I don't agree with this ....

[xLaura]

Ok I'm not getting into the breast V bottle debate, everyone has there own opinions so please if your just going to lecture on the benefits then please don't as that's not what this thread is for ....
Anyway my point being is that nowadays everyone just 'assumes' your going to breast feed, which fair enough doesn't bother me, however thinking about this further I've noticed that all formula milk adverts on tv are for 'follow on' milk and never for first infant milk. Also whilst just browsing the mothercare website I came across a formula starter pack, which the first thing it says is 'breast milk is best formula should only be used after consultation with your doc or midwife'

Now I totally understand the benefits of breast feeding, however at the end of the day shouldn't it be our decision as to how we choose to feed our own child? Without being made guilty if we decide to choose formula? Recently I've had 4 friends who all wanted to breastfeed and all ended up having to bottle within a week due to different reasons meaning they couldn't, however 3 of my friends were completely devastated that they couldn't breast feed and felt a failure, I never understood this at first but thinking about it now I can see why they felt like this as all society is trying to get us to breast feed as it seems to be expected of us. Surely this isn't right? It's our baby so it should be our decision what we choose to do?
Does anyone else feel like this or am I just seeing too much into this?
And once again PLEASE DON'T comment on the debate of bottle V breast cause ano how heated those get and that's not what I want.

 

[Kyla]

I'm pretty sure that the Nanny State has banned formula companies from advertising the first formulas and they can only advertise follow on milk. That also explains the disclaimers on the packaging, it's the law and has to be there.
I would never, ever judge a person for choosing formula over breastfeeding or breastfeeding or combined feeding. It's up to them entirely and none of my business.

 

[jamhs]

I think that it is a law or something about the advertising, and I know you don't get any club card type points from any shop when you buy formula milk that is not follw on milk!! Really annoying with it being so expensive and all!! I breast feed my first, but my second wouldn't. I think we are lucky to live in a day and age our children won't starve to death if they won't take to breast feeding, but do agree that we shouldn't be made to feel guilty or get penalised for not doing, especially when that choice is sometimes taken out of our hands.

 

[Annamumof2]

I've tried to breast feed all 3 of mine by my choose and gonna try and do it again with this one but with my first I had to breast and bottle feed due to him being yellow... But it is up to what we want to do not the midwives/consultants to be honest mine never said anything they let me choose

 

[Liammommy]

They have to put on their advertisements that breast feeding is best. They really want you to, of course, choose their product. I don't think it's trying to make people feel guilty It's just mandatory they state that in their advertising.
I breast fed, but would never judge someone who can't / chose not too. Who ever judges should just mind their own. I know lots of people who don't nurse. It's a personal preference or some people just can't and don't have an option.

 

[KeriEloise]

hey no I dont think your overreacting atal. I personally choose to try breast feeding but would never think anyone was wrong in wanting to bottlefeed their child. My mother didnt breast feed a single one of her children. I think there is some sort of law like other ladies have said that cannot advertise babies first formula milk. and with the writing about how breast milk is best i think its just purely a nation trying to advertise the advantages and also trying to make people more aware of breast feeding..
although it is a natural thing it does not come naturally so there is no wonder people bottle feed! xx

 

[ticking.clock]

It annoys me too,
The best feeding method is what makes mum and baby happy

 

[blinkava]

Ok I'm not getting into the breast V bottle debate, everyone has there own opinions so please if your just going to lecture on the benefits then please don't as that's not what this thread is for ....
Anyway my point being is that nowadays everyone just 'assumes' your going to breast feed, which fair enough doesn't bother me, however thinking about this further I've noticed that all formula milk adverts on tv are for 'follow on' milk and never for first infant milk. Also whilst just browsing the mothercare website I came across a formula starter pack, which the first thing it says is 'breast milk is best formula should only be used after consultation with your doc or midwife'

Now I totally understand the benefits of breast feeding, however at the end of the day shouldn't it be our decision as to how we choose to feed our own child? Without being made guilty if we decide to choose formula? Recently I've had 4 friends who all wanted to breastfeed and all ended up having to bottle within a week due to different reasons meaning they couldn't, however 3 of my friends were completely devastated that they couldn't breast feed and felt a failure, I never understood this at first but thinking about it now I can see why they felt like this as all society is trying to get us to breast feed as it seems to be expected of us. Surely this isn't right? It's our baby so it should be our decision what we choose to do?
Does anyone else feel like this or am I just seeing too much into this?
And once again PLEASE DON'T comment on the debate of bottle V breast cause ano how heated those get and that's not what I want.

With my 1st son breastfeeding was the worst experience for me, I was up all night with a crying baby and not until he was 3 months did I learn I wasn't making enough milk for him and that's why he was miserable. I felt like the worse mother ever, how could I not know my baby wasn't getting enough milk. I switched to formula and had an happy healthy baby and I got some sleep. With my 2nd son right after he was born the nurses were telling me to breastfeed and how breastfeeding was the best thing, it literally brought me to tears between the pressure of the nurses and my mother, I stood my ground and I started to formula and breastfeed. I finally felt like I could try to give breastfeeding another chance, and I succeeded no tears, no unhappy baby and my son started to sleep through the night at 3 days old. My last experience with breastfeeding is making me confident with my decision to breastfeed again this time.

