Well said
BFers are always saying how they don't feel they get enough advice/support. But if FFers get support then it's a bad thing? We are all mothers trying to feed our babies. Why is it ok for BFing to be out in the open but FFing to be kept in the dark? FFers worry as much as BFing mums do so they should have the opportunity to ask for advice
Noone is suggesting that ffers don't deserve support. Nor that ffers be kept in the dark.
What I mean is, the OP is saying that formula companies are sneaky at promoting formula feeding to expectant mums.
Ok, so a different point entirely imo as I think most women on this thread are for support, informed choice and support for mothers.
Firstly, in this country advertising and promotion of infant formula is prohibited, so promoting formula to expectant mums via other avenues can surely validly be seen as sneaky. whether the law is fair or unfair is another argument.
But what is wrong with that? I wouldn't come on here and say "Omg, have you seen this article promoting BFing to pregnant women?!"
because
promotion of formula is designed to convince as many people to use the product as possible, which undermines the aim of the govt, WHO and NHS and the mass campaign to normalise breastfeeding and prevent agressive marketing of a product which in mass usage has long term health imlications for the population. These laws were recommended by Trading Standards, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, the NHS, WHO etc, not your average breastfeeding mum because low levels of breastfeeding translates to increased health problems in the population.
Why shouldn't people be able to read where they can get support and advice for BFing? They should. Same with formula.
They should. They should be able to read where to get appropriate, evidence based and correct advice as opposed to the poor advice which has been highlighted in this thread from a company whose interests are not served by mothers succcessfully breastfeeding. Mothers who choose to formula feed should be able to learn how to use these products safely, noone is denying that. Both formula companies and health authorities have a responsibility to ensure that good, evidence based, up to date information is available to aid mothers to use these products appropriately and safely. To me, the jump from this to formula companies being able to set themselves up as an authotity on all things pregnancy and child is not automatic. It is especially disconcerting when that 'information' is not only incorrect but also appears to blatently undermine the act that they claim to support.
yes, and one which I would defend to the hilt. What I do not defend nor support however is undermining informed choice to make profits. Surely we can seperate the disaproval of the tactics of formula companies from the personal decisions and choices of individual women who choose to formula feed.
One that is freely made by the mother, not by misinformed formula companies. I don't get why people seem to think that an advert for formula would change the way a woman wanted to feed her child or even encourage them
Is making a choice because you don't believe there to be much of a difference between formula and breastmilk a real choice? What about choosing to formula feed because you know your diet isn't great, you forget to take vitamins and think that by breastfeeding your baby will be dficient in vitamin D? How about because going by the advice you sought on a 'parenting' advice site, you've been switching breasts and baby is windy, unsatisfied and crys all the time?
These problems come up again and again on this site alone, but not everyone has access to the internet.
I wonder, if formula advertising makes no difference to how women choose to feed their babies, what agenda made WHO, NHS etc push for the ban, or spend such vast quantities of money on advertising the health benefits of breastfeeding to counter years of formula promotion?
I'd like to live in a world where all women are invulnerable to advertising pressure, mixed messages, unsupportive language, societal pressