Underhand tactics - formula companies

[AP]

Do you think people are against it because of the brand?
I was about to mention Bounty. I think mothers need to wake up to that pile of advertising junk and harrassment.

 

[Kate&Lucas]

Just because you saw Just Beiber (or whoever) dancing around a can of Coke wouldn't mean you'd rush out and buy it (despite it being vile crap that rots your teeth).. but that's still advertising

 

[aliss]

Oh this again

Please do remember that 1-2% of women who cannot BF a baby does equal *millions* of women per year. And those women need help.

Women who have pumped exclusively are well-aware that a pump is not nearly as efficient as the baby, and that sometimes not enough milk can be expressed, so formula is used to supplement. With donor milk being $3-5/oz, it is unaffordable to nearly all women.

I am not ashamed that my son is FF. I attempted BF but his birth injury made BF extremely painful for him (clavicle fractures). I did purchase a Medela Harmony but unfortunately not enough milk could be produced for him. I had several LC's to my home, even then it was recommended to FF. How many LCs do you know would recommend FF? Pretty dang rare eh?

Is it "artificial"? I suppose technically, yes. However, I have trouble with the argument that women in other countries do it, or that women in the past were able to do it, so why not us? Quite frankly, it is very likely that my child would have been still born in the past from his emergency and resulting injury. So please, reserve your judgment. I am just happy that my son is alive and not paralyzed.

I do plan on BFing my next child because I assume (and I pray) that the same injury does not occur. FF is expensive, annoying to prep bottles, and generally more of a pain IMO. However, my baby is growing well with the circumstances that we endured.

Until you are willing to donate enough milk to make milk banks affordable, or be willing to be a 24/7 wet nurse like in other/past societies, please cut us some slack. Nobody here wants anything but the best for their baby.

 

[Missy86]

Do you think people are against it because of the brand?
I was about to mention Bounty. I think mothers need to wake up to that pile of advertising junk and harrassment.

I get so much junk mail and emails its stupid from baby companies, doesnt mean I listen

 

[smokey]

I think a few are missing the point that this advice line and info they provide isnt just about ff, it is also about breastfeeding, what to eat when breastfeed, how to stay health during pregnancy and after, what nappies to use, different current advice on a whole world of baby matters.
I have used the advice and website a few times and found it rather good especialy the breastfeeding info they sent me with lists of what to avoid eating while bf.
So what if its run by by a formula company.
Give more credit to most new mums who are not going to be looking at it and thinking "right thats it sod bothering with bf when I can just make up a bottle" not everyone thinks like that

Exactly! New mums do deserve more credit than that! As if I'm going to switch to formula and make a massive decision just because I got sent a cuddly polar bear and a fridge magnet?! Pampers, Bounty, SMA all have this type of service and so what? Besides health professionals, who else would set up a service like that? B+Q? Isn't it fitting that these are baby related products. Whats the biggie?

I have signed up to so many companies like sma, aptimel, pampers, different baby food companies just to get free things like polar bears, cows, fridge magents, muslin cloths (lo wont touch any other one other then the free sma cloth, I think they have doused it in babynip)
But I couldnt care less what the company is advertising, I have more common sense then to be swayed like that and will make my own judgments about what to you and how to raise him.

 

[v2007]

I FF and BF both Mollie and Katie and IMHO as long as our babies are fed, happy and looked after that all that matters.

V xxxx

 

[AP]

Do you think people are against it because of the brand?
I was about to mention Bounty. I think mothers need to wake up to that pile of advertising junk and harrassment.

I get so much junk mail and emails its stupid from baby companies, doesnt mean I listen

Exactly! If I listened to every email I got from sma, heinz etc about my babies development I think I'd be crying in the corner. We dont need to take notice of it

 

[smokey]

Do you think people are against it because of the brand?
I was about to mention Bounty. I think mothers need to wake up to that pile of advertising junk and harrassment.

I get so much junk mail and emails its stupid from baby companies, doesnt mean I listen

Nope, I like to think I come with my own spam filter

 

[trumpetbum]

I think a few are missing the point that this advice line and info they provide isnt just about ff, it is also about breastfeeding, what to eat when breastfeed, how to stay health during pregnancy and after, what nappies to use, different current advice on a whole world of baby matters.

I really don't think that anyone is missing the point by questioning the motives or the standards of the advice given. There may be disagreement on whether this IS a sneaky attempt at formula promotion to expectant and new mothers but I don't see anyone failing to grasp that the parenting advice covers more than just feeding.

I have used the advice and website a few times and found it rather good especialy the breastfeeding info they sent me with lists of what to avoid eating while bf.

Lists to avoid while breastfeeding? Like what? With the exception of excessive alcohol or caffeine there are no foods which need to be avoided.

So what if its run by by a formula company.

well I thin I already waffled on about my opinion on this so I won't bore anyone again...

Give more credit to most new mums who are not going to be looking at it and thinking "right thats it sod bothering with bf when I can just make up a bottle" not everyone thinks like that

I don't think anyone is suggesting that people think like that at all. Anywhere.
What people have one is suggest that choices can be subtly undermined especially at vulnerable times and that formula companies knowingly take advantage of this.
Of course, others will disagree but it seems that some disagreement is based on assumptions which are being made about what is actually being said.

 

[Dragonfly]

IMHO to term formula feeding as "artificial" is underhand to me

Not that this has anything to do with my OP but:

ar·ti·fi·cial (ärt-fshl)
adj.
1.
a. Made by humans; produced rather than natural.
b. Brought about or caused by sociopolitical or other human-generated forces or influences: set up artificial barriers against women and minorities; an artificial economic boom.
2. Made in imitation of something natural; simulated: artificial teeth.
3. Not genuine or natural: an artificial smile.

So, formula milk is definitely artifical. Some will always like/use that term, others always won't so it's a very fruitless topic to debate IMHO.

I think a few are missing the point that this advice line and info they provide isnt just about ff, it is also about breastfeeding, what to eat when breastfeed, how to stay health during pregnancy and after, what nappies to use, different current advice on a whole world of baby matters.
I have used the advice and website a few times and found it rather good especialy the breastfeeding info they sent me with lists of what to avoid eating while bf.
So what if its run by by a formula company.
Give more credit to most new mums who are not going to be looking at it and thinking "right thats it sod bothering with bf when I can just make up a bottle" not everyone thinks like that

but thats it thats even wrong info, you dont have to avoid any foods while breastfeeding or increase anything your milk is just right for baby, they make you think yuo have to be Miss fitness to breastfeed. I am not I take no vits and I am a coalics so my diet dosnt have everything in it and I am doing it quite fine. They plant the seed of doubt.

 

[smokey]

IMHO to term formula feeding as "artificial" is underhand to me

Not that this has anything to do with my OP but:

ar·ti·fi·cial (ärt-fshl)
adj.
1.
a. Made by humans; produced rather than natural.
b. Brought about or caused by sociopolitical or other human-generated forces or influences: set up artificial barriers against women and minorities; an artificial economic boom.
2. Made in imitation of something natural; simulated: artificial teeth.
3. Not genuine or natural: an artificial smile.

So, formula milk is definitely artifical. Some will always like/use that term, others always won't so it's a very fruitless topic to debate IMHO.

I think a few are missing the point that this advice line and info they provide isnt just about ff, it is also about breastfeeding, what to eat when breastfeed, how to stay health during pregnancy and after, what nappies to use, different current advice on a whole world of baby matters.
I have used the advice and website a few times and found it rather good especialy the breastfeeding info they sent me with lists of what to avoid eating while bf.
So what if its run by by a formula company.
Give more credit to most new mums who are not going to be looking at it and thinking "right thats it sod bothering with bf when I can just make up a bottle" not everyone thinks like that

but thats it thats even wrong info, you dont have to avoid any foods while breastfeeding or increase anything your milk is just right for baby, they make you think yuo have to be Miss fitness to breastfeed. I am not I take no vits and I am a coalics so my diet dosnt have everything in it and I am doing it quite fine. They plant the seed of doubt.

well then so does the nhs because it was the same list I got from my mw while in hopital.

 

[freckleonear]

I find it quite condescending that the government think people who would have perhaps chosen to breastfeed would change their minds and be swayed by formula adverts.

Unfortunately many women choose to formula feed simply because it is seen as normal to them. Advertising only reinforces this. In countries where advertising of formula is allowed, breastfeeding rates are much lower. It may be condescending but unfortunately it is true.

Give more credit to most new mums who are not going to be looking at it and thinking "right thats it sod bothering with bf when I can just make up a bottle" not everyone thinks like that

You're right, however breastfeeding can be really hard and many women run into problems. Unless they get the right support, they may not know how to solve those problems and therefore think that formula feeding is their only option.

It's the helplines that bothers me the most to be honest. If a breastfeeding woman rang up in the middle of the night, worried and upset because she thought her baby wasn't getting enough milk, I'm pretty sure a formula company would give different advice to the LLL! To be honest, even most health professionals in the NHS aren't able to offer solutions to some of the more complex problems, so I highly doubt that a formula company will provide answers when a much easier and more obvious answer is to start supplementing.

 

[trumpetbum]

Oh this again

Please do remember that 1-2% of women who cannot BF a baby does equal *millions* of women per year. And those women need help.

Women who have pumped exclusively are well-aware that a pump is not nearly as efficient as the baby, and that sometimes not enough milk can be expressed, so formula is used to supplement. With donor milk being $3-5/oz, it is unaffordable to nearly all women.

I am not ashamed that my son is FF. I attempted BF but his birth injury made BF extremely painful for him (clavicle fractures). I did purchase a Medela Harmony but unfortunately not enough milk could be produced for him. I had several LC's to my home, even then it was recommended to FF. How many LCs do you know would recommend FF? Pretty dang rare eh?

Is it "artificial"? I suppose technically, yes. However, I have trouble with the argument that women in other countries do it, or that women in the past were able to do it, so why not us? Quite frankly, it is very likely that my child would have been still born in the past from his emergency and resulting injury. So please, reserve your judgment. I am just happy that my son is alive and not paralyzed.

I do plan on BFing my next child because I assume (and I pray) that the same injury does not occur. FF is expensive, annoying to prep bottles, and generally more of a pain IMO. However, my baby is growing well with the circumstances that we endured.

Until you are willing to donate enough milk to make milk banks affordable, or be willing to be a 24/7 wet nurse like in other/past societies, please cut us some slack. Nobody here wants anything but the best for their baby.

I'm sorry you had a hard time.
However, disagreeing with elements of formula advertising or with formula companies advertising tactics doesn't equate to putting down ff'ing mums.
I ff my eldest, I'm not ashamed of it. I did what I felt I had to do at the time. What difference does how I fed or why I had to do it make to how I feel about this topic in particular. It's not about ffing mums vs Bfing mums, I'm sure I'm not the only person in this thread who has done both. Very few people would fit into either box.

 

[aliss]

Oh this again

Please do remember that 1-2% of women who cannot BF a baby does equal *millions* of women per year. And those women need help.

Women who have pumped exclusively are well-aware that a pump is not nearly as efficient as the baby, and that sometimes not enough milk can be expressed, so formula is used to supplement. With donor milk being $3-5/oz, it is unaffordable to nearly all women.

I am not ashamed that my son is FF. I attempted BF but his birth injury made BF extremely painful for him (clavicle fractures). I did purchase a Medela Harmony but unfortunately not enough milk could be produced for him. I had several LC's to my home, even then it was recommended to FF. How many LCs do you know would recommend FF? Pretty dang rare eh?

Is it "artificial"? I suppose technically, yes. However, I have trouble with the argument that women in other countries do it, or that women in the past were able to do it, so why not us? Quite frankly, it is very likely that my child would have been still born in the past from his emergency and resulting injury. So please, reserve your judgment. I am just happy that my son is alive and not paralyzed.

I do plan on BFing my next child because I assume (and I pray) that the same injury does not occur. FF is expensive, annoying to prep bottles, and generally more of a pain IMO. However, my baby is growing well with the circumstances that we endured.

Until you are willing to donate enough milk to make milk banks affordable, or be willing to be a 24/7 wet nurse like in other/past societies, please cut us some slack. Nobody here wants anything but the best for their baby.

