Underhand tactics - formula companies

[freckleonear]

Whilst I agree that it's horrible to upset any mummy who is trying to do the best for their child, especially one who has tried to breastfeed and had to give up for various reasons, unfortunately the message that formula is inferior is vital. It is important for women to know this because some people honestly don't know or don't believe it. Many women seem to think that because so-and-so was formula fed and they are all fine that means that formula is just as good as breastmilk, so they might as well just formula feed from the start. I've even seen posts on this very forum where women have actually been told by their paediatrician (in the US) that formula is better than breastmilk and so they decided to formula feed!

If formula wasn't considered so normal, then this message wouldn't be needed. In fact, if formula was only used when mothers are unable to breastfeed, then I'm sure there would be much less negativity associated with it.

Mothers who formula feed out of necessity shouldn't feel offended when people say that formula is not as good as breastmilk, because they are still doing the best they possibly can for their child. If you can breastfeed then great, you are doing the best for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and had to formula feed instead, you are still doing the best you possibly can for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and decided to let your child starve rather than formula feed, only then would you not be doing the best for your child!

 

[Dragonfly]

To the ladies who like to tell us FF's over and over again that formula in inferior are you as passionate about only feeding home grown organic produce and home cooked meals.

Organic produce is free from chemicals and home grown food has not been treated for transport so is therefore fresher and again chemical free so the much better option. Non Organic and imported food is therefore the 'inferior' option. Will you only feed your LO home cooked meals from said organic produce??

Just interested!........

As much as i can and within reason, yes.

we grow our own fruit and veg. Not because I am massively into it theres a place here you can do it in so we do. Nothing like your own home grown veg. yum. I pick my own dinner fresh from the ground.

 

[aliss]

I'm part of the 1-2% that couldn't BF (baby with birth injury couldn't take breast/pumping did not produce enough- as per several home visits from lactation consultants/nurses, multiple doctor appointments, failed re-lactation etc). I never felt bad about feeding my son formula - until some of the comments I've read on BNB (and other online websites). I find it amazing how some women can really rub salt into wounds when we're all just new moms trying to do the best.

 

[Kitty23]

Whilst I agree that it's horrible to upset any mummy who is trying to do the best for their child, especially one who has tried to breastfeed and had to give up for various reasons, unfortunately the message that formula is inferior is vital. It is important for women to know this because some people honestly don't know or don't believe it. Many women seem to think that because so-and-so was formula fed and they are all fine that means that formula is just as good as breastmilk, so they might as well just formula feed from the start. I've even seen posts on this very forum where women have actually been told by their paediatrician (in the US) that formula is better than breastmilk and so they decided to formula feed!

If formula wasn't considered so normal, then this message wouldn't be needed. In fact, if formula was only used when mothers are unable to breastfeed, then I'm sure there would be much less negativity associated with it.

Mothers who formula feed out of necessity shouldn't feel offended when people say that formula is not as good as breastmilk, because they are still doing the best they possibly can for their child. If you can breastfeed then great, you are doing the best for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and had to formula feed instead, you are still doing the best you possibly can for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and decided to let your child starve rather than formula feed, only then would you not be doing the best for your child!

Not to be arguementative but what do you think of mothers who just chose to ff from the start?

I did try to bf my twins while they were in SCBU and lasted 4 weeks then switched to formula. But for my next baby I will be ff from the start, I'm not debating that breastmilk is nutrionally better for babies but I just prefer ff now. xxx

 

[AppleBlossom]

I'm part of the 1-2% that couldn't BF (baby with birth injury couldn't take breast/pumping did not produce enough- as per several home visits from lactation consultants/nurses, multiple doctor appointments, failed re-lactation etc). I never felt bad about feeding my son formula - until some of the comments I've read on BNB (and other online websites). I find it amazing how some women can really rub salt into wounds when we're all just new moms trying to do the best.

You shouldn't feel bad. I don't feel bad for FFing. I agree though, some comments I have read on here over the years have annoyed me in regards to how it will make people like you feel. Most people have enough respect to understand we're all in the same boat, trying to do the best for our babies but one or two can't see past Bfing as the be all and end all which is a shame

 

[Rach27]

Please stop trying to provoke a FF vs BF debate!! That was not the intension of the thread.

 

[freckleonear]

Whilst I agree that it's horrible to upset any mummy who is trying to do the best for their child, especially one who has tried to breastfeed and had to give up for various reasons, unfortunately the message that formula is inferior is vital. It is important for women to know this because some people honestly don't know or don't believe it. Many women seem to think that because so-and-so was formula fed and they are all fine that means that formula is just as good as breastmilk, so they might as well just formula feed from the start. I've even seen posts on this very forum where women have actually been told by their paediatrician (in the US) that formula is better than breastmilk and so they decided to formula feed!

If formula wasn't considered so normal, then this message wouldn't be needed. In fact, if formula was only used when mothers are unable to breastfeed, then I'm sure there would be much less negativity associated with it.

Mothers who formula feed out of necessity shouldn't feel offended when people say that formula is not as good as breastmilk, because they are still doing the best they possibly can for their child. If you can breastfeed then great, you are doing the best for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and had to formula feed instead, you are still doing the best you possibly can for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and decided to let your child starve rather than formula feed, only then would you not be doing the best for your child!

Not to be arguementative but what do you think of mothers who just chose to ff from the start?

I did try to bf my twins while they were in SCBU and lasted 4 weeks then switched to formula. But for my next baby I will be ff from the start, I'm not debating that breastmilk is nutrionally better for babies but I just prefer ff now. xxx

I'm going to pass on that one if you don't mind. I'm not very good at wording things at the best of times and this discussion almost certainly isn't the best time.

 

[Kitty23]

Whilst I agree that it's horrible to upset any mummy who is trying to do the best for their child, especially one who has tried to breastfeed and had to give up for various reasons, unfortunately the message that formula is inferior is vital. It is important for women to know this because some people honestly don't know or don't believe it. Many women seem to think that because so-and-so was formula fed and they are all fine that means that formula is just as good as breastmilk, so they might as well just formula feed from the start. I've even seen posts on this very forum where women have actually been told by their paediatrician (in the US) that formula is better than breastmilk and so they decided to formula feed!

If formula wasn't considered so normal, then this message wouldn't be needed. In fact, if formula was only used when mothers are unable to breastfeed, then I'm sure there would be much less negativity associated with it.

Mothers who formula feed out of necessity shouldn't feel offended when people say that formula is not as good as breastmilk, because they are still doing the best they possibly can for their child. If you can breastfeed then great, you are doing the best for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and had to formula feed instead, you are still doing the best you possibly can for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and decided to let your child starve rather than formula feed, only then would you not be doing the best for your child!

Not to be arguementative but what do you think of mothers who just chose to ff from the start?

I did try to bf my twins while they were in SCBU and lasted 4 weeks then switched to formula. But for my next baby I will be ff from the start, I'm not debating that breastmilk is nutrionally better for babies but I just prefer ff now. xxx

I'm going to pass on that one if you don't mind. I'm not very good at wording things at the best of times and this discussion almost certainly isn't the best time.

Lol don't worry maybe someone else will answer XXX

 

[Wobbles]

Only closed for a minute whist I remove the silliness Don't see why a thread from what I see as a fairly healthy discussion from both points should be closed permanently over one pathetic input.

 

[Wobbles]

Open ... tried to throw a link on the forum first post so I believe was just being rudely unhelpful to boost their posts so ignore and back on topic?

x

 

[smokey]

Sick em wobbles
Was it a multiple account? obviously you cant tell us who though its just sad if it is that people have to resort to that.

 

[smokey]

Open ... tried to throw a link on the forum first post so I believe was just being rudely unhelpful to boost their posts so ignore and back on topic?

x

I noticed they suddenly started poping up in other thread and saying things that could worry people, so unhelpfull

 

[Rach27]

Open ... tried to throw a link on the forum first post so I believe was just being rudely unhelpful to boost their posts so ignore and back on topic?

x

Roger

 

[smokey]

While I dont agree that the advert in the original post has anything wrong with it, trumpetbum gave me a very usefull link last night and it has some very interesting adverts on it.
I dont believe they are quite so much as brainwashing people to go from bf to ff but there are some very interesting advertising tactics there purley for the point of being able to get around the law itself.
Have to try and find it again.

 

[Rach27]

While I dont agree that the advert in the original post has anything wrong with it, trumpetbum gave me a very usefull link last night and it has some very interesting adverts on it.
I dont believe they are quite so much as brainwashing people to go from bf to ff but there are some very interesting advertising tactics there purley for the point of being able to get around the law itself.
Have to try and find it again.

The advert itself looks very nice. It's the marketing concept behind it which I don't like.

 

[Wobbles]

Wasn't a duplicate account x

 

[smokey]

Here it is
https://www.babyfriendly.org.uk/pdfs/feedingreport.pdf

I couldnt help but notice how they all dont make it clear straight away that they are for follow on milk and such so as to be able to look like they are aimed at 1st stage milk whilst still claiming somewhere small that its follow on to get around the laws.
Again I think it is a tad sneaky purley for the law side of it but I dont think people (or at least most) are easily brainwashed into giving up bf just to go over to ff.
They do it if they have to for a variety of other reasons.

 

[smokey]

Wasn't a duplicate account x

oh well that spoilt the odds on who it was

 

[Oscar]

Whilst I agree that it's horrible to upset any mummy who is trying to do the best for their child, especially one who has tried to breastfeed and had to give up for various reasons, unfortunately the message that formula is inferior is vital. It is important for women to know this because some people honestly don't know or don't believe it. Many women seem to think that because so-and-so was formula fed and they are all fine that means that formula is just as good as breastmilk, so they might as well just formula feed from the start. I've even seen posts on this very forum where women have actually been told by their paediatrician (in the US) that formula is better than breastmilk and so they decided to formula feed!

If formula wasn't considered so normal, then this message wouldn't be needed. In fact, if formula was only used when mothers are unable to breastfeed, then I'm sure there would be much less negativity associated with it.

Mothers who formula feed out of necessity shouldn't feel offended when people say that formula is not as good as breastmilk, because they are still doing the best they possibly can for their child. If you can breastfeed then great, you are doing the best for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and had to formula feed instead, you are still doing the best you possibly can for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and decided to let your child starve rather than formula feed, only then would you not be doing the best for your child!

Not to be arguementative but what do you think of mothers who just chose to ff from the start?

I did try to bf my twins while they were in SCBU and lasted 4 weeks then switched to formula. But for my next baby I will be ff from the start, I'm not debating that breastmilk is nutrionally better for babies but I just prefer ff now. xxx

I'm going to pass on that one if you don't mind. I'm not very good at wording things at the best of times and this discussion almost certainly isn't the best time.

Lol don't worry maybe someone else will answer XXX

I thought about answering you but my opinions on this subject aided in getting a previous thread locked so it's perhaps best if I dont.

 

[trumpetbum]

Whilst I agree that it's horrible to upset any mummy who is trying to do the best for their child, especially one who has tried to breastfeed and had to give up for various reasons, unfortunately the message that formula is inferior is vital. It is important for women to know this because some people honestly don't know or don't believe it. Many women seem to think that because so-and-so was formula fed and they are all fine that means that formula is just as good as breastmilk, so they might as well just formula feed from the start. I've even seen posts on this very forum where women have actually been told by their paediatrician (in the US) that formula is better than breastmilk and so they decided to formula feed!

If formula wasn't considered so normal, then this message wouldn't be needed. In fact, if formula was only used when mothers are unable to breastfeed, then I'm sure there would be much less negativity associated with it.

Mothers who formula feed out of necessity shouldn't feel offended when people say that formula is not as good as breastmilk, because they are still doing the best they possibly can for their child. If you can breastfeed then great, you are doing the best for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and had to formula feed instead, you are still doing the best you possibly can for your child. If you tried to breastfeed but couldn't and decided to let your child starve rather than formula feed, only then would you not be doing the best for your child!

Not to be arguementative but what do you think of mothers who just chose to ff from the start?

I did try to bf my twins while they were in SCBU and lasted 4 weeks then switched to formula. But for my next baby I will be ff from the start, I'm not debating that breastmilk is nutrionally better for babies but I just prefer ff now. xxx

On an individual personal level I think that there are so many different issues which contribute to this decision that I personally just have to consider that each person has made the choice that is right for them.
So many personal, societal, cultural, sexual issues/factors contribute to the individual choice that to make a statement such as ' women who choose to ff from the beginning are...' would be naive, generalistic and judgemental.
On a wider level, knowing that there ARE these key issues and that tackling them reduces the amount of women who do choose to formula feed is important.
There may always be women who choose to ff despite being fully informed, for whatever reason and given that it is an issue of a persons autonomy over their own body, this decision should be accepted, respected and supported, imho.

ETA: in saying that, my young sil who I just love ffed from the start and she has always been such a great support to me especially when it has come to feeling like I have had to justify some of my decisions, especially when I was younger with regards to breastfeeding, BLw etc. Her sister who I'm also very close to voiced several times to me that she was disapointed that younger sil wasn't even willing to try it. So I suppose irl, most of us make small judgements on how other people choose to raise their children. I some people don't understand how I can return to work as early as I will, or approve of some of my parenting methods for example, but not being a perfect parent in any shape or form I can't really place judgement on other peoples decisions. Unless they're glaringly obviously poor, Jeremy Kyle style of course