I think its appalling HCPs are censored in giving basic information to mothers who FF. In no way is explaining how to make up a bottle, how to clean/sterilise etc is 'promotion'...its education on a choice that has already been made. I believe people who think about FF and then change their mind to BF do so because of the BF information they are given, not because FF info explains what a pain in the butt it is (I really dont think it is) or how 'bad it can be' (what does that even mean anyway? FF is safe when given CORRECTLY which is what is important about giving the information necessary rather than hiding it away like a dirty little secret).
I never ever contemplated FF when I was pregnant. I was excited about BFing and couldnt wait to start. I certainly did not have anything against FF though and even bought 6 cartons of Aptamil just in case.
I battled with BF so much despite my emergency section and the piss-poor postnatal care and breastfeeding 'support' (yeah right) in my hospital. However my baby had to be readmitted on day 3, the day after I was discharged with supposedly 'established breastfeeding' because she had lost so much weight and was jaundiced. The 24 hours between discharge and admission were hell, she wouldnt latch because no-one had shown me how to (even though I'd read all the info on how you're supposed to), no-one had even observed me trying to feed Alice. I accessed as much help as I could (National Breast Feeding Helpline, LLL etc).
When she was readmitted, I had a nurse forcing my nipple into my baby's mouth for an hour. That was the worst hour of my life, Alice was screaming her head off with this nurse who was supposedly trained in BF support madhandling her and my excrutiatingly painful breast and both DH and I were crying along wth our baby. I was put on a pump and left after they realised Alice wouldnt latch. Noone gave me any further BF support during that admission. We had to top up with ready made formula as I couldnt pump enough to sustain her. Ive never felt so exhausted, low and distraught. I was 'failing' through no fault of my own. I was failed by a NHS who are happy to post breastfeeding posters on a wall but dont bother to properly train their staff to give the correct BF support to new mothers. That's where information is sorely needed. BF is bloody difficult and mothers need PROPER support to help it along, not just a poxy leaflet.
So when I got home, I was having to give formula top ups along with still trying my best to express. I tried accessing help again for people to come and sort out our latch issues. But all I was told was to go to the drop in BF clinic 5 miles away the week afterward (we were discharged on a friday afternoon, typical). Noone would come out to help me.
I still persisted with EBM and trying to latch Alice on, who kept screaming and screaming every time we tried. Eventually, she even refused my EBM.
Because I'd never planned to FF (although had steriliser & bottles in because I hoped to express at some point), I didnt have a scooby doo about how the hell to make up a bottle. I was exhausted after a week of no sleep, an emergency c section and the horrendous hospital readmission. I could barely remember my own name, so trying to decipher steriliser instructions and formula instruction were a big task! I couldnt even drive to the supermarket to get the formula thanks to the C sec! Thank goodness for my mother, who took my DH to the shops and told us how to make a bottle up.
Perhaps, if I had just had a bit more info about FF, I would have been more confident in how to make the bottles up etc, things would have been easier when we got home.
So remember ladies, not everyone is as fortunate as to be able to BF and continue and that is largely down to the lack of support for BF. You may say then that the money should be pumped into more BF support rather than this ridiculous concept that informing ladies about FF is 'promoting' it. But at the end of the day the very existence of FF means BF will never be the 100% choice of every mum and why on earth should mums like myself who have to quit BF due to no fault of their own suffer from lack of information. Also why should mums who choose to FF from the off for whatever reason have to suffer from restricted information. It isnt fair. In fact, it is discriminatory and prejudiced. Im pretty sure the majority of mums know breast is best...but it doesnt always work out.
I wish to God I had succeeded with BFing and have struggled to deal with the fact I couldnt do something that was so important to me. But FF has saved my sanity, helped me bond with my baby after a traumatic labour and birth and my LO is thriving which is ALL that matters to me.
No, still dont see where your going.
