GMTV a Midwife says "promoting Breast Feeding is bad"

[ryder]

I am constantly baffled about how infant feeding is handled in the UK...

I think that the best way to offer advice is to be pro-choice and have knowledge about any way of feeding.

I dont think there is anything wrong with promoting bfing. I think there IS something very wrong about shoving it down peoples throats and making them feel like they are bad if they dont.

Here we have pre-natal classes and toher groups and things for people to utilize before they even have their baby, it has all and any info for breastfeeding, it has tons of support etc. Its there for people who WANT it.

I definately think that you guys over there need to have support and info about formula/bottle feeding too because it isnt bad... its a choice, like anything in life and I think that the main goal for a newborn infant is to ensure that they are healthy.

I actually cant believe that people would be that snide and deny offering support to bottle feeders... YIKES!!!

 

[Pyrrhic]

I think that the best way to offer advice is to be pro-choice and have knowledge about any way of feeding.

When I was having Niamh, no one in my ward knew anything about BF or FF, and I mean anything. There needs to be more education, and promotion of both ways of feedings to help support Mums as much as possible. That's what should be important, supporting Mums. Not how they feed.

GMTV rubs me up the wrong way though, they have said some awful things about BFing in the past. Having guests on who are anti BFing and saying it's wrong, and unnatural to feed in public - but then not having anyone on to balance the argument. You just wonder what sort of effect that's having on new Mums sitting at home who are struggling already to feed.

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I think there is an element of 'backlash' against BF now. The government is so heavy handedly promoting BF that there are inevitably going to be those who don't like it. I've always felt that whatever is being promoted heavily by the government, or hyped in the media, some elements of the public will turn against sooner or later.

I agree that Formula feeding should not be promoted or advertised as from what I understand, it has no benefits over breastfeeding. For me it was very much a second choice when to my surprise, my daughter refused to BF. What I don't like, however, is having to see the message 'breastfeeding is best for babies' every time I get a carton of formula. I tried everything to get Ruby to BF but she wouldn't, I don't need to be reminded every day that breastmilk is better. It's formula milk, not a packet of cigarettes for goodness sake, it is not harmful and does not need to carry a warning!

 

[Blah11]

I am constantly baffled about how infant feeding is handled in the UK...

I think that the best way to offer advice is to be pro-choice and have knowledge about any way of feeding.

I dont think there is anything wrong with promoting bfing. I think there IS something very wrong about shoving it down peoples throats and making them feel like they are bad if they dont.

Here we have pre-natal classes and toher groups and things for people to utilize before they even have their baby, it has all and any info for breastfeeding, it has tons of support etc. Its there for people who WANT it.

I definately think that you guys over there need to have support and info about formula/bottle feeding too because it isnt bad... its a choice, like anything in life and I think that the main goal for a newborn infant is to ensure that they are healthy.

I actually cant believe that people would be that snide and deny offering support to bottle feeders... YIKES!!!

A midwife in a postnatal ward isn't going to ignore you if you ask for info on bottle feeding. If people asked, they'd get it. However, the info isn't given alongside breastfeeding info when the lady is pregnant as the NHS don't want it to be seen like an equal health choice, because obviously it isn't.

 

[booflebump]

Home birth vs hospital birth. No pain relief vs epidural. Vaginal birth vs C-section. Breastfeeding vs bottlefeeding. Whatever it is, there is always someone out there prepared to try and make you feel guilty about the decisions you have made for your child.

As long as we are given the opportunity to be well informed enough to make our own decision, the decision you make wont be wrong. I think programmes like GMTV who obviously havent researched what they are saying properly, should refrain from saying anything at all

x


booflebump, ive edited a couple of words from your post as we arent allowed to mention them on here - PP

 

[booflebump]

PP - I realise which ones you mean, and why! Oops. Sorry xx

 

[x_Rainbow_x]

Is it wrong that when my time comes im terrified about BF? Iv watched my sisters go threw the whole, BF, FF sagas.. dunno why but it scares me..

 

[Blah11]

Is it wrong that when my time comes im terrified about BF? Iv watched my sisters go threw the whole, BF, FF sagas.. dunno why but it scares me..

No, everything about being a mum for the first time is terrifying. You'll do fab when the time comes I bet

 

[lesleyann]

i think the way it gets pushed makes BF look more like the other option to be honest, the way its all done makes it look like something that is never done and the pro's and con's to both are pretty much the same apart from of course the extras baby gets from BF, it costs less but you have to express to have a alcoholic drink or to get a baby sitter, you have to express to go back to work or swap to FF depending when you go back. Its all about peoples life styles as to what will work best for them.

 

[belladonna]

BF should be in your face during pregnancy as that should be the 1st choice method of feeding for everyone.

Thats not really fair though is it? Some women are not able to breastfeed for whatever reason and they should be aware of all the options just as you are of all the options for giving birth.

I would love to be able to breastfeed my child but as both my mother and grandmother were not able to the chances for me are pretty slim. When my mother was born she could not have breastmilk or formula so she had cowsmilk from birth. When I was born my mum produced no milk at all- not even a drop- it just never came in.

From what I gather most people who promote breastfeeding are pretty much 'everyone can do it' but not everyone can and I would like to be aware of what to do if I am not able to bf my baby.

 

[Pyrrhic]

BF should be in your face during pregnancy as that should be the 1st choice method of feeding for everyone.

Thats not really fair though is it? Some women are not able to breastfeed for whatever reason and they should be aware of all the options just as you are of all the options for giving birth.

