"Its a shame there is even a debate. There shouldn't have to be. if a mother is not capabke of deciding how to feed her child without intervention or questions, God knows if she is capable of being trusted to take the baby home with her.
I find it all very patronising and nanny - state ish......"
Freckles, you've misunderstood what I mean completely. When I say there are questions to ask when a woman says how she is going to feed her baby, it's not because she isn't capable of making an informed decision, it's because every woman has a right to that informed decision and sometimes that's not what's happening. I've seen it on here many times. Women are told they won't be able to breastfeed. Their breasts are too big or too small. They're told they can't on the medication they're on. Their partners tell them they won't be involved if they don't give formula. They think it's too much hard work with older children too. Then somebody on here gives them better advice and their 'informed choice' is actually something completely different.
Some women don't want to breastfeed at all and that's their choice. And all they need say is that they've made their decision but if they feel they have no choice and they wish it was different then asking about feeding choices during pregnancy is the ideal time to dispel some myths.
I have three very good friends who didn't breastfeed. One of them is completely happy with her decision. One felt pushed into it by her family and wishes she'd stood up to them. One was told she couldn't because of her meds. This wasn't true at all and to this day she cannot talk about it without sobbing and she feels desperately upset that she was misinformed.
Bunnylion, it's a shame you can't ask that question on here. There has been the odd thread where it's discussed but as you can see, it very quickly turns into people being defensive against an attack that never happened in the first place. It's such an emotive topic and obviously if people have been hurt before they won't want to talk about it. Still seems a shame though when MN is a place where we are supporting each other and learning about how other people do things and you can't ask a simple question.