Refreshing talk today with HV's regarding BFing

[Blah11]

well, thats just plain ridiculous. i just dont agree with loads of info on formula feeding when someone is pregnant. once the baby is born and is already being bottle fed, its nonsensical not to give info on how to make up bottles or w/e.

What use is the information AFTER someone has started to FF, given their baby an unsteralised bottle made with cold water, too much formula and warmed in teh microwave to give hotspots? How is the information on safe formula feeding going to benefit a parent whose child is on life support (or worse...) after drinking a dodgy bottle.

Information on safe FF..or safe EBM feeding..should be given to ALL parents whether they plan to BF or FF. Why leave it until it's too late??

There is going to be a MW about from the first feed anyway. Most people try and BF the first few days and the baby isnt going to starve in 1 day from not getting much from the breast. If they wish to move on from FF then you see a MW or HV a lot in the first few weeks.

 

[louandivy]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know the what the breastfeeding rates of the US and UK are?

 

[JASMAK]

Here is Canada
The World Health Organization (WHO), Health Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Society recommend breastfeeding as the best method of feeding infants because it provides optimal nutritional, immunological and emotional benefits for growth and development.

Women aged 15 to 55 who had given birth from 2005 to 2009 were asked, in 2009, about breastfeeding experiences related to the birth of their most recent child.

Of those women, 87.5%, or 1.3 million, breastfed their most recent baby, if only for a short time. The percentage of women who initiated breastfeeding rose from 81.5% in 2001 to 87.0% in 2005, and has held steady since then (Chart 1).

Women with a postsecondary diploma or degree were more likely to begin breastfeeding their babies than those without a postsecondary diploma or degree (90.4% compared with 81.9%).

Of the 12.5% of new mothers who did not attempt to breastfeed, 28.4% cited medical factors (e.g., C–section, premature birth, multiple birth, or medical condition of mother or baby) as the main reason for not breastfeeding. An additional 24.6% said that breastfeeding was ”unappealing” or ”disgusting” and 19.5% said that bottle feeding was easier.

 

[louandivy]

The rates are pretty good in Canada! (Although whoever called breastfeeding 'disgusting' needs to be attacked with waterguns filled with breastmilk)

 

[Blah11]

In the UK..

35% of babies are BF at 1 week
21% at 6 weeks
7% at 4 months
3% at 5 months

so terrible.

 

[JASMAK]

The rates are pretty good in Canada! (Although whoever called breastfeeding 'disgusting' needs to be attacked with waterguns filled with breastmilk)

lol...no kidding..or rubber bullets! lmao

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I BF my son for a while but DD went straight on bottle moments after birth. I dont think its terrible!- Not that I care what people think lol. Lucky I never got looked down upon for it and I never had anything less than attentive and support while at the Birthing Centre with her.

 

[JASMAK]

In the UK..

35% of babies are BF at 1 week
21% at 6 weeks
7% at 4 months
3% at 5 months

so terrible.

Wow..that is horrible!! I am shocked actually..I thought UK was really 'natural' because of midwives and homebirths.

 

[Blah11]

In the UK..

35% of babies are BF at 1 week
21% at 6 weeks
7% at 4 months
3% at 5 months

so terrible.

Wow..that is horrible!! I am shocked actually..I thought UK was really 'natural' because of midwives and homebirths.

Thats for exclusive BF and obviously the number for those who feed for less than a week will be a lot higher.
& No, the HB push thing is relatively 'new'. I only know 1 person who has had a homebirth and theres still a lot of 'omg id never do that' or 'wow, youre brave'

 

[louandivy]

In the UK..

35% of babies are BF at 1 week
21% at 6 weeks
7% at 4 months
3% at 5 months

so terrible.

Oh my god Its amazing that so many FF mums feel like they are bullied about BF and in the minority, when the BFing rates are so shockingly low! At 14 months and still breastfeeding I must be one of about 0.142422%! This country sucks.

