Underhand tactics - formula companies

[leelee]

I think people r more educated to know what's best for their LOs. I dont think an ad with affect their choice to BF or FF. There is alot of BFing awareness & info. We all know breast is the best. But many of us couldnt BF for some reasons. I dont think it's bad to have some info about formula & what's available in the market. I think FF moms should have more professional support from experts instead of relying on ads & the internet. I had to stop & read labels on different formulas for hrs at the supermarket as I didnt have a clue what to choose (formula advertising is also not allowed here, & health professionals r not allowed to suggest of give info on formula). If there were professional FFing consultants to help us choose what's best for our LOs, & advise us on sterilizing, feeding & quantities, different types of formula, etc, I dont think anyone will give a second look at those types of ads or seek advise frm formula manufacturing companies. At the end of the day, babies need to be fed, & formula is the only alternative available. I think if HV or MW accept the mother's choice frm day1 instead of trying to force what they believe in, & try to help mothers finding the right way to feed their babies according to their choice without trying to question their choice, we will have more happy mothers & babies with no guilt or struggling.

Agreed. I would love to see more support for FF mothers. Where I lived there was so much support for BF but when my LO wouldn't latch on there was no advice.

opposite of where I live then, you cant even get a brest pump in my town but loads of formula and bottles in chemist. There is no help groups near me, the one there is miles up the road no one goes to and is near non existent and my hv and doc dont have a clue about breastfeeding as I suffered with cracked nipples for months with no help when showing them. I got all my help from this forum and a lot of negativity where I live. Plenty of mums offered to educate me on changing to formula as no one I know has breastfed not even a family member. Its amazing the difference in areas isnt it. Its formula or nothing here where I am and I have no family that viist me and lost friends for not doing it.

It definitely is. All my friends BF and my mother BF my youngest sister so I had no-one to help me when my LO didn't latch on. The BF support I got was amazing too.

 

[RainbowDrop_x]

I have been on a number of formula sites. C&G, SMA, Aptamil and more. Everytime I log on to these sites I get A "warning" informing me that "This website contains information on formula feeding. Do I wish to continue?" Formula feeding is NOT a sin. So why do I need to to be "warned"? I personally believe that every company has a right to advertise their products regardless of what people think. Every woman makes their own choice. If people are offended by these advertisements then ignore them.

 

[leelee]

My HV's, midwives etc have always called it formula feeding. It must be an area thing?! Maybe haha.

It must be. I had never heard of it called artificial before today. I live in the UK but am from Ireland and everyone I know calls it formula. The same in the area I live in the UK.

 

[Dragonfly]

Its formula or nothing here where I am and I have no family that viist me and lost friends for not doing it.

That's awful!!

All their failure to get me to go to formula as their kids had it and seemed to them I was making some sort of nasty statement by contunuiing has made them think things I would never say, My aunt used to visit every week with her kids but when I would feed my son she would mumble about how her kids where ok on formula and look rather offended. I never answered her just carried on and changed the convo now I havnt seen her in months or gotten a call or text from her. Other friends dont want to know me as I didnt want to go out drinking with them I wanted to look after my baby and bf but they took it personally. i got things thrown back in my face about how i must be happy being chained to a baby all day and how yuk it was that I was doing that and that they couldnt it just wasnt them and they wanted to drink.

not once did I ever ask any of them how they fed I just dont care how they did their kids are older and glad they arnt around any more as i am sick of hearing grief for my choice. My own mum dosnt speak to me.

 

[AppleBlossom]

I have been on a number of formula sites. C&G, SMA, Aptamil and more. Everytime I log on to these sites I get A "warning" informing me that "This website contains information on formula feeding. Do I wish to continue?" Formula feeding is NOT a sin. So why do I need to to be "warned"? I personally believe that every company has a right to advertise their products regardless of what people think. Every woman makes their own choice. If people are offended by these advertisements then ignore them.

Really? I would associate that kind of pop up with porn or disturbing images!

 

[leelee]

Its formula or nothing here where I am and I have no family that viist me and lost friends for not doing it.

That's awful!!

All their failure to get me to go to formula as their kids had it and seemed to them I was making some sort of nasty statement by contunuiing has made them think things I would never say, My aunt used to visit every week with her kids but when I would feed my son she would mumble about how her kids where ok on formula and look rather offended. I never answered her just carried on and changed the convo now I havnt seen her in months or gotten a call or text from her. Other friends dont want to know me as I didnt want to go out drinking with them I wanted to look after my baby and bf but they took it personally. i got things thrown back in my face about how i must be happy being chained to a baby all day and how yuk it was that I was doing that and that they couldnt it just wasnt them and they wanted to drink.

not once did I ever ask any of them how they fed I just dont care how they did their kids are older and glad they arnt around any more as i am sick of hearing grief for my choice. My own mum dosnt speak to me.

That's terrible. I am glad my BF friends were so supportive to me when my LO wouldn't latch.

 

[Dragonfly]

I wish I knew someone that breastfed face to face and not on line, I wouldnt feel so weird and left out then.

 

[cherryglitter]

...not once did I ever ask any of them how they fed I just dont care how they did their kids are older and glad they arnt around any more as i am sick of hearing grief for my choice. My own mum dosnt speak to me.

That's in one word, disgusting. You shouldn't be made to feel like that at all. Nobody should!! We all do what's best for our children and no one should be made to feel like crap.

 

[cherryglitter]

I have been on a number of formula sites. C&G, SMA, Aptamil and more. Everytime I log on to these sites I get A "warning" informing me that "This website contains information on formula feeding. Do I wish to continue?" Formula feeding is NOT a sin. So why do I need to to be "warned"? I personally believe that every company has a right to advertise their products regardless of what people think. Every woman makes their own choice. If people are offended by these advertisements then ignore them.

Really? I would associate that kind of pop up with porn or disturbing images!

That is a bit OTT ! Is it really that bad See it's things like that, that make you feel rubbish about FF.

 

[AP]

AppleBlossom I agree, its 21st centuary, seeing a formula ad isnt going to make me decide not to breastfeed. If the LO im pregnant with now is a good birth weight and on time this time I will breastfeed/express. My DD however is now on SMA Staydown for health reasons. How did I find out about Staydown? Because other mums spoke of it - my LO flippin suffered because of the poor doctors advice and months of trying to find the 'right' formula for my LO! Could have done with a cheeky advert there, rather than the tears and soul destroying problem

In fact, at one point I was doing 50/50 - expressing breast milk and mixing this with 50% formula. Hard bloody work doing both but i was adamant.

It might persuade me to use their brand if I'm already FF, but thats the name of the game there!

 

[Jolinar]

So what if its a formula company?!?!?!?!?!?!? I dont get it? Maybe because I see the sides to both choices, I dunno

They give out wrong info!!!! thats all, it discourages breastfeeding mums. Nothing to do with formula feeding mums.

In fairness though they're not the only ones giving out incorrect info about BFing. I had problems in the beginning with BFing and got so much differing and conflicting advice from the precession of health care experts visiting my house it just wasn't funny. NHS help with BFing is so patchy and random over the country its no wonder a lot of women give up. Also throughout my troubles I never once thought "oh hey I'll call the SMA helpline" either.

I think the problem here is its a formula manufacturer, formula has in recent times been vilified as the devils own baby food. If it wasn't for formula my baby would have died long ago. I just don't get the whole fuss. I don't care how someone feeds/raises their baby, it's nothing to do with me.

Sneaky tactics in advertising, next you'll be telling me politicians lie

 

[OmarsMum]

I think people r more educated to know what's best for their LOs. I dont think an ad with affect their choice to BF or FF. There is alot of BFing awareness & info. We all know breast is the best. But many of us couldnt BF for some reasons. I dont think it's bad to have some info about formula & what's available in the market. I think FF moms should have more professional support from experts instead of relying on ads & the internet. I had to stop & read labels on different formulas for hrs at the supermarket as I didnt have a clue what to choose (formula advertising is also not allowed here, & health professionals r not allowed to suggest of give info on formula). If there were professional FFing consultants to help us choose what's best for our LOs, & advise us on sterilizing, feeding & quantities, different types of formula, etc, I dont think anyone will give a second look at those types of ads or seek advise frm formula manufacturing companies. At the end of the day, babies need to be fed, & formula is the only alternative available. I think if HV or MW accept the mother's choice frm day1 instead of trying to force what they believe in, & try to help mothers finding the right way to feed their babies according to their choice without trying to question their choice, we will have more happy mothers & babies with no guilt or struggling.

Agreed. I would love to see more support for FF mothers. Where I lived there was so much support for BF but when my LO wouldn't latch on there was no advice.

opposite of where I live then, you cant even get a brest pump in my town but loads of formula and bottles in chemist. There is no help groups near me, the one there is miles up the road no one goes to and is near non existent and my hv and doc dont have a clue about breastfeeding as I suffered with cracked nipples for months with no help when showing them. I got all my help from this forum and a lot of negativity where I live. Plenty of mums offered to educate me on changing to formula as no one I know has breastfed not even a family member. Its amazing the difference in areas isnt it. Its formula or nothing here where I am and I have no family that viist me and lost friends for not doing it.

It definitely is. All my friends BF and my mother BF my youngest sister so I had no-one to help me when my LO didn't latch on. The BF support I got was amazing too.

All those around me (friends & my mom) only BFed. My mom had no clue on preparing bottles when I gave birth. I didnt have any milk to BF & LO couldnt latch on & he was jaundiced. I had a traumatic birth, & was clueless. Until now my mom tries soo hard to drop Omar's bottles, & she thinks he's adding too much weight because of formula. He's a big, healthy baby & not a big drinker or eater, but she has sth against formula. She lives with us, & whenever I give him a 6 oz bottle, she raises he eye brows, as thinks it's too mucn

She can't wait to wean him off his formula. If it's her choice, I guess she would try & offer him cow milk instead.

 

[Dragonfly]

AppleBlossom I agree, its 21st centuary, seeing a formula ad isnt going to make me decide not to breastfeed. If the LO im pregnant with now is a good birth weight and on time this time I will breastfeed/express. My DD however is now on SMA Staydown for health reasons. How did I find out about Staydown? Because other mums spoke of it - my LO flippin suffered because of the poor doctors advice and months of trying to find the 'right' formula for my LO! Could have done with a cheeky advert there, rather than the tears and soul destroying problem

In fact, at one point I was doing 50/50 - expressing breast milk and mixing this with 50% formula. Hard bloody work doing both but i was adamant.

It might persuade me to use their brand if I'm already FF, but thats the name of the game there!

Thing is where I live I didnt know what breatsfeeding w as till I was asked if I was doing it in my first booking app no one done in my family and I even looked after my sis when she was a baby making up bottles. So theres enough formula ads here to blank out completely what breastfeeding is. There isnt even an advert in the clinic for it all swine flu posters. Itr may not influence you as you made an informed decision but theres a serious lack of bf info in some areas dominated by formula. I have learned all I could from this site and others like kellys mom and LLL sites none actually psycal help. I was asked so many times why I wouldnt take the free formula in ths hospital and even asked If i wanted to keep some just in case. Nice encouragement there, Never mind some cheeky midwives and some astonished woman who where not breastfeeding asking me what the hell I was at. More help is needed here and in some places less maybe they could even it out.

 

[Dragonfly]

So what if its a formula company?!?!?!?!?!?!? I dont get it? Maybe because I see the sides to both choices, I dunno

They give out wrong info!!!! thats all, it discourages breastfeeding mums. Nothing to do with formula feeding mums.

In fairness though they're not the only ones giving out incorrect info about BFing. I had problems in the beginning with BFing and got so much differing and conflicting advice from the precession of health care experts visiting my house it just wasn't funny. NHS help with BFing is so patchy and random over the country its no wonder a lot of women give up. Also throughout my troubles I never once thought "oh hey I'll call the SMA helpline" either.

I think the problem here is its a formula manufacturer, formula has in recent times been vilified as the devils own baby food. If it wasn't for formula my baby would have died long ago. I just don't get the whole fuss. I don't care how someone feeds/raises their baby, it's nothing to do with me.

Sneaky tactics in advertising, next you'll be telling me politicians lie

Agree there, even my own HV keeps saying my milk is crap after 6 months and thats not true. My doc admits to not having a clue which is good actually I rather she did than give me wrong info she didnt know what cracked nipples where. We have no lactation consultants here

Only time I heard someone say formula was devils food was by a formula feeders in this forum who where accusing others of saying it when it was never said. I would never call it that, I was formula fed and it does save a baby from starving I just didnt choose it for my baby I am far to lazy to get bottles made up and getting my ass out of bed to do it plus I like breastfeeding.

 

[cherryglitter]

Only time I heard someone say formula was devils food was by a formula feeders in this forum who where accusing others of saying it when it was never said. I would never call it that, I was formula fed and it does save a baby from starving I just didnt choose it for my baby I am far to lazy to get bottles made up and getting my ass out of bed to do it plus I like breastfeeding.

Yes, this was me!
I was making a sarcastic comment.

 

[trumpetbum]

Just in case anyone cant access the link and I am shit at explaining things anyway.


Formula Companies: Hands Off My Breasts!
Posted by Christie Haskell
on September 9, 2010 at 3:15 PM

* Comments (25)|
* Likes (20)

If you were to walk into a KFC as a vegetarian looking for nutrition advice, most people would call you a little bit insane. Or waltz into a hair salon and ask for advice on how to cut your own hair. Dumb, right? They all want to sell you things that are the exact opposite of what you want.

So why is it that some formula companies seem to think that it's acceptable to give out breastfeeding advice?

Talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing. Especially when that information isn't good information.

For example, Similac says:

"To keep a steady milk supply in each breast, it’s important to switch breasts during feedings. Begin feeding on the breast that was not used last. After five or 10 minutes, try burping your baby, and then offer the second breast for as long as he wants."

However, this isn't a good idea. La Leche League says:

"Limiting baby's nursing on each side to only five or ten minutes can be counterproductive when viewed in terms of the change in milk composition. For some mothers, nursing on both breasts at each feeding is important in terms of keeping up milk production and relieving engorgement, but the baby should be finished with the first breast before being switched to the other side."

Gotta ask ... who are you going to trust? The people who exist off donations from nursing mothers, breastfeeding accessories, and researchers, or the people who produce a product that needs mothers to NOT breastfeed to use? Would you go to a liquor store for an A.A. meeting?

All of these supposed breastfeeding guides done by formula companies really play up the struggles of nursing -- as if you can BARELY get through the pain that is obviously the worst thing you'll ever experienced in your entire life, you'll certainly have to give up at six weeks when you go back to work since pumping is hard, and if you make it past there, the three-month growth spurt will CERTAINLY do you in, and babies don't have nursing strikes, they just "lose interest". Tell me, when is the last time YOU just "lost interest" in eating and drinking?

It's good they've got your backs. *cough*

Are you a working mom? Enfamil makes sure you know that most working moms don't breastfeed:

"Based on your milk supply, pumping opportunities and energy levels, you may decide to supplement your breast milk with infant formula. Most women do.

"Being a working mom is two hard jobs in one. For this reason among others, many women decide that formula-feeding is the way to go. You can feel confident in choosing an infant formula that is closest to breast milk, with all the nutrients your baby needs to support her health and development during the first year."

Isn't that supportive? "Don't worry! WE know that working is hard and most women in your situation give up on nursing too ... so why even try?" The language is very defeating to anyone looking to exclusively breastfeed, pump and work.

Need a little reminder of why you're nursing in the first place? Well, nursing is recommended. "But our products are amazing! They're closer than ever to breast milk!" Except they're, well, NOT ... and if our country would adopt the Code of Ethics many other countries have, statements like that would be illegal ... but the AAP won't adopt the Code because they get millions of dollars annually from formula companies.

Now before anyone accuses me of attacking anyone who suggests that breastfeeding is hard, that's certainly not my goal. But the thing is, the language used can be supportive or defeating. To use yet another analogy, imagine you wanted to run a marathon. When you talked about how hard the training was going, how much you were struggling, and how much you hurt, would you rather hear:

A. "You're doing fantastic! I know it's tough but imagine how proud you will be when you run the 5K! Imagine how great you'll feel and look too! It is so worth it and you'll never regret it."

or

B. "I trained for a marathon once. I know a lot of people try but I don't know many people who succeed. I know you want to do it, but don't beat yourself up over it. It's not really that important. No one will care if you give up."

Frankly, if someone told me the second one, I'd kindly tell them where to shove it and that if they couldn't support me, I didn't want to hear it. It's as if they wanted ME to fail at my goal because they did and misery loves company. But formula companies are telling you exactly that and sometimes so are "well-meaning" family and friends.

Let's just take a second to remind people that if you're going to go for breastfeeding advice, go to a website or source that actually has an interest and benefits from your breastfeeding success. La Leche League or Kellymom, for example. You can call La Leche League any time or even attend meetings and/or call your local La Leche League Leader whenever you need help.

If you pull up a breastfeeding page and see formula advertisements, go somewhere else. Don't even read the mentally sabotaging bull they've written. Go to someone who actually wants you to succeed. The goal of the people helping you should be the same as your own.

After all, you wouldn't go to PETA's website for advice on how to cook a steak, right?

Another prize nugget from SMA 'health care professional' site.

While mums are breastfeeding they should take supplements containing 10μg (micrograms) of Vitamin D each day. They should be able to get all the other vitamins and minerals they need by eating a varied and balanced diet.

A healthy diet is as important during breastfeeding as it is during pregnancy, as many nutrients in mum’s diet will be passed directly on to their baby via their breast milk

These are some of the same myths being perpetuated by some health professionals in some countries, most notably those where formula companies are permitted to engage with health professionals. They have been repeated on this site by confused mums who then doubt themselves despite being educated.

Much of the 'advice' given on these sites undermines breastfeeding by repeatedly advising how much extra mum needs for her breastmilk to be sufficient. The implication being that really unless you are superhealthy, breastmilk is likely to be substandard. So why bother?

This is not about removing choice from ff mums. It is about huge corporate companies ,who frankly don't give a shit about mothers, finding loopholes in the law to increase profits by misleading new mothers. It's a nice little shield for them to hide behind though, knowing that criticising these companies is often taken as a criticism of those who use their products.


OT but....
Looking at the 'claims' made by formula companies on their products which have subsequently been classed as misleading and unlawful by trading standards is particularly interesting, especially as no sooner is one claim deemed misleading than a new one appears with new 'facts'.
The one which jumps to mind is Immunofortis (milupa??). A blatantly contrived term with accompanying text describing immunofortis as a prebiotic mixture inspired by breastmilk followed by an explanation of the properties of breastmilk which benefit the baby's immune system. The aim blatantly to make the connection between 'immunofortis' and these benefits. Completely bogus but quite effective in diminishing the differences between this brand of formula and breastmilk.
Another is claims of LCPs added to formula helping aid devpt of healthy eyes, brain and nervous system. Claims which the cochrane review has found to be unsubstantited.

 

[Hayley90]

I dont see the problem with a company offering advice on all-things baby related??

So what they sell formula? Its another way of feeding a baby. What's the problem?!

I think some people are just too sensitive to things like this. The ad got your attention, which is job well done to their marketing department. They are promoting a service that im sure countless people have found helpful, because of that ad. If the ad wasn't there i wonder how many people would be worried about something in silence not knowing who to ask.

Information of BF and FF is always contradictive, misleading and sometimes completely wrong. Its up to the mother to seek out which methods work best for her, + her baby.

 

[OmarsMum]

So what if its a formula company?!?!?!?!?!?!? I dont get it? Maybe because I see the sides to both choices, I dunno

They give out wrong info!!!! thats all, it discourages breastfeeding mums. Nothing to do with formula feeding mums.

In fairness though they're not the only ones giving out incorrect info about BFing. I had problems in the beginning with BFing and got so much differing and conflicting advice from the precession of health care experts visiting my house it just wasn't funny. NHS help with BFing is so patchy and random over the country its no wonder a lot of women give up. Also throughout my troubles I never once thought "oh hey I'll call the SMA helpline" either.

I think the problem here is its a formula manufacturer, formula has in recent times been vilified as the devils own baby food. If it wasn't for formula my baby would have died long ago. I just don't get the whole fuss. I don't care how someone feeds/raises their baby, it's nothing to do with me.

Sneaky tactics in advertising, next you'll be telling me politicians lie

Agree there, even my own HV keeps saying my milk is crap after 6 months and thats not true. My doc admits to not having a clue which is good actually I rather she did than give me wrong info she didnt know what cracked nipples where. We have no lactation consultants here

Only time I heard someone say formula was devils food was by a formula feeders in this forum who where accusing others of saying it when it was never said. I would never call it that, I was formula fed and it does save a baby from starving I just didnt choose it for my baby I am far to lazy to get bottles made up and getting my ass out of bed to do it plus I like breastfeeding.

This is soo sweet. It's usually FF moms who r accused "to be lazy" , never heard it frm a BFing mom.

Sorry to hear u've struggled with BFing hun. Hope this time it would be easier. U'r an expert now

 

[Dragonfly]

thank you trumpetbum you said it.

 

[Dragonfly]

So what if its a formula company?!?!?!?!?!?!? I dont get it? Maybe because I see the sides to both choices, I dunno

They give out wrong info!!!! thats all, it discourages breastfeeding mums. Nothing to do with formula feeding mums.

In fairness though they're not the only ones giving out incorrect info about BFing. I had problems in the beginning with BFing and got so much differing and conflicting advice from the precession of health care experts visiting my house it just wasn't funny. NHS help with BFing is so patchy and random over the country its no wonder a lot of women give up. Also throughout my troubles I never once thought "oh hey I'll call the SMA helpline" either.

I think the problem here is its a formula manufacturer, formula has in recent times been vilified as the devils own baby food. If it wasn't for formula my baby would have died long ago. I just don't get the whole fuss. I don't care how someone feeds/raises their baby, it's nothing to do with me.

Sneaky tactics in advertising, next you'll be telling me politicians lie

Agree there, even my own HV keeps saying my milk is crap after 6 months and thats not true. My doc admits to not having a clue which is good actually I rather she did than give me wrong info she didnt know what cracked nipples where. We have no lactation consultants here

Only time I heard someone say formula was devils food was by a formula feeders in this forum who where accusing others of saying it when it was never said. I would never call it that, I was formula fed and it does save a baby from starving I just didnt choose it for my baby I am far to lazy to get bottles made up and getting my ass out of bed to do it plus I like breastfeeding.

This is soo sweet. It's usually FF moms who r accused "to be lazy" , never heard it frm a BFing mom.

Sorry to hear u've struggled with BFing hun. Hope this time it would be easier. U'r an expert now

no formula mums are not lazy I do not envy you standing making up bottles at stupid of clock or having to make sure you have all your bottles with you and places to make them. Its not lazy its more work. I done some of it with my sis when helping out mum when I was a teen. I just pull top up boob out and go, I am typing now while breastfeeding! I am the lazy one