SMA website "welcome"??? !!!

[bailey4eva]

Dont know if any of you agree with me, but I have just visited the SMA website to be greeted with a pop up that has really annoyed me!! It is basically trying to cover themselves from professionals going on about breast is best, in other words not promoting formula being better. However, they do this in a way that made me feel angry, as I did try breastfeeding and basically it didnt work out. I still feel major guilt for this, so for those who are making the switch for whatever reason may feel even more guilty than I do! So if I had visited their site at the time when I was struggling, it would have brought me to tears, feeling like I have failed and bad mum etc etc. I hate it when companies go on about stopping breastfeeding being "detrimental" (SP??) to a babys health!!! I think most mums are aware of the benefits of breastfeeding but for whatever reason, some mums choose/are forced not to do it.

Sorry for going on it just really annoyed me, I even sent them a message to tell them! I can't get that pop up again now, I had to agree to it to get onto their website! GRRRR!!!!!! xxxxxxxxx

 

[crossroads]

I think it could possibly be a legal issue. If they promoted formula over breast (even subtly) they could be in breach of laws.

I totally understand where you're coming from with the guilt. I'm BFing but I'm not enjoying it. I'm doing it to avoid the guilt.

 

[stephx]

It does that on cow and gate too

I agree, they shouldnt do it! And the way its worded is horrible...

xx

 

[helsurf]

I find this really annoying too but think they are required by law to do this, they also aren't allowed to advertise first infant milk and shops cant give you club card points on it or do special offers on it! it really sucks, the government want people to breast feed for the first 6 weeks so they made up these laws! it's crazy i tried to breast feed a preemie baby for 7 weeks and ended up in hospital with mastitis from expressing so much, i thought 'well atleast i'll get the advantage card points on the milk!' but nope they're not allowed to give em! it sucks! lol, rant over, but this is a subject that really gets my back up! lol x x x

 

[helsurf]

sorry i meant 6 months not weeks! x

 

[bailey4eva]

Yea they could add abit to it though saying they understand breastfeeding doesnt always work out, they do elsewhere on their website. I understand they cant advertise it, I do think they are goin abit OTT the government, as usual!! It was mastitis that made it impossible for me too, had it 3 times and then it stopped my supply! I was ill for almost 4 weeks, when all I wanted to do was take Jake out in his pram that hadn't been used haha. Pfft. Sometimes gota think of your own health in order to benefit ur baby, i was useless at everything until I stopped breastfeeding and Jake couldnt be healthier, I know as long as I tried and tried I would have nothing to regret, but still felt beaten when I did stop rant number 2 over hahaha xxx

 

[helsurf]

i know what u mean, i still feel guilty even tho i tried and tried and ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics, i even carried on trying after that and then got mastitis again all the while i had a preemie baby in hospital and just wanted to be there with him! the staff on nicu were fantastic when i broke down and said i wanted to bottle feed him, they said he'd be fine on formula and he is doing really well, he was 3lb 11oz at birth and now weighs nearly 14lb at 17 weeks old (he's 7 weeks corrected age) but if i bump into people in the street i always get asked if i'm feeding him myself! and always fel guilty when i say no, think we need to give ourselves a break and see that our babies are doing just fine, and we put a lot of effort into sterilising and making up bottles just right for them

This link might make you feel better

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8443904.stm

keep up the good work, your LO is gorgeous x x xx

 

[OmarsMum]

All formula websites have the same message. If u dont agree, u cant browse. There isnt much info about infants formula on manufacturers websites. I struggled finding the right formula for my LO & I didnt find much info. The tins also have the same message.

 

[AP]

i know what u mean, i still feel guilty even tho i tried and tried and ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics, i even carried on trying after that and then got mastitis again all the while i had a preemie baby in hospital and just wanted to be there with him! the staff on nicu were fantastic when i broke down and said i wanted to bottle feed him, they said he'd be fine on formula and he is doing really well, he was 3lb 11oz at birth and now weighs nearly 14lb at 17 weeks old (he's 7 weeks corrected age) but if i bump into people in the street i always get asked if i'm feeding him myself! and always fel guilty when i say no, think we need to give ourselves a break and see that our babies are doing just fine, and we put a lot of effort into sterilising and making up bottles just right for them

This link might make you feel better

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8443904.stm

keep up the good work, your LO is gorgeous x x xx

Formula shouldnt be as frowned upon when it comes to preemies, often enough its part and parcel of getting the weight on to their low birth weight. Its mums like us who see the benefits to both.

 

[MrsT&Ben]

Yes it really annoys me! And everytime I see the aptimal advert I have to turn over.
I feel like a failure. Even though i'm very happy with my lo being ff. It feels like a knife in the rubbish mummy part of me.