 

[Blah11]

I BF my son for a while but DD went straight on bottle moments after birth. I dont think its terrible!- Not that I care what people think lol. Lucky I never got looked down upon for it and I never had anything less than attentive and support while at the Birthing Centre with her.

I didnt say it was terrible, I said the BF rates were. 3% at 5 months is awful.

 

[Blah11]

i think im in the 0.000000000000000000001%

 

[JASMAK]

I BF my son for a while but DD went straight on bottle moments after birth. I dont think its terrible!- Not that I care what people think lol. Lucky I never got looked down upon for it and I never had anything less than attentive and support while at the Birthing Centre with her.

I didnt say it was terrible, I said the BF rates were. 3% at 5 months is awful.

Just wanted to add that is what I meant too!

 

[louandivy]

We're such special snowflakes Blah

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

I think information on both feeding methods should be readily available. By withholding support for FF mums, it's almost as though you are being punished for not conforming to the guidelines - and that's all they are - guidelines, not the law.

Who the hell is to tell me that I am not entitled to a bit of feeding support any more when I've had to switch to FF in the middle of the night for my child's health and nutrition when I could have it yesterday when I was trying desperately to BF?

And what is the point of withholding information on FF unless the parent asks, if they don't know to ask because they just assume that they are persona non grata as far as their healthcare professionals are concerned.

Luckily I had a supportive MW who explained to me "unofficially" the various ways to prepare a bottle that didn't involve standing there making up a fresh one each time.

And feeding groups/antenatal classes should definitely not be slagging off FF - fine, promote BF and cover FF briefly if that's the best they can offer, but putting formula across as something bad is exactly why many mums feel like failures if they can't BF, because they have been programmed to think they are providing inferior care to their babies which simply is not true.

Brilliantly put hun. So many mothers have said they felt like 'failures' because they stopped BFing. I have sat with a mum many a time while she sobs, BF is best but not supporting mothers when they FF can not only have a detrimental affect on the babies physical well-being but also the mothers emotional well-being x

 

[aliss]

In the UK..

35% of babies are BF at 1 week
21% at 6 weeks
7% at 4 months
3% at 5 months

so terrible.

Wow..that is horrible!! I am shocked actually..I thought UK was really 'natural' because of midwives and homebirths.

JASMAK I know you're in BC where I'm from originally too... I think our rates must have been much much higher than that, I don't know any girls except 1 that formula fed, even girls at work were pumping on their breaks

 

[24/7]

Blah, I'm really really suprised by the those figures, and not in a good way. When I stopped BF at eight weeks, well expressing really as LO wouldnt latch, I was given the impression that by changing to FF I was very much in the minority, but it seems I wasnt!!

I so wish for us BF had worked out, even eight weeks on from stopping the guilt I feel is horrendous and eats me up inside. xx

 

[Blah11]

the 6 month rate is less than 1%

 

[louandivy]

In the UK..

35% of babies are BF at 1 week
21% at 6 weeks
7% at 4 months
3% at 5 months

so terrible.

Wow..that is horrible!! I am shocked actually..I thought UK was really 'natural' because of midwives and homebirths.

JASMAK I know you're in BC where I'm from originally too... I think our rates must have been much much higher than that, I don't know any girls except 1 that formula fed, even girls at work were pumping on their breaks

When I was in Vancouver last month I saw sooo many women breastfeeding, older babies too. I loved it! I am getting to the stage now where I sense that some people feel very awkward about the fact that I'm still breastfeeding.

 

[Blah11]

Blah, I'm really really suprised by the those figures, and not in a good way. When I stopped BF at eight weeks, well expressing really as LO wouldnt latch, I was given the impression that by changing to FF I was very much in the minority, but it seems I wasnt!!

I so wish for us BF had worked out, even eight weeks on from stopping the guilt I feel is horrendous and eats me up inside. xx

You did what was best for you and your LO, you tried your best, gave your LO the best start and have nothing to feel guilty for.