Has any FF mums out there been to NCT Classes?

[Poshbird88]

I think they make BF sound absolute haven.. which I found it awful... I want to have cuddles with my baby and I love her to bits but I just didn't like her being attached to me 24/7 especially when I have 20 month toddler to give attention to as well.

They don't explain that you're going to be up all night feeding and not even get a break.

 

[xxxemmaxxx]

We've had two evenings so far and the second evening bf wasn't mentioned at all. The first time it was spoke about a bit, one lady asked what should see do if she can't bf in the hospital etc... shall i take bottles etc..
The teacher replied that the hospital will provide them but don't buy them/powder as it makes you more likely to give up. Which to a point I can see
what she means but didn't really answer the question what if I can't.

I am nervously waiting the breast feeding evening.. I'm happy with my decision to not bf although I have said to my OH that in the hospital I will try to do the "first hour" so to speak so the babies first drink will be colostrum.
My midwife who I was dreading telling I wasn't as she's pretty old school didn't even ask me why not (Unlike the NHS antenatal teacher) so hopefully the NCT teacher will support my decision too.

 

[Ktothema]

Yes we did NCT classes and I had every intention of breast feeding, all the group did actually. There was a separate lady that came in for the breastfeeding session. Tbh she was lovely but pretty hopeless. She made it all sound very rosy and that it all comes naturally and everyone can breast feed, formula is terrible blah blah. Nothing on the problems that you can get. Well out of the 7 of us, 5 switched to formula within weeks of giving birth! I was the longest going for 6 weeks! 1 lady it came really naturally to a d the other lady found it really hard but really wanted to do it.

This was my experience too. Our area is so pro breast feeding to the point of them almost holding you at gun point (OK, slight exaggeration ) that our nct classes didn't push that hard. We all saw through the bull the special bf nct lady gave us. I don't think it put Anyone off but its given us all a big laugh. Especially the big about that baby will just find its way to your nipple and latch correctly. The babies nor us had any clue what we were doing lol.

A few friends who's areas aren't as militant got the nct militant, its all your fault if you fail chat. A friend recently had that and ended up in intensive care after baby's birth and oddly the staff were more concerned with keeping her alive than establishing bf. She still feels so much unnecessary guilt. So sad

 

[RebeccaG]

The hospital where I had DD were actually really good with formula. I was trying to breast feed her but she just refused to feed so they said I had to express or formula so I said formula and they were really good about it all. X

 

[sg2011]

I did Nct and my class was very open. Yes it was pro breast feeding, but it also covered all the issues, like cluster feeding and latch as well. I don't think we covered ff, but really it's not that much to cover.

I'm really pro the benefits of breast milk, but I did find it hard and after a month of expressing I ff. I'm thrilled my lo got that month, and thrilled he is thriving and happy on formula too.

Most hospitals will give you formula if you try and breast feed and it goes tits up (so to speak!) But won't provide it if ff is the intention from the start. I think that's fair enough personally. You can now buy starter formula kits to take in to the hosp.

Personally, no it isn't "fair enough". Formula feeding is a nutritious and viable alternative to breast feeding that should be provided in the maternity ward whether or not you try to breastfeed. There are many valid reasons why I woman may choose not to breast feed that doesn't require a "trial run" for a woman to know what she wants to do. This constant vilifying of a perfectly healthy breast milk alternative in hospitals puts women and their infants at a disadvantage and sets women up for emotional issues they wouldn't otherwise have if proper support was provided for every woman regardless of how they are feeding their infants. So, no, I don't agree that it is "fair enough" at all...in fact, it is very unfair and discriminatory.

 

[Kage76]

I did Nct and my class was very open. Yes it was pro breast feeding, but it also covered all the issues, like cluster feeding and latch as well. I don't think we covered ff, but really it's not that much to cover.

I'm really pro the benefits of breast milk, but I did find it hard and after a month of expressing I ff. I'm thrilled my lo got that month, and thrilled he is thriving and happy on formula too.

Most hospitals will give you formula if you try and breast feed and it goes tits up (so to speak!) But won't provide it if ff is the intention from the start. I think that's fair enough personally. You can now buy starter formula kits to take in to the hosp.

Personally, no it isn't "fair enough". Formula feeding is a nutritious and viable alternative to breast feeding that should be provided in the maternity ward whether or not you try to breastfeed. There are many valid reasons why I woman may choose not to breast feed that doesn't require a "trial run" for a woman to know what she wants to do. This constant vilifying of a perfectly healthy breast milk alternative in hospitals puts women and their infants at a disadvantage and sets women up for emotional issues they wouldn't otherwise have if proper support was provided for every woman regardless of how they are feeding their infants. So, no, I don't agree that it is "fair enough" at all...in fact, it is very unfair and discriminatory.

I can see both points- but if i knew before i gave birth that I was going to FF i personally would like to choose what formula my LO went on- what i don't want is the constant lectures about the risks of formula and how much better off my child would be on BM. If i have made my choice then respect it. Don't constantly "educate" me.

 

[Indi84]

well you have a different opinion to me, I don't see how that's so bad but there you go.
I do formula feed, i've stated this but no I don't expect the nhs to provide the milk.

I didn't say anything about trial runs, people can do whatever the hell they like, but if you ff from birth then take in your own formula, at least that way you can choose which one you want.

I'll never understand why people on here get so het up about formula or breastfeeding, your feeding, so what's the issue.

if you think the nhs should pay to feed formula from the beginning, then ok, your opinion.

if you want to pick at everything I say as an internet bully then so be it

 

[wifey29]

I think that the whole pro breastfeeding thing has gone way too far. Yes, it is best for most babies, but not all and not all can. I BF my son for the first month. I loved it, but unfortunately it did not agree with him. He got diagnosed at 8 weeks with a rare allergy to a protein in my milk, cows milk and soy protein. There was nothing I could do and my poor boy was in so much pain. It was horrible to see him writhing around after and during every feed. My poor nipples suffered so much because of this and he had a rash every time my milk touched him. I put him on formula and the rash went, but the pain continued. Eventually we got prescribed meds and hypo milk Nutramigen. He was a totally different baby within a week and is now the happiest little soul. So, BM is not always best. I felt like I'd let my little boy down terribly because of all the "BM is always best", "every woman can BF" bullcrap. Never felt so guilty about anything in my life.

Now I look at it as I did the best I could for my son and he is happy and healthy. My mum had the best advice, in ten years no one will care how he was fed, so as long as he's healthy what does it matter now.

 

[cat lover]

Agree that the hospital should not provide formula if you plan to ff from the start. as the parents it is OUR responsibility to feed our children. its not discriminatory, after all they are not providing the bm if you choose to bf are they? i do agree that they should hold stock of formula if the woman tries to bf but cannot

 

[bubbles123]

Hospitals provide food for mothers as patients though. We have to provide our own food at home but you are not told to bring in your own food to hospital. If the baby is a patient therefore (which is a debatable point in itself) than there is an argument formula should be available for babies at the hospital as it is the baby's food.
I can see both sides of the argument but as the NHS doesn't have much money I can see it makes sense to bring your own formula should you choose to FF from the start. I also think mothers should pay for their meals whilst in hospital too, we have to buy food at home and it would save lots of money.