 

[Jellyt]

Oh god this really got to me too! Stopping breastfeeding was such a difficult decision for me and I actually still get depressed over it. I agree that the wording of it was horrible and not something I want to read when i'm already feeling terrible. LO and I are actually a lot happier with FF but it's things like the aptimil advert that encourage others to judge us I think.

 

[bubbles123]

On one of my low, guilt ridden days in the beginning I got an email from Aptamil going on about BF'ing being so great. I sent a very angry email back saying why are you sending people who you know FF BF'ing info and that it had really upset me. They sent me a very nice email back saying basically they had to be law. So it's not all their fault. But yeah, it's horrid. We all know breast is best but you do hope that you can get a bit of an escape from being constantly reminded and having the guilt made worse when you're receiving things from a formula company. Obviously not. I think it's counter productive and just makes people turn against BF'ing IMO.

 

[bailey4eva]

Well it seems that most people agree that it is a little insensitive the way they do try and "promote" breastfeeding, especially through formula websites etc. As long as you as a person can see why you stopped breastfeeding, then you shouldn't feel guilty. It is a personal decision, and looking around today, can you see the difference between adults who were breastfed as babies and those fed by formula??? I believe it doesn't make enough difference in the long term to feel all that guilty about. Though I do really admire those that can breastfeed for as long as they like!

I got my reply from SMA, they were sorry and they did say the laws require them to say that formula feeding can have negative impacts etc. and they took into account the fact they might add a little about those that can't breastfeed, so with abit of luck they meant that, because I know I always look for that bit that says that it isn't always a possibility to breastfeed (which can have a negative impact on the mothers that can't breastfeed, and apparantly babies pick up on mothers feelings so a little hypocritical IMO!).

Thanks for all of your comments too

 

[mamalove]

I just went to their website and they didn't have this couple of months ago. I guess it can have an impact on new mothers,hormones all over the place,exhaustion and then SMA coming up with this message.
Thing is,they have to do this,i don't agree with it,we all feed our children with whatever we want but apprently it isnt so

 

[tiggerlix]

This annoys me to..but at the same time i know there is absalutly nothing wrong with formula milk..it is made with babies in mind and has the best in it for them,fair enough it isnt the breast but its as close as..and thats good enough for me..my daughter is very healthy on formula and i made the best choice for my baby.
i also felt guilty for not persevering with the breast..then i thought what the hell..me and my baby are alot happier this way..
i wish people would stop putting breast is best into our faces..we are not stupid but we also have choices
xx

 

[crossroads]

i know what u mean, i still feel guilty even tho i tried and tried and ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics, i even carried on trying after that and then got mastitis again all the while i had a preemie baby in hospital and just wanted to be there with him! the staff on nicu were fantastic when i broke down and said i wanted to bottle feed him, they said he'd be fine on formula and he is doing really well, he was 3lb 11oz at birth and now weighs nearly 14lb at 17 weeks old (he's 7 weeks corrected age) but if i bump into people in the street i always get asked if i'm feeding him myself! and always fel guilty when i say no, think we need to give ourselves a break and see that our babies are doing just fine, and we put a lot of effort into sterilising and making up bottles just right for them

This link might make you feel better

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8443904.stm

keep up the good work, your LO is gorgeous x x xx

Wow. Strangers in the street ask if you breastfeed? It's none of their business!

 

[crossroads]

Yes it really annoys me! And everytime I see the aptimal advert I have to turn over.
I feel like a failure. Even though i'm very happy with my lo being ff. It feels like a knife in the rubbish mummy part of me.

That advert boils my piss. It's wrong on so many levels.

1. She's stick thin. You wouldn't think she'd just given birth.
2. She's feeding standing up ffs.
3. She's smiling like a gimp, giving the impression that breastfeeding is a joyful laugh.
4. We don't need that crap shoved in our faces thank you.

 

[Janidog]

Sorry but what do you expect these websites to have to do to please everyone??? If they don't stick the information on the screen then they are breaking the law or promoting formula feeding too much, which they then are moaned by BF, but on the other hand if they do put the info up then formula feeders moan at them, they can't win. No doubt they would have consulted lawyers before placing the info on the screen.

 

[Rach27]

I assume they are required to do this by law this way, they know that everyone who visits their website have read it. And it only comes up the first time you visit the website! There'd be people damning them if they didn't do this so they can't really win. At least this way they can't get sued!

I think it's quite responsible to do it like this.

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I can see why it is annoying to some but it's what they have to do. It's part of the ban on formula advertising.