I'm sorry you had a hard time.
However, disagreeing with elements of formula advertising or with formula companies advertising tactics doesn't equate to putting down ff'ing mums.
I ff my eldest, I'm not ashamed of it. I did what I felt I had to do at the time. What difference does how I fed or why I had to do it make to how I feel about this topic in particular. It's not about ffing mums vs Bfing mums, I'm sure I'm not the only person in this thread who has done both. Very few people would fit into either box.

Fair enough, I guess my upset is directed towards the rude comments! I'm in Canada where FF adverts are not illegal but BF is heavily promoted

Sometimes people can be so antiFF that they forget about the millions of situations who really do encompass that 1-2%.

 

[Dragonfly]

I never seen this list ? never got any info from NHS at all. Whats on it? I was told by a midwife eat whatever though long as it wasnt to much caffeine before leaving hospital. But having a good diet would be recommended for any one but not necessary when breastfeeding. https://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-diet.html

 

[smokey]

Just to clear up sorry it was bad typing on my behalf, it was ment to say what foods best to eat and what to avoid

 

[leelee]

IMHO to term formula feeding as "artificial" is underhand to me

Not that this has anything to do with my OP but:

ar·ti·fi·cial (ärt-fshl)
adj.
1.
a. Made by humans; produced rather than natural.
b. Brought about or caused by sociopolitical or other human-generated forces or influences: set up artificial barriers against women and minorities; an artificial economic boom.
2. Made in imitation of something natural; simulated: artificial teeth.
3. Not genuine or natural: an artificial smile.

So, formula milk is definitely artifical. Some will always like/use that term, others always won't so it's a very fruitless topic to debate IMHO.

How patronising - thanks for educating us on the definition of artificial. You must think all FF's are thick because
a) we don't know what artificial means
and
b) we obviously get so swayed by formula advertising that it would deter us from BF!!!

 

[leelee]

I don't get why people get upset by artificial. I carried a lot of guilt for not bfing but this word doesn't upset me
Xx

Yes, but it upsets other people, the same way other comments/words might upset you.

 

[trumpetbum]

IMHO to term formula feeding as "artificial" is underhand to me

Not that this has anything to do with my OP but:

ar·ti·fi·cial (ärt-fshl)
adj.
1.
a. Made by humans; produced rather than natural.
b. Brought about or caused by sociopolitical or other human-generated forces or influences: set up artificial barriers against women and minorities; an artificial economic boom.
2. Made in imitation of something natural; simulated: artificial teeth.
3. Not genuine or natural: an artificial smile.

So, formula milk is definitely artifical. Some will always like/use that term, others always won't so it's a very fruitless topic to debate IMHO.

I think a few are missing the point that this advice line and info they provide isnt just about ff, it is also about breastfeeding, what to eat when breastfeed, how to stay health during pregnancy and after, what nappies to use, different current advice on a whole world of baby matters.
I have used the advice and website a few times and found it rather good especialy the breastfeeding info they sent me with lists of what to avoid eating while bf.
So what if its run by by a formula company.
Give more credit to most new mums who are not going to be looking at it and thinking "right thats it sod bothering with bf when I can just make up a bottle" not everyone thinks like that

but thats it thats even wrong info, you dont have to avoid any foods while breastfeeding or increase anything your milk is just right for baby, they make you think yuo have to be Miss fitness to breastfeed. I am not I take no vits and I am a coalics so my diet dosnt have everything in it and I am doing it quite fine. They plant the seed of doubt.

well then so does the nhs because it was the same list I got from my mw while in hopital.

...and I already adressed the issue of curent literature on breastfeeding within the NHS, the NHS advice is in line with current evidence, it does however rely on it's members of staff to access the appropriate literature. If a hospital is still giving out this information it is out of date then its staff need to update their practice and most are attempting to do so to achieve baby friendly status. The current NHS advice for breastfeeding mothers is that you don’t need to eat anything special while you’re breastfeeding. Your milk is good for your baby whatever you eat.

 

[Dopeyjopey]

Oh dear. Rach27 was just pointing out that 'artificial feeding' wasn't meant as derogatory, it is a fact. No one is suggesting FF is bad, just that this particular way of advertising is sneaky and underhand. If you were to look for advice about supply issues i doubt there would be any mention of fenugreek or pumping regularly!