m still not back into my pre pregnancy clothes 7 years on 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm due in 6weeks.
I won't be pressured into breastfeeding, i don't intend on breastfeeding either.
I've read alot of this thread & think it's absolutely ridiculous the way people are judged for not breastfeeding.
What happened to respecting peoples decisions.

*mondeo

"I don't intend on breastfeeding"

🤦🏻‍♀️

Don't the UK statistics suggest about 80% of new mothers initiate breastfeeding and then breastfeeding rates drop? This seems to suggest that most women wish to breastfeed but something is going wrong.

And yes I've also had experience of FF mums who have felt the need to justify their decision to me. One time it was when I was still pregnant, I hadn't even brought up the topic of feeding. I would never ask an individual mum to justify how she feeds her child to me.

I can't help but notice that it's FF mums that seem to be very defensive and seeking validation. I don't see why anyone should have to pretend the two methods are equal just for this reason. We are allowed to acknowledge breastmilk in of itself has advantages.

I'm not a FF mum, unless you consider the time I got dehydrated to have permanently tainted my baby forever, and I still think you all should jump off other people's tits.

Isn't infant feeding part of bonding Maybe, but it's not the be all and end all of bonding, is it?

You literally saw a snapshot of their life, and thought it wold be ok to judge them on it?

Otherwise your post is really just and anti-bottled feeding rant isn't it?

@darrenlacey what's your issue?
I wont explain myself, but for me it just would not work.

@Cherryblossomsnow I never saw the post and would like to know what was said

@happymummy12345 I never saw it either but they have been generally rude and trying to stir up a reaction so I am ignoring their nonsense now

@Zoey92 my issue is unless there is a physical or psychological issue (I.e previous sexual abuse ) then not to at least give your baby colostrum and just saying "I dont intend on breastfeeding" is thoughtless and selfish - IMO

@Peapod29 thanks for replying in response to the eczema and hay fever question. I thought breastfeeding reduces the risk of the baby getting it? Is that still the case if mum has it?

@darrenlacey - your opinion is yours only

@Cherryblossomsnow you should read the discussion guidelines e.g. no personal attacks. You said you will ignore their nonsense now, that's probably a wise decision if you have nothing sensible to contribute. The only nonsense here has been personal attacks and rude language targeted at a few posters.

@Raaaa