Underhand tactics - formula companies

[Rach27]

Guess what not only is this a bit of a feeding debate/discussion STILL OPEN but it has 1396 replies the longest thread in Baby Club, the next longest has 524

I thought it was interesting to look anyway

Cool What's your longest thread ever?

 

[hivechild]

Its totally a double edged sword for sure. I mean, its good to educate and whatnot but at the same time I can see how people would be worried that if its made known just HOW hard and challenging it can be they'd be afraid of it?

But then again, everyone knows how hard/challenging labour is... and we still all go through it.

Heh. How many women would be willing to endure 6 weeks of labor? Mother Nature was smart enough not to let us suffer birthing pain for that long!

 

[NIfirsttimer]

I do think a big part of the problem is that society is so different these days, expects women to be everything to everyone! mothers, partners, career women, while still looking glamorous, etc etc. I'm not saying that it is wrong but I do think that it is unhelpful for breastfeeding and baby led parenting in general; so many women feel they cannot spend hours at a time with a baby attached to them / sleeping on them / needing cuddles and close contact, because they need to do other things. In times gone by, extended families would be helping with the womens other responsibilities leaving them able to devote themselves to their baby. This is a rarity now.

I agree. I'm a believer that it takes a village to raise a baby. We live with my parents currently and we're all very hands on with LO. He would happily go to any one of us and we all know what he likes/dislikes etc. My parents also help with the washing, cooking etc freeing me up to spend a lot of time with my LO.

That's so awesome My mum lives overseas and my MiL was...well rather hands off unfortunately. She's a bit better now but I must admit I could have really done with her help at the start.

same... i lost my mum 5 years ago, and although my dad is awesome, BF isnt one of his specialities, i think i would really have benefited from her support when Ruby was tiny.. infact, even now
claire makes an excellent point tho, now us women are expected to be doing SO much more with a newborn than back in the 'day' which im sure is a major issue for a lot of people!
Similarily, my issue wasnt that I couldnt BF but that RUby couldnt. we now know that this is due to a very tightly attached upper lip frenulem, but we didnt know this at the time, She was checked for tongue tie, but not that, who knows, maybe if id been surrounded by generations of women who had BF, then someone would have come across it before, and we would have been able to identify the issue and resolve it (before her dentist actually spotted it at 12 months & it was too late )

 

[aliss]

Yeah, that's a sad part of modern life. I am the complete opposite of women who don't want anyone else to hold LO/watch LO/feed LO. I wish FIL lived with us (he lives 5000km away) because he was just so involved after the birth. I think there's nothing better for a child than to feel comfortable being fed or cared for by anyone. I love the village concept. Hah, but then I am one of those girls that would have no problem allowing my baby to nurse from a friend so maybe I'm just weird.

I love how women in tribal/hunter-gatherer societies do it. I had a classmate from Nigeria and their bond (women in general) was just so open and strong. Your baby is my baby sort of thing.

 

[Rach27]

What do you think of this? Good that Aptamil are helping to train midwives or bad because it's inappropriate?

 

[Tiff]

I think its good. Just because someone uses the grant doesn't mean that they're pro-formula from the start. For instance you could take that grant, use it to become a midwife and then start really campaigning for BF awareness.

Because you were backed financially by a formula company doesn't mean that you believe in its products.

 

[leelee]

I think its good. Just because someone uses the grant doesn't mean that they're pro-formula from the start. For instance you could take that grant, use it to become a midwife and then start really campaigning for BF awareness.

Because you were backed financially by a formula company doesn't mean that you believe in its products.

Agreed. I think it is a great initiative.

 

[Dopeyjopey]

I wonder whether medical intervention plays a part in more women being unable to BF.

Before the 50s many women had home births with less intervention, medication etc, both of which can cause problems with BF through separation after the birth or baby being too drowsy. It was then decided it was safer to give birth in hospital and rates of sections and forceps deliveries increased. Whilst in a lot of cases this is necessary, sometimes doctors are too quick to intervene. I know in my case, 27 hours of labour at home and only 1 hour in hospital meant i was able to give birth vaginally (with ventouse) instead of a section.

That, added in with poor support in some hospitals, could have a huge impact on establishing BFing.

 

[aliss]

Haha Dopeyjopey, I love the picture of your little man on the right!!!! Looks like a future heartbreaker.

