Patronising messages about formula feeding on formula websites!

[Gemmy96]

This is a bit of a rant so let me know if it would be more appropriate elsewhere.

I exclusively formula feed my child for good reasons. Unavoidable, not-a-choice reasons. When I was researching different options, I came across something that has really pissed me off. On every website I go on once you click "infant formula" there's an incredibly patronising message displayed that requires you to agree that "breastfeeding is best" before you're allowed to see the page! I'm assuming this is due to some kind of regulation. Screenshots attached below.

Am I wrong to think that men would never be expected to click "accept" or "I agree" to this kind of infantilising, shaming nonsense?! Why do we accept this rubbish? I DON'T agree that breastfeeding is always best, fed is!

People have all kinds of reasons for not being able or not wanting to breastfeed and it's often difficult enough without constant reminders that you're apparently not doing quite enough for your child. Sigh.

Meadowtrees, who decides which woman has tried hard enough to breastfeed and is worthy of the prescription formula, and which is just a reckless lazy idiot and must pay??

To be clear @Meadowtrees I chose prior to any thoughts of becoming a parent, so obviously not understandable to you.

And exactly how accessible ar these in store pharmacies? Last time I was in a UK city we couldn't get an open pharmacy for hours. Why would you make a mother's access to food more challenging.

As I’ve stated there should be better support for bf so HCPs would write the prescriptions. The people who weren’t bf through choice would also be paying less than they are now if advertising and branding was outlawed.

Mrs Schubert - people clearly aren’t worried about paying or bf rates would be higher.

Quite simply, this would have killed my baby. It would have been too much of a delay.

You do realise that large areas of the country no longer have easy or immediate access to a pharmacy?! The two closest to where I live have closed down, one has reduced opening hours (and doesn't open at all on Sundays and only half of Saturday). The remaining one always has a massive queue outside now.

There isn't a supermarket nearby with a pharmacy. I get online shopping anyway so wouldn't be able to access but the large supermarkets with in-store pharmacies are all a bus ride away.

Bearing in mind we're talking some poor woman, who is recovering from birth, having to traipse for miles to a pharmacy and then queue just to access formula?!

That's completely crazy.

@RidingMyBike but think of the societal benefits 🤦‍♀️. According to meadow that's the priority. 😉.

Honestly who needs men against us when women are so clueless and ignorant of others perspectives and choices. I am sure the pharmacists would love to add to their brief of being gatekeeper to life saving baby food what on earth could go wrong.

It's hard for me to understand why some women can decide to not even TRY breastfeeding, if they are educated as to its benefits. I respect the choice but I don't understand it on a personal level. It's difficult to see why you wouldn't at least want to try to give them the colostrum which is so, so beneficial for babies and can be so protective for immunity in the early days. Some women do make that decision, not for any traumatic reasons but just personal choice, and I think providing women who can breastfeed but choose not to with information could really help persuade women in those circumstances to at least get BF so baby gets benefit of colostrum.

And I'm not saying women have no bodily autonomy and don't have the right to make that choice but I am saying that education is important and messaging on formula websites is part of that.

Skin to skin is brilliant for babies' immunity and wellbeing and I didn't get to do that after birth due to a PPH. I don't get cross about informed about the importance of skin to skin, and I don't think FF mums should be trying to prevent information about BF being disseminated.

Yes OP I agree. It really is shit being patronised by these companies inc the amazing EBF mothers as well who have commented .

@BurbageBrook you are literally bombarded from conception about BF. I have always said it isn't for me not, end of. Exactly how much more pressure so you want on women who make a different choice?

Noone is saying stop informing. We are asking for mutual respect for my and other womens personal choice.

The reality is the issue isn't in the education. As a very educated person my choice is simply that. No MH no physical issue just plain choice.

By all means employ practical support to those who choose to try, support groups etc. But please respect a choice and don't apply more pressure on women.

I did skin to skin, as a choice, I formula feed as an equally respectful choice.

If there weren't be strict rules for Formula companies then they would do all sorts of unethical things. Sadly they have shown they can't get trusted to be ethical.