Yes, but you don't know that you won't be able to BF until after pregnancy. So I think Blah's point was that during pregnancy, women should look to try and BF.

 

[belladonna]

BF should be in your face during pregnancy as that should be the 1st choice method of feeding for everyone.

Thats not really fair though is it? Some women are not able to breastfeed for whatever reason and they should be aware of all the options just as you are of all the options for giving birth.

Yes, but you don't know that you won't be able to BF until after pregnancy. So I think Blah's point was that during pregnancy, women should look to try and BF.

Yes, but you should also be aware what to do it you can not and not be made to feel that you are failing your child if you can not bf.

 

[helen1234]

to be honest i bf rhys for 6 weeks but even though i wanted to bf exclusively i still looked into the changes in ff'inf from 14 yrs ago when i had rosie, its like me saying i didnt know what temp to put the baby in the bath cos mw didnt tell me, its not hard to find out how to make a bottle is it its written on the box, my boobs didnt have instructions

i dont think its just upto mw and hv to learn us how to sterilise and make bottles or how to bf they should be teaching us on what choices we make.
and if pregnant women goto antenatal classes they tell you there or they should because they did at mine, 1 scoop to 1 oz, no more no less because its dangerous and gave us a booklet on it.

 

[aimee-lou]

It's all about having access to information. I think a lot of people feel like they can't/shouldn't even ask about FF'ing let alone consider it as an option for them.

I think it's really sad that this issue can cuase such heated debate....as long as the children are fed and happy and healthy, does it really matter? Breastfeeding is, IMO, a very personal choice, and while some may feel it's the 'only natural choice' others may not have the same opinion.

I agree that the information is readily available, but there is also a lot of confusing, contradictory advice regarding formula feeding and I personally have felt that getting the 'authoritative view' was helpful to me, as it probably would be to a lot of other first time mums.

 

[Vickie]

I don't think it's right for people to put others down for their choices, be it FF or BF. We are all faced with so many trials and tribulations as mothers, it'd be nice if we could just support one another.

There should be information out there for both IMO.

 

[aimee-lou]

By all means, women should do what they want, but they need to know what's best for baby. If the NHS didn't do their best to promote what is best for baby they wouldn't be doing their job. A doctor isn't going to put you on paracetamol when you need morphene unless they run out of morphene, is he?

Now I may be a little jaded by the NHS but I do not always believe that the NHS promotes what's 'best'. My MIL is a community nurse. She has been told to spend les time with 'clients' in order to make them more cost-effective. She has even had a disciplinary because she spends too long with patients. I firmly believe that the NHS should not be 'selling' one view or another. I will say again, I have been lucky that my care-givers have a balanced view. Not everyone is given that opportunity and to be told that BF-ing is the 'best' for your baby puts a lot of pressure on when it is not always necessarily the case. The parents wishes should be given the full respect, as it is in all other areas of child-rearing.

 

[AppleBlossom]

I didn't watch this and haven't read through all the replies but I think there should be equal amounts of knowledge given about both FF and BF. I feel that I was pressured into BFing as it was pushed into my face when I was pregnant. However in my hospital although I was BFing at the time, a nurse came in and showed me how to make up formula properly if I ever wanted to FF. Like putting the water in before the scoops etc. If she hadn't shown me I think I would have been oblivious. I am all for BFing and I think that it is lovely that many women do it. But there should be more encouragement for mothers who choose to FF. I once told my MW early on in my pregnancy that I might FF and she said "Well maybe you should look at this instead" and handed me leaflets on BFing as if to say your decision is wrong, this is what you should be doing

 

[ryder]

BF should be in your face during pregnancy as that should be the 1st choice method of feeding for everyone.

Thats not really fair though is it? Some women are not able to breastfeed for whatever reason and they should be aware of all the options just as you are of all the options for giving birth.

Yes, but you don't know that you won't be able to BF until after pregnancy. So I think Blah's point was that during pregnancy, women should look to try and BF.

That is exactly the kind of pushy attitude that really pisses people off.

Women dont have to BF... And just because SOME people think it is "best for baby"... it isn't. The best thing for a baby is that they have a loving home with all their needs met. Formula is just as good for a baby when a baby is being loved and cared for.

I've said it before, but one thing that really bothers me about this board is how judgemental and pushy women are about bfing.

This seems to be a never ended debate. Why cant people just accept others choice?

 

[Jem]

BF should be in your face during pregnancy as that should be the 1st choice method of feeding for everyone.

Thats not really fair though is it? Some women are not able to breastfeed for whatever reason and they should be aware of all the options just as you are of all the options for giving birth.

Yes, but you don't know that you won't be able to BF until after pregnancy. So I think Blah's point was that during pregnancy, women should look to try and BF.

That is exactly the kind of pushy attitude that really pisses people off.

Women dont have to BF... And just because SOME people think it is "best for baby"... it isn't. The best thing for a baby is that they have a loving home with all their needs met. Formula is just as good for a baby when a baby is being loved and cared for.

I've said it before, but one thing that really bothers me about this board is how judgemental and pushy women are about bfing.

This seems to be a never ended debate. Why cant people just accept others choice?

Here here!!! x

 

[asacia]

I've mentioned it before, but I really cannot get my head around the pushiness putting people off thing. Can someone explain it to me? It seems odd to make such an important decision on other peoples' opinion. Does pushiness really put people off, or does it just make people who FF feel bad? Do people really think "I would BF, but it is too heavily promoted, so I won't"?

Personally, I don't have anything against those who FF, but I think that BF is the ideal in most circumstances, and should be promoted as such.