I agree, that mothers are kind of forced to breastfeed and then feel like they are failures when they choose to formula feed.

 

[Bladesgirl]

I don't think your wrong I have been tossing back and forth over this since I found out I was preganbt and very midwife nurse I see says breast feed bla bla bla!! I have a baby feeding clinic tommorrow which I feel will be more of the same! I now know that I'm gonna try breast feeding but only if I can pump too so I can leave the baby and my other half can feed him! I know people that haven't spent more than a few hours away from their baby cos they won't take a bottle! I don't want to be like that! So when I go tommorrow I will expressing my feelings straight away and if she try's to tell me any other way I won't be staying lol !

 

[SmileyKez]

I totally agree, I really want to breastfeed and my hubby wants me to, but it did annoy me that my mw automatically assumed I would and told me to go to the breast feeding workshop, she never asked if I intended to or not!

Both my sister and sil have tried to breastfeed in the last couple of months and it just didn't work for them, and I know they both would have liked to carry on!

I have told myself time and time again throughout my pregnancy that I am going to give it a go, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it if I can't, and if the mw or hv puts any pressure on me I'll be telling them to back off!

If the nanny state is that bothered about us breast feeding, there should be more support, and more public places to breastfeed! But in general I don't think there should be this pressure on mums, I think it's really wrong!

 

[Chezzz]

it says that on the tubs of formula ive bought.
although no-one assumes im breastfeeding, i told OH i'd try but i probably wont, weve bought formula.. it also really annoys me that the government down allow you to collect reward points on formula purchases, but ahwell
either boob or bottle.. my baby is still being fed.

 

[special_kala]

It's against the law to advertise first state formula because the government line is breast feed until 6 months.

The law is there to protect vulnerable mums from the sly marketing that formula companies would do if they could. Breast feeding is hard to start with and the last thing a struggling mum needs is a formula poster shoved in there face and samples sent through the post.

It's also to help breast feeding to be seen as normal.

Formula companies are well known for their questionable and some downright immoral advertising techniques so the limits on.what they can do is justified.

 

[special_kala]

A great example is how they suddenly invented stage 2 milk which is completely unnecessary just to get around the law.

They don't care about babies, they care about making money.

 

[patooti]

Ok I'm not getting into the breast V bottle debate, everyone has there own opinions so please if your just going to lecture on the benefits then please don't as that's not what this thread is for ....
Anyway my point being is that nowadays everyone just 'assumes' your going to breast feed, which fair enough doesn't bother me, however thinking about this further I've noticed that all formula milk adverts on tv are for 'follow on' milk and never for first infant milk. Also whilst just browsing the mothercare website I came across a formula starter pack, which the first thing it says is 'breast milk is best formula should only be used after consultation with your doc or midwife'

Now I totally understand the benefits of breast feeding, however at the end of the day shouldn't it be our decision as to how we choose to feed our own child? Without being made guilty if we decide to choose formula? Recently I've had 4 friends who all wanted to breastfeed and all ended up having to bottle within a week due to different reasons meaning they couldn't, however 3 of my friends were completely devastated that they couldn't breast feed and felt a failure, I never understood this at first but thinking about it now I can see why they felt like this as all society is trying to get us to breast feed as it seems to be expected of us. Surely this isn't right? It's our baby so it should be our decision what we choose to do?
Does anyone else feel like this or am I just seeing too much into this?
And once again PLEASE DON'T comment on the debate of bottle V breast cause ano how heated those get and that's not what I want.

So you only want responses if we agree with you? Ok. Won't respond but I don't agree with you.

 

[KeriEloise]

Ok I'm not getting into the breast V bottle debate, everyone has there own opinions so please if your just going to lecture on the benefits then please don't as that's not what this thread is for ....
Anyway my point being is that nowadays everyone just 'assumes' your going to breast feed, which fair enough doesn't bother me, however thinking about this further I've noticed that all formula milk adverts on tv are for 'follow on' milk and never for first infant milk. Also whilst just browsing the mothercare website I came across a formula starter pack, which the first thing it says is 'breast milk is best formula should only be used after consultation with your doc or midwife'

Now I totally understand the benefits of breast feeding, however at the end of the day shouldn't it be our decision as to how we choose to feed our own child? Without being made guilty if we decide to choose formula? Recently I've had 4 friends who all wanted to breastfeed and all ended up having to bottle within a week due to different reasons meaning they couldn't, however 3 of my friends were completely devastated that they couldn't breast feed and felt a failure, I never understood this at first but thinking about it now I can see why they felt like this as all society is trying to get us to breast feed as it seems to be expected of us. Surely this isn't right? It's our baby so it should be our decision what we choose to do?
Does anyone else feel like this or am I just seeing too much into this?
And once again PLEASE DON'T comment on the debate of bottle V breast cause ano how heated those get and that's not what I want.

