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.

I don't see it as promoting formula, but bottle feeding. It's a subtle difference that is keeping it on the right side of the code.

I’ve done both - far more societal disdain when I was breastfeeding, believe me. Formula is the widespread norm this country.

I did both. Breastfeeding I got a few funny looks from people of an older generation, bottle feeding I got some downright nasty looks and comments from my fellow mothers. I found the latter much worse.

I found it easier breast feeding twins than bottle feeding my first born.

I was brought free drinks in cafes, had random people saying well done and most importantly received far more support for my mental health.

So how about just supporting mothers to feed their babies? Rather than one-upmanship on who receives the most disdain? I’m no way did I say I received ‘more’ disdain, I just pointed out I was shown it

There have always been strategies aimed at getting around the code.

Whereas companies used to give samples and train midwives to encourage formula, nowadays they are a bit more subtle.

Their websites are full of social media influencers pushing the insidious message that breastfeeding is a bit too difficult, too worthy and not worth bothering with. Anyone who tries to tell you about the importance of breastfeeding is a busybody cramping your style. They have hastags and slogans on tshirts and videos about not judging and being kind. They talk about 'fed is best' to the extent that it permeates everyone's thinking on what babies need.

Hospital staff are too busy and overstretched to care about whether a mother is getting training in breastfeeding, they just tick a box based on what they want the mum to say and send them off home. I have seen a local hospital that claims excellent breastfeeding rates encouraging mothers to give bottles so that they can discharge babies quickly. Nobody is challenging this. They are getting national awards, but on the ward they are bully vulnerable mothers into giving formula, even staff giving baby a bottle themselves to overcome any resistance or doubts from the mums.

And mothers should not feel pressured into breast feeding either.

I would agree with this - I breastfed (in fact am still breastfeeding at 15 months, though not out and about any more) and no-one said a word to me about it. Two of the mums in our NCT group ended up bottle feeding (not for lack of trying to breastfeed!) and they definitely had sneery comments like they were committing some sort of crime.

I totally get not wanting to 'promote' formula but when I started combo feeding on my return to work at 9 months I found it very difficult to navigate introducing formula - how much should I be giving him and how often? What sort of bottles should I be using? Should I use Stage 1 or Stage 2 milk? I think there's a place for information on formula feeding.

And I pointed out that whether disdain you think formula feeding mums get it’s given to breastfeeding mums in spades.

There is no end of support for formula feeding - why do you think it’s the norm? Go online, ask on here, speak to other mums, ask your HV or midwife, watch YouTube, read the manufacturers leaflets…there is no shortage of support.

The lancet very recently published a series of articles on the formula industry. A big part of it was the very effective work the companies have done to convince mothers that normal newborn behaviour is a problem (solved of course by formula)

Formula itself is a very useful product and in the UK we're lucky to have the relative wealth, education and sanitation to make it a safe choice for babies. That said, it's not the panacea it's often portrayed to be,

Telling people the facts and encouraging them to do the best for their baby, you mean.
Everyone is under pressure to do things for their children. Under pressure to keep them safe. Under pressure to send them to school.

I'd like to read the article, do you have a link?

It's here on Mumsnet

Where? I’m on the app so don't know where 'here' is.

@queenatom I combi fed my first and was lucky to have help with that (btw most breastfeeding counsellors and groups can help with combi feeding as well)

I think one reason you don't see many articles about it is the slightly inconvenient truth that you need to get your milk supply established to successfully combi feed. That does require starting out mainly breastfeeding and slowly introducing a bottle later.

Gosh, I comment on a post to say that support is also good for women who use bottles and the comments I’ve received just show the disdain that women who breastfeed have towards women who bottle feed. I’m not the only one on this thread who has struggled with bottle feeding yet, again, we are being belittled.

I would have loved to be able to breast feed, honestly o would have loved it. It broke my heart when I had to give it up for my children’s health. God forbid I would need support for that!

www.mumsnet.com/articles/newborn-routines

Undermining breastfeeding 🙄 is this the ‘Brexit means Brexit’ of the feeding debate? What does that even mean? Has it directly affected your feeding choice OP? If not, butt out and ‘trust women’ as is often repeated on here.

The difference in health outcomes is negligible

Meanwhile we have parents abusing their kids, feeding them alcohol, letting them get obese, sitting them in front of screens all day (the latter 2 ‘nobody else’s business’ according to a lot of posters on here).

Why not focus on an actual problem rather than using ‘concern’ over such a tiny issue to feel superior push what you want to see into other women?

Signed, a woman who breastfed for 8 months and is about to breastfeed number 2, for how long is none of your business.

The undermining is from not giving women the facts and evidence based information to make their choice. Then when they've made their choice they are presented with opinions that make them think something is wrong and that a commercial product is the answer. It's hard marketing to resist.

YANBU OP, but there was a thread about this the other week and it descended into the exact same hopped up bunfight as usual: Team FF shouting about breastfeeding mothers flopping them out and no one wants an eyeful of boob and can’t they do it discreetly, like in the loo; and Team BF shouting about formula feeding mothers not caring about their babies, prioritising sleep over bonding, how their babies would be sickly little chicks with no immunity. Shit talk from both sides.

What I’d like to see is much higher rates of breastfeeding, with all the support that entails, and affordable, standardised formula available to all who need it, without manufacturers allowed to spout bollocks about colic-friendly or organic or for hungry babies or whatever. And for all mothers to be supported in feeding their babies because babies are small, needy creatures with an insatiable lust for milk, and satisfying that need is the key thing. If we could also ban the phrase “flop one out” and “my BF never got sick oops, drip feed they’ve never been to nursery to pick up germs either”, that would be superb.

Yes, it's a fair point. Most people I know who breastfed ended up introducing some formula at some stage, usually past the six month mark when our supplies were well established, and we all found it a bit fiddly to navigate!

What I’d like to see is much higher rates of breastfeeding

How arrogant. Why should other women do something just because you would like to see it?

@bussteward agree. Those of us in the middle who are trying to explain why the code is in place and why we want standardised formula are drowned out.

@Moonicorn
Well obviously you made a decision based on what you know about the difference, but not everyone does. So suggest you stop trying to bully people who want that to be an option for other mums who might be more susceptible to commercial advertising.