Mumsnet undermining breastfeeding again.

[Redebs]

Just read the Mumsnet article on caring for newborn babies. It's sponsored by a bottle manufacturer.

Much of it is misinformation that will seriously interfere with mothers' success with breastfeeding. For example trying to get a feeding routine for a two month old baby. This is totally against normal practice for on demand breastfeeding.

Anyone aiming for regular naps will be seriously frustrated and will think there is something wrong with them and their baby. Night feeding is treated as if it's a massive burden that should be shared by using a bottle.The massively negative impact of inaccurate information and expectations is aimed at discouraging breastfeeding.

There's a 'helpful' link to another article on 'combination feeding' aka introducing formula, along with references to a whole lot of bottle feeding products you should buy.

The WHO condemns companies that use misinformation and pressure on mothers not to breastfeed. While it may be subtly disguised, that is exactly what articles like this are doing.

And for money.

Struck me as very balanced 🤷‍♀️

I haven’t read the article and my children are now teens. Sometimes it’s good to see formula being a little more normalised though. I was unable to breast feed, considering I’ve got huge boobs they just didn’t produce enough milk. I tried and tried and, both times, had to move to formula to prevent my children becoming ill.

I had so much pressure that breast is best that I felt like a freak for moving to formula. I also had people show me disdain because I dared to bottle feed.

How ridiculous!

There can be articles about BOTH forms of feeding!

Advertisers are not allowed to discourage breastfeeding

Nothing wrong with keeping women informed of their options.

It's not 'discouraging'

So mothers struggling to breastfeed should feel bad to look at alternatives??

In the middle of all that rubbish is a child that needs feeding.

And this article doesn’t

And if you think it does… let’s have a quote!!

I agree with you OP. It's actually sickening how insidious the influence of breastfeeding underminers are. And mums defend it because, capitalism.
I couldn't breastfeed either btw.

who would have thought there would be misinformation on MN. You are giving the site far too much credit.

Sometimes it's good to see formula being more normalised though

Yeah because it's so rare. Nobody formula feeds 🤣

It might not be rare but is often seen with disdain. Formula under 12 months isn’t allowed to be advertised as ‘breast is best’.

Having support to feed baby, in whatever form that takes, can only be a good thing.

There’s a difference between an article and an advert disguised as an article. ´Sponsored content’ is advertising. MN could do an actual article on current best practices for formula feeding/combi feeding without the sponsorship and it would be written differently.

What support do people need in order to make up a bottle? Seriously?

Formula feeding is promoted so sneakily nowadays.
I really didn't think we would be at such a low rate of breastfeeding in this country by now. It's shockingly low.

I assume the support is to stop women who can't breast feed feel like failures, not to "make up a bottle". Top disingenuity there

How about emotional support when they try but cannot breast feed? Support in choosing the correct formula? Support in choosing bottles and treats depending on what baby requires re colic and such like? Support with the amount baby should have and how often, to feed on demand or choose timings?

Lots of mums claim they are being treated badly by being told the facts. Anything that contradicts the 'it's just as good' narrative is seen as being spiteful.

@Alittlemore I've not seen this article, but there are very good reasons why formula advertising is banned.

I suggest looking up the WHO code of artificial milk advertising and the history. Short version, formula companies engaged in unethical practices which resulted in the deaths of babies.

Where the code isn't enforced they are still engaging in similar unethical practices.

The formulas are all the same.
The instructions are on the packet.
Sorted.

Disdain? Have you never seen the disdain from women about breastfeeding causing over-attachment, sagging boobs, interfering with sex lives and social lives, limiting the amount of daddy/grandparents ‘bonding time’ and any number of other things that breastfeeding mums get thrown at them? Whatever the formula feeding manufacturers are doing they’re doing it well, don’t worry - breastfeeding rates in this country reflect that.

OP - I agree with you. They are very close to breaching guidelines.

Just because BF makes you feel like you are a better mother it doesn't mean that women who FF don't need support and advice.

I didn’t say breastfeeding isn’t seen with disdain! More there are two sides to this

Op

Put your money where your mouth is

what sentence or paragraph in this article “sneakily” promotes formula

I've read it now and it's clearly an advert for MAM in the guise of an informative article.

It does seem to push breastfeeding mothers to expressing and bottle feeding. It misses out important information to go along with that, like expressing missed feeds and impact on supply of not doing it.

What support do people need in order to make up a bottle? Seriously?

Support for women who are made to feel less of a mother for not breastfeeding. Formula feeding is not necessarily an easier ride especially when the mother is consumed by guilt and PND brought on by not being able to feed her baby in the way she wanted to. I think a breast is best but formula is perfectly good message would help a lot of women.