HV has confused me - cow's milk or formula in cooking? Also, topping up/replacing BF with formula? Don't want to!

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DS is coming up to 7 months and has had pureed fruit and veg for the past few weeks, with the occasional bit of pureed chicken, cheese etc. I've used organic cow's milk in some things with no adverse reaction. But HV said he should be having formula milk in cooking, with cereal etc because it is 'nutritionally superior'. Ideally I want to avoid all processed foods including formula but is cow's milk not a good option?The other thing is, she says breastmilk is lacking in certain nutrients so I should be giving 1-2 bottles of formula on top of breastfeeds, or cut out breastfeeds altogether. I was planning to continue BF until DS chose to wean himself, but she made it sound as if there's no point in BF after 6 months? Is she just mad? Any advice much appreciated!

She's mad.
Cow's milk in food.
No need to give formula if you don't want to.
You could report her for her misinformation

She is talking out of her arse. Cows milk in cooking is fine and you do not need to give formula unless you actually want to. Breastmilk is far better.

I would suggest to her she goes on a training course. Infact I'd avoid her altogether.

She is talking out of her arse. Cows milk in cooking is fine and you do not need to give formula unless you actually want to. Breastmilk is far better.

I would suggest to her she goes on a training course. Infact I'd avoid her altogether.

hv is mad.

tish and bosh, she is indeed mad.

If he's still breastfed then he doesn't need the alleged 'superior nutrients' in formula - using cow's milk for cooking is fine.

And she's absolutely fibbing saying breastmilk is lacking in nutrients and you should top up with formula.
The only thing people sometimes get antsy about is iron, as chemically gram for gram there's less in bm than there is in formula - they forget that in bm it's in a more readily absorbed form so the baby actually gets more of what's there.

I'd ignore her and stop taking DS to the clinic - if he's ill ill go to the GP but avoid this madwoman if at all possible.

blob, your hv sounds like she's talking drivvle. What nutrients is breastmilk lacking?? Sounds like bollocks to me... Maybe she's thinking of post 6 month formula which has iron added?? I'm no bf expert, but I thought breast milk changes as your baby gets older, and provides all your baby needs in terms of milk? If you're worried about iron intake, broccoli has loads, so does red meat, and if you give foods with vit C at the same time, it helps iron absorption I've read.

There's no reason why you shouldn't carry on bf, and cook for DS with ordinary full fat cow's milk. You don't need to make sauces etc. with formula, or add formula to breakfast cereal, cow's milk is fine after 6 months.

If you are bf your DS and he's eating solids, that's all he needs. How on earth did babies survive before formula I wonder?? Sounds like she's latched onto advice to feed for at least 6 months, and turned it into feed for only 6 months.

Keep going as you are. Bf DS until he weans himself, and ignore your hv is my advice...

I thought she was talking bollocks but thought I should check out what others thought. I did actually go and buy some formula, got it home, looked at it and thought......'Naaaaah'.
DS will stay on the boob!

Thanks for the advice everyone....TBH I was concerned about iron so will make sure he has brocolli and red meats in his diet. But more readily absorbed iron in breastmilk makes perfect sense.....was always suspicious when people suggested breastmilk wasn't up to par nutritionally after 6 months.

and liver. Make sure you don't overdose on iron!!!! He'll have muscles like Popeye... spinach and iron - think that might be high too??

Dried apricots (boil and puree, then mix with yogurt if you like) and lentils are really easy ways to get iron in. Babies do maybe need a bit of iron from somewhere other than breastmilk, by the time they're one. They don't ever need formula.

Please do report this HV - if you talk to your local BFCs, they may know about her.

I think most green leafy veg are high in iron. But won't overdose on it! He already has Popeye style bulges but they're just big rolls of blubber!

Can I report her anonymously? She is a lovely person, I would feel a bit guilty, but she has given me dodgy advice in the past. Eg suggested doing CC when I told her DS had been waking up with tummy pains. But prior to 6 months she was seemingly v. passionate about BF. Reckon she had misjudged guidelines about BF exclusively up to 6 months and mistook it for needing to BF for 6 monnths ONLY.

I think you can complain anonymously.

If you think she's really quite nice, would it be worth having a chat with her and trying to pass on some information? (e.g. WHO says you should BF to 2, at least)

Otherwise, I'd maybe have a chat with the practice manager? Or your local BFCs will know who to complain to.

I reported my hv to my health trust who said sadly that they cant force them to get themselves updated and go on the courses.

NB you may find the practice manager / local health pros etc all know about her
When my GP heard who my midwife was she actually specifically said 'Well if you have any real questions do feel free to come and see me any time' as she knew just what she was like...

Maybe next time I see her I'll tell her I've read the WHO guidelines and see how she responds, eg if she was aware of them/ had forgotten them or is just knowingly dishing out her own bad advice. Is so bizarre, she's been doing her job for 20 years or so, seems pretty experienced, and yet comes up with gubbins like this! How does it happen?!

Why do so many HV seem intent on stamping out BF?

She's mad and stupid. Ignore her. You are doing splendidly.
God, these people (not YOU btw, stupid HV)