I tried to with both mine. It didn't work. I am not sure I will even bother if I have anymore. They are both very healthy and not being BF hasn't caused any harm.

There is a legal requirement for these disclaimers because of a scandal where babies died. It was horrific and I believe the companies selling formula should be regulated. It's also a huge environmental issue.

Formula feeding is very much the majority, bf rates in the uk are so low I honestly don't understand why so many formula feeding parents (well, mothers. Men don't give a shit) get so defensive about it.

'Fed is best' is stupid and only fuels the ridiculous divide. It is a scientific fact that breast milk is the best, it doesn't matter if you had issues or chose formula that fact remains. Formula is a close second and both feed the infant. We need to stop this pathetic arguing about how a child is fed and support each other as mothers and fellow women.

There are countries where upwards of 90% of mothers breastfeed. In those places, it's expected you will breastfeed, you grow up surrounded by it, everyone knows about it and if you need help someone will be able to provide it.

In contrast, here we put pressure on women but don't actually make help available. And there's a strong counterpressure that bf is gross or sexual or makes babies sleep badly.

We need a more rational way of approaching the whole thing. I sometimes wonder what would happen if we found a formula that did more of what breast milk does, or if we found that not all breast milk was worth it - maybe some milk is better than others? You'd have a test to see.

One thing I don't understand is people who just decide right out that they won't breastfeed. Unless there's a medical or psychological reason, it's worth at least a try. Bodily autonomy doesn't apply to most of pregnancy and birth, I saw bf as an extension of that interdependency tbh.

The focus should be on women who are desperate to breastfeed and want support who are constantly let down due to lack of support not women who don’t want to breastfeed.

I formula fed from birth and no information would change my mind.

@NoCloudsAllowed so you are okay with women controlling their contraception, retaining or terminating pregnancy again a woman's choice. I don't understand how you literally can not understand how it also is a woman's choice to BF?

And FYI body autonomy is there throughout pregnancy and birth. I am sorry if you were made feel you didn't have it .

Really, @SouthLondonMum22? So knowing you could massively improve your baby's gut health and also provide them with a huge boost immunity wouldn't have been enough to persuade you to breastfeed for, say, just the first day of your baby's life so your baby could get the colostrum? That's fine but I think it must be unusual. I think a lot of people who wouldn't do that at all probably don't have the education.

@Marblessolveeverything literally this entire thread is about the OP saying that formula websites shouldn't have a disclaimer informing people that breastmilk is healthier. So yeah it is about information. Specifically.

The widder issue is the women "shocked unable to understand" how other women make a different choice.

There are tons and tons of information it literally is shoved down your throat and yet little respect on here for others choices.

I guess it's because I see it as a selfish choice when there's literally no reason beyond personal preference not to even give your baby the colostrum by breast or expressing. So that's hard for me to understand.

Often I think it's lack of information and support rather than choice and other times it's inability obviously. And sociocultural pressures. How many true choices free of outside influence do any of us really make in life after all.

Because contraception and abortion affect one person, which is the woman.

Choosing not to bf has health implications for mother and baby. If you choose to FF you either don’t believe that, despite a) loads of evidence that demonstrates it, study after study, and b) common sense (obviously the milk which is tailor-made for a species is going to be better than the freeze-dried milk of a different mammal, mixed with vegetable oil) or b) believe it, but choose to ignore it.

And b) is an interesting position. Most mothers accept advice such as putting babies to sleep on their backs, or avoiding weaning at 12 weeks, on the basis that at population level, these measures have been shown to have better outcomes for babies. But when it comes to bf/ff, there’s a lot more scepticism, even though the evidence is just as strong.

fed is the baseline - you’re not going to starve your kid are you.
Breastfeeding
pumping
donor milk all better than
formula

it’s important to acknowledge that and that we protect breastfeeding
theres absolutely nothing wrong with formula feeding at all. But being informed is best

Funny how the air of superiority creeps in during these debates.

@Tygertiger so you are not only mandating BF you are deciding unilaterally what informs a woman's choice. Right.

Comparing putting a baby on their back to sleep with enforcement of a woman to use her breasts to feed her child, yep of course that is the same 🤦‍♀️