So you only want responses if we agree with you? Ok. Won't respond but I don't agree with you.

Ohhh Gawwwwwwd .... its started

 

[patch2006uk]

Banning the advertising of first milk is actually to protect formula fed infants, as well as keeping the companies in check. Formula prices already are super high because of the amount of advertising the companies do.

If formula was allowed to be discounted, then parents might choose to change their LO's milk every week, meaning digestive issues for LO. There is also a risk of an inappropriate milk being used if it's on offer (lactose free or comfort milk, for example, are not necessary for most babies, but if they were discounted or on offer, would people use them for a week and then swap back to their normal milk?) I personally would ban follow on milk advertising too, for this same reason. Follow on milk is not necessary, and is actually not beneficial to babies. But people swap to it because it's cheaper. If all advertising was banned, then the price could come down on first milks, which are better nutritionally for LO.

I also totally agree with their not being reward points on formula. That would penalise breastfeeders, rather than formula feeders. Again, this might incentivise some people to formula feed more readily, as they would get points on FF where they weren't while BFing (I know any saving on formula is already massively outweighed by not having to buy formula at all, but not everyone is that smart. If there is a 'bonus' on offer, they will take it) You also get points on FFing paraphernalia, so it's not like you get no points on anything.

At the end of the day, formula companies aren't benign and looking out for the best interests of their customers; they are companies looking to make a profit. Their practices historically have been shocking, and the legislation that is now in place helps to keep them in check (although it doesn't go as far as some would consider necessary).

Also, I think it's forgotten that breastfeeding is hormonal. I don't think the NHS can really make you feel guilty because they stuck a poster up saying 'breast is best'. If you don't breastfeed, your body thinks your baby has died, and it grieves. It's no surprise that that's an upsetting feeling! (Even if you do BF, your body sometimes struggles when your milk supply eventually decreases when LO weans. Hormones are a bitch! You can basically go through baby blues again).

Honestly, I believe that breastfeeding is the normal way to feed a baby. It's nothing special. If you make an educated decision not to, then who am I to judge? I don't understand why you wouldn't even try, just because I can't relate to that decision. But it's not my place to lecture or 'make' anyone feel guilty.

I also think that BFing support is appalling, and until the NHS drops the empty rhetoric of 'breast is best' and actually invests in some decent training and support for women who want to BF, then women are going to feel bad, as they're encouraged, told how 'evil' formula is, and then abandoned when they actually need help when the going gets rough (and those early weeks of BFing are definitely rough going for most women!)

 

[Chezzz]

I'm with you on this OP
And considering you said you get the benefits of breast feeding you shouldn't be made to feel bad for the choices you make for your baby!

I'm gonna formula feed and I'm proud. Who cares. It's my baby!!

 

[patch2006uk]

Ok I'm not getting into the breast V bottle debate, everyone has there own opinions so please if your just going to lecture on the benefits then please don't as that's not what this thread is for ....
Anyway my point being is that nowadays everyone just 'assumes' your going to breast feed, which fair enough doesn't bother me, however thinking about this further I've noticed that all formula milk adverts on tv are for 'follow on' milk and never for first infant milk. Also whilst just browsing the mothercare website I came across a formula starter pack, which the first thing it says is 'breast milk is best formula should only be used after consultation with your doc or midwife'

Now I totally understand the benefits of breast feeding, however at the end of the day shouldn't it be our decision as to how we choose to feed our own child? Without being made guilty if we decide to choose formula? Recently I've had 4 friends who all wanted to breastfeed and all ended up having to bottle within a week due to different reasons meaning they couldn't, however 3 of my friends were completely devastated that they couldn't breast feed and felt a failure, I never understood this at first but thinking about it now I can see why they felt like this as all society is trying to get us to breast feed as it seems to be expected of us. Surely this isn't right? It's our baby so it should be our decision what we choose to do?
Does anyone else feel like this or am I just seeing too much into this?
And once again PLEASE DON'T comment on the debate of bottle V breast cause ano how heated those get and that's not what I want.

So you only want responses if we agree with you? Ok. Won't respond but I don't agree with you.

Ohhh Gawwwwwwd .... its started

To be fair, I didn't read your first post as that at all. Just that you've made your decision, and don't want this thread to just be full of women telling you it's the "wrong" decision. Like I said, it's not a decision I can understand, but as long as you know the implications of the decision, then it's your prerogative to choose to feed LO however you want. That's not to say that women who choose to FF without knowing the implications don't have that prerogative, but I would argue that if you only have half of the info, how is that an informed choice? If someone just says 'BFing is icky', then I think it's fair enough to challenge that perception.

 

[xLaura]

So you only want responses if we agree with you? Ok. Won't respond but I don't agree with you.[/QUOTE]

I said I didn't want to get into the debate as to which is best. The point I was making is that I don't agree how everyone just assumes your BF and that in the media BF is the only method of feeding which is portrayed and that's what I don't agree with.

What don't you agree with?

 

[Clarabell543]

everytime. lol