I don't agree with this ....

[special_kala]

I have happily completely formula fed my oldest from a day old. She had a bottle pretty soon after she was born.

It's everyone's choice how they feed their baby but I do think breast feeding should be very much encouraged and supported.

 

[patch2006uk]

Im still not keen on the fact that it wasnt mentioned. I appreciate that BF needs more time on it as a subject, but by not mentioning FF at all, sends out a message that there is only one way. Other ladies in my group felt the same, we wanted information on both. Luckily for me whilst I respect others views, I am not the type to be pressured into anything by anyone. Unfortunately I have had friends who have felt pressured. Its the pressure I disagree with.

If you mentioned to your doctor that you drink every night, and they told you that that's considered binge drinking and isn't good for your health, would that be pressure? Same with smoking, or any decision that impacts health. Is being told the truth being pressured?

I think it's easy to forget that there is an internal pressure to breastfeed. Your body expects to breastfeed (hence your milk coming in, even if you never even hold LO to your breast). It's a hormonal process, and your body mourns if you don't do it. Blaming a poster is kind of overlooking the fact that our bodies expect to breastfeed, and our hormones gear up in order for us to do so.

Surely it's not that surprising that the NCT didn't mention formula feeding in detail? I wouldn't recommend an NCT class to a lady planning a c-section, a they don't go into detail about those, either. The breastfeeding class on my NCT course last time was optional, so if you were planning to FF, I assume you just wouldn't go, as it's not relevant for you?

 

[Meloc9710]

My first two kids were strictly formula fed. Believe it or not, they are healthy children! lol I certainly didn't appreciate the nurses shoving breast feeding down my throat. I had made my decision, and expected them to respect that. Of course they didn't until I practically freaked out on them. I completely understand what the op is saying. It is a woman's right to decide what is best for her and her child. (With the exception of government aid) Granted this time I may try breast feeding as I cringed at the price of formula. But, the point here is that no one has the right to shove their opinion down your throat. Each woman should be entitled to make their own decision on how their baby is fed.

 

[special_kala]

So its wrong to shove breast feeding down peoples throats but its ok to want to allow formula companies to shove that down peoples throats in a nice expensive manipulative way?

 

[Sparklerose]

You can't get clubcard points on formula?? That's scandalous!! To whoever said it penalises breastfeeding mums - how does it?

I didn't realise there was a ban on advertising formula. Now I know it does make a lot of sense and I do think it's appalling. I've been looking at formulas to make sure I have the right one to buy for hospital and was wondering why none said on it which would do for newborns.

I find it very difficult to believe women aren't aware of breastfeeding since it's all the doctors, midwives and ante natal classes bang on about with no help or assistance whatsoever to women who choose not to or are on the fence. As someone sad, you ought to be able to make an informed choice. That means you have to be informed though.

 

[special_kala]

Well I didn't get any points for breast feeding Willow.

It just goes with the ban. I'm sure its a consequence of the ban rather then part of the reason for it.

 

[special_kala]

Any normal stage one formula is suitable for newborns. You can get hungry milk but that's not for newborns.

All formulas are very much the same.

 

[staralfur]

I think the issue with giving points and rewards for formula is that some women may choose to formula feed BECAUSE of that, and that's not really something that should affect someone's decision on the matter.

And as someone already mentioned, formula would likely be more expensive if they were always putting out commercials and advertising. Is that really where you want them spending money? It's not that hard to Google formulas while making your decision. I'm sure you don't get most of your information on certain products through a 30 second commercial on TV.

I'm sure most people are aware of breastfeeding as an option for feeding their babies. But I truly believe most go into it having no idea how hard it can be. I had an entire 3 hour prenatal class on breastfeeding and I still felt pretty clueless when the clusterfeeds started.

 

[Meloc9710]

So its wrong to shove breast feeding down peoples throats but its ok to want to allow formula companies to shove that down peoples throats in a nice expensive manipulative way?

Give me a break. Most women are smart enough to make an informed decision on ff vs bf. Just because something is advertised on tv doesn't mean they are manipulating women and shoving it down their throats. The channel can be changed if the commercial isn't liked. They are simply letting ppl know there is an alternative to bf. I am talking about nurses in the hospital that don't want to listen to what I have decided and won't back off. That's where I have a problem with it.

 

[Sparklerose]

I think the issue with giving points and rewards for formula is that some women may choose to formula feed BECAUSE of that, and that's not really something that should affect someone's decision on the matter.

And as someone already mentioned, formula would likely be more expensive if they were always putting out commercials and advertising. Is that really where you want them spending money? It's not that hard to Google formulas while making your decision. I'm sure you don't get most of your information on certain products through a 30 second commercial on TV.

I'm sure most people are aware of breastfeeding as an option for feeding their babies. But I truly believe most go into it having no idea how hard it can be. I had an entire 3 hour prenatal class on breastfeeding and I still felt pretty clueless when the clusterfeeds started.

I wasn't suggesting the adverts gave out the information. I was saying the midwives and antenatal classes ought to.

I doubt anyone would make a breastfeeding decision based on clubcard points. Once the decision's made you're handing over your cash, you should get the points like you do for any other product.

 

[anita665]

You can't get clubcard points on formula?? That's scandalous!! To whoever said it penalises breastfeeding mums - how does it?

I didn't realise there was a ban on advertising formula. Now I know it does make a lot of sense and I do think it's appalling. I've been looking at formulas to make sure I have the right one to buy for hospital and was wondering why none said on it which would do for newborns.

I find it very difficult to believe women aren't aware of breastfeeding since it's all the doctors, midwives and ante natal classes bang on about with no help or assistance whatsoever to women who choose not to or are on the fence. As someone sad, you ought to be able to make an informed choice. That means you have to be informed though.

I guess that there is only so much advice that you can give about formula though. A brand which works for one baby may not for another but health wise, they're as good as each other. There isn't a single best choice.

By allowing formula companies to give out more information, you could be allowing them to make claims which are misleading. Unlike with breastfeeding, there is potentially a lot of money to be made from formula. Even going through midwives and health visitors for information would be misleading because it would work in the same way that drug companies sell their products. Whoever wines and dines the best will have their products recommended. It would cost a fortune to independently test formula.

I personally felt that once the pregnancy was over there was very little help when it came to breastfeeding and I had no idea how hard it would be so while some say they talk it up too much, I don’t agree with that. Perhaps they are too busy focusing on the wrong points of it.

 

[special_kala]

So its wrong to shove breast feeding down peoples throats but its ok to want to allow formula companies to shove that down peoples throats in a nice expensive manipulative way?

Give me a break. Most women are smart enough to make an informed decision on ff vs bf. Just because something is advertised on tv doesn't mean they are manipulating women and shoving it down their throats. The channel can be changed if the commercial isn't liked. They are simply letting ppl know there is an alternative to bf. I am talking about nurses in the hospital that don't want to listen to what I have decided and won't back off. That's where I have a problem with it.

So you don't think formula companies would use underhand tactics to make more money if they could advertise.

They have already been in trouble recently for basically lying on the follow on adverts.

 

[aliss]

Did you know that the brand Aptamil is closest to breast milk?

It's not (any more than any other brand), I live in North America where Aptamil is not even a brand used, and yet I know this Because so many girls here respond "Aptamil, because it's the closest to breast milk" when asked which formula they are planning to use.

Many of you might not be fooled for false formula claims (whether that's a simple ad or outright lie) but unfortunately many do.

We had an old sayng when I worked in emergency services... "common sense ain't that common"

 

[Sparklerose]

You can't get clubcard points on formula?? That's scandalous!! To whoever said it penalises breastfeeding mums - how does it?

I didn't realise there was a ban on advertising formula. Now I know it does make a lot of sense and I do think it's appalling. I've been looking at formulas to make sure I have the right one to buy for hospital and was wondering why none said on it which would do for newborns.

I find it very difficult to believe women aren't aware of breastfeeding since it's all the doctors, midwives and ante natal classes bang on about with no help or assistance whatsoever to women who choose not to or are on the fence. As someone sad, you ought to be able to make an informed choice. That means you have to be informed though.

I guess that there is only so much advice that you can give about formula though. A brand which works for one baby may not for another but health wise, they're as good as each other. There isn't a single best choice.

By allowing formula companies to give out more information, you could be allowing them to make claims which are misleading. Unlike with breastfeeding, there is potentially a lot of money to be made from formula. Even going through midwives and health visitors for information would be misleading because it would work in the same way that drug companies sell their products. Whoever wines and dines the best will have their products recommended. It would cost a fortune to independently test formula.

I personally felt that once the pregnancy was over there was very little help when it came to breastfeeding and I had no idea how hard it would be so while some say they talk it up too much, I don’t agree with that. Perhaps they are too busy focusing on the wrong points of it.

That first line would be a good starting point tbf.

Nobody tells you anything about formula feeding, they just bang on about breastfeeding and tell you to bring bottles and formula if you want to bottle feed. Nothing about how they're all the same, what to do, how to make up a bottle etc yet there's hours and hours on breastfeeding and support groups and all sorts afterwards.

There's a hell of a lot more pressure than there would be from any advertising - advertising doesn't control when you're allowed to go home or come to your house and make you feel bad if you choose another path.

To be honest for fence sitters like me the pressure is enough to make someone say 'no, I'm not being bullied' and point blank refuse. And I don't think I've had an awful lot of pressure yet compared to some stories I've heard.

 

[staralfur]

I wasn't suggesting the adverts gave out the information. I was saying the midwives and antenatal classes ought to.

There's not much to say about it, to be honest. The book they give out here for "baby preparation" has a very small section which gives instructions on how to safely prepare formula. That's all they can say, really. And all of that is on the can of formula anyway.

 

[anita665]

So you don't think formula companies would use underhand tactics to make more money if they could advertise.

They have already been in trouble recently for basically lying on the follow on adverts.

Agreed! They're smart and they will find ways to influence a womans decision if they can get away with it. If everyone was smart enough to see past it, they wouldn't spend such big bucks on it.

 

[horseybird]

It is surprising to me. We were all first time mums, I was sitting on the fence, hence wanting information on both types. I attended the BF session as I wanted information. They did go into detail about C sections, and on the whole the NCT course was great, fab teacher and nice people on the course. But I do think it was wrong not to include any info on FF. How are we ment to make a choice if we do not have the info? I dont see why I should read a tub to find out about it when I ve paid almost 200 quid for a course!!

 

[Sparklerose]

I wasn't suggesting the adverts gave out the information. I was saying the midwives and antenatal classes ought to.

There's not much to say about it, to be honest. The book they give out here for "baby preparation" has a very small section which gives instructions on how to safely prepare formula. That's all they can say, really. And all of that is on the can of formula anyway.

But unless they tell you that you don't know what you don't know do you?

I take your point about them not being able to talk about brands and stuff but the absolute basics would be a great starting point to help a frightened first time mum make a decision.

The rows and rows of milk in the shops are really daunting. I've picked a few up but not really known which was the right one so I haven't even got as far as preparation instructions. I don't want the first time I have to deal with that (if I go that way) to be when my baby is screaming for food.

 

[special_kala]

So you don't think formula companies would use underhand tactics to make more money if they could advertise.

They have already been in trouble recently for basically lying on the follow on adverts.

Agreed! They're smart and they will find ways to influence a womans decision if they can get away with it. If everyone was smart enough to see past it, they wouldn't spend such big bucks on it.

I think its the aptimal advert where the whole 6 months she's breast feeding its winter gloomy and dark...all of a sudden its follow on milk time and its spring and summer.

That's manipulation right there imagine what they would without the current laws in place

 

[anita665]

So you don't think formula companies would use underhand tactics to make more money if they could advertise.

They have already been in trouble recently for basically lying on the follow on adverts.

Agreed! They're smart and they will find ways to influence a womans decision if they can get away with it. If everyone was smart enough to see past it, they wouldn't spend such big bucks on it.

I think its the aptimal advert where the whole 6 months she's breast feeding its winter gloomy and dark...all of a sudden its follow on milk time and its spring and summer.

That's manipulation right there imagine what they would without the current laws in place

I've seen that advert but I hadn't even noticed the winter thing.

Still maybe it would be good to give a demo on how to make up a bottle in these classes. There are still things to get confused by with formula like how long you can store bottles, how long they remain sterile.