 

[Nic1107]

I was another whose baby couldn't- or at any rate, wouldn't, flat-out refused and wouldn't entertain the notion. Thank God for breast pumps, little monkey got my milk anyway.

But, when Carmie was about 3 months old her dad came home from Peru and had brought her a onesie with a funny picture of a baby llama and a human baby feeding from the mama llama, and my first urge was to throw it at him and yell, "Our daughter didn't want to feed from me, but you think she'd happily feed from a llama? Would she rather I was a llama? Would you rather be married to one? Would the whole world be happier if I was a FREAKIN LLAMA?!!"

Motherhood does strange things to your psyche.

 

[Tiff]

But, when Carmie was about 3 months old her dad came home from Peru and had brought her a onesie with a funny picture of a baby llama and a human baby feeding from the mama llama, and my first urge was to throw it at him and yell, "Our daughter didn't want to feed from me, but you think she'd happily feed from a llama? Would she rather I was a llama? Would you rather be married to one? Would the whole world be happier if I was a FREAKIN LLAMA?!!"

Motherhood does strange things to your psyche.

Oh man, I can say that I've said things very similar to my OH.

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

What do you think of this? Good that Aptamil are helping to train midwives or bad because it's inappropriate?

Good that they are helping train midwives, but bad that they are also gaining positive publicity and getting their name out there, which is advertising IMO

 

[Rach27]

What do you think of this? Good that Aptamil are helping to train midwives or bad because it's inappropriate?

Good that they are helping train midwives, but bad that they are also gaining positive publicity and getting their name out there, which is advertising IMO

I'm with you there.

 

[smokey]

What do you think of this? Good that Aptamil are helping to train midwives or bad because it's inappropriate?

Good that they are helping train midwives, but bad that they are also gaining positive publicity and getting their name out there, which is advertising IMO

I'm with you there.

But isnt that a kinda dammed if you do, dammed if you dont sort of thing?

 

[Rach27]

Again, I would question their interest in funding this kind of training, as opposed helping to fund a course in, say....physiotherapy.

 

[Eve]

That is what I believe too...I think it's not so much can't physically (yes, I know there are some who just don't produce enough milk etc.. ) But so much more adds into it. Lack of support, uneducated midwives, doctors etc... on breastfeeding, pressure etc... the list goes on.

Right now I'm looking under what I'm writing and there is an ad for Enfamil A+

" You want your baby to have the best stories, memories, start."


Oh seen this on facebook and it made me smile It's beautiful and has some good points


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taDqKWWPDAY

 

[Vickie]

I grew up in the States and can honestly not remember any FF commercials whether it was because I wasn't looking I dunno?

Here on TLC I see LOADS of Pampers and Gerber commercials but the only FF commercials I've seen have always aired after 9 p.m.? I don't watch much tv during the day now but when I was pregnant I watched loads of those baby shows, been racking my brain all day and again I don't remember seeing any FF commercials during that time. might be a difference of areas as well??

could be. I know I see the Gerber goodstart one a lot... and there was the Enfamil Premium one too, I spoke to a friend and found out I guess it's the US version of A+ here.

Whats Gerber? is it just another formula brand?

Gerber does a lot of baby and toddler foods/snacks, here at least. I've not seen that they do a formula, but different areas do have different formula brands and I don't really know all the brands of formula that are sold in the States

Gerber good start is a formula... I know we used to have Nestle Good Start... but maybe Gerber has it in the US. The commercial I posted a few pages back was for Gerber formula. Not sure about the kind here in Canada.

hence my not knowing for certain if it is a type of formula sold in the States (or elsewhere in Canada )

I've also never seen a commercial (here) for Gerber formula I know I've seen Nestle

 

[Tiff]

Again, I would question their interest in funding this kind of training, as opposed helping to fund a course in, say....physiotherapy.

Probably because they are mandated by law to support Breastfeeding before anything else. So exactly, why would they fund a course in physiotherapy when it has nothing to do with supporting breastfeeding.

I agree, damned if you do... damned if they don't. At least there is an effort there, but then again any effort can be painted with both sides of a brush.. meaning anyone can find a sly or underhanded mentality if they really wanted to.



To me it isn't even a question of who is doing the funding. The important thing that I see out that is money is being given to help get people into good, respectable jobs which will in turn help the economy. But of course, there's always going to be someone out there crying foul to anything that any formula company does.

 

[chickchock]

I thought this thread was about formula companies undermining breastfeeding and not who choose what to feed their baby ? Am I misunderstanding the thread then?
It is dissing breastfeeding the advice and if it where the other way because it wouldnt be expectable to dis formula. How many people would be annoyed at articles saying formula is this and that and not in a good light? as seen before there again would be war. So is it ok for a formula company who have worked for years to tarnish breastfeeding by in the past saying their product was better and continue to do things even agains the WHO code and break down woman's confidence in their abilities to breastfeed. This includes giving out wrong advice to mums who are trying to breastfeed and end up moving them to formula quicker than they should all because they trust them. This is how so many dont bother to try from listening to what they said which was wrong. They only make you think they have your child's best interest at heart by giving this bad info they will get your money at the end of it as this will influence some. Not everyone is so strong minded to ignore this., They arnt stupid . Their goal is to get you formula feeding your baby where as the breastfeeding mum wants to breastfeed but is sitting in the web of the formula company where she shouldnt be getting pulled in and made to feel she failed at breastfeeding where as she had gone to somewhere like LLL she would have had a better chance of succeeding.
we are not talking about a woman choosing to formula feed knowing all the facts its the influence on mums who want to breastfeed not some bf vs ff battle as usual.

Not singling this out particularly, but this is as far as I've got so far and it's interesting.

What I'd say though as a Mum who chose to BF, believed the misinformation the NHS gave me about how easy it was to BF, and then found myself in a situation where I needed to buy formula and had no idea which to use. Actually, a bit of info from the formula companies would have been a great help at this stage . We all want to give our kids the best we can, I couldn't give my DD breastmilk, so wanted to choose the 'best' formula. It's a mystery to everyone which is the best, if any, as they're just not allowed to talk about these things.

I see the point that by creating this helpline it is making pregnant mums familiar with their brand, in case they should need it. But that's the point, in case they need it. And all it takes is to walk down the baby aisle in the supermarket to see SMA, cow and Gate, Farleys etc, so we do get to see the various brands and become familiar with them before our baby is born in this way too.

I don't have a problem in a company trying to create brand loyalty with its target audience. No one is going to decide they don't want to BF just because they've been on a forum that is run by SMA. Unfortunatly the argument that we poor FFers are obviously a bit too thick to make our own minds up and have been brainwashed by formula companies is used a bit too often by some people who are anti.

It's a shame that aparantly some of the info on the website is wrong, but as I said I've never been given realistic honest info about breastfeeding from anyone apart from friends since they've done it themselves. The NHS told me its easy and might smart a bit, there's no reason anyone can't bfeed etc, same info from the NCT.

The main issue is women need proper help advice and info to prepare us for BFing and to help us while we're doing it, but I for one and grateful that SMA and other formula companies exist otherwise many babies would not be here today.

 

[Eve]

I grew up in the States and can honestly not remember any FF commercials whether it was because I wasn't looking I dunno?

Here on TLC I see LOADS of Pampers and Gerber commercials but the only FF commercials I've seen have always aired after 9 p.m.? I don't watch much tv during the day now but when I was pregnant I watched loads of those baby shows, been racking my brain all day and again I don't remember seeing any FF commercials during that time. might be a difference of areas as well??

could be. I know I see the Gerber goodstart one a lot... and there was the Enfamil Premium one too, I spoke to a friend and found out I guess it's the US version of A+ here.

Whats Gerber? is it just another formula brand?

Gerber does a lot of baby and toddler foods/snacks, here at least. I've not seen that they do a formula, but different areas do have different formula brands and I don't really know all the brands of formula that are sold in the States

Gerber good start is a formula... I know we used to have Nestle Good Start... but maybe Gerber has it in the US. The commercial I posted a few pages back was for Gerber formula. Not sure about the kind here in Canada.

hence my not knowing for certain if it is a type of formula sold in the States (or elsewhere in Canada )

I've also never seen a commercial (here) for Gerber formula I know I've seen Nestle

I seen it on The Learning Channel while watching baby story, bringing home baby, etc... during the day. I don't see them on other channels though, same as all babies on baby story use Pampers, Clorox wipes for cleaning etc... and it shows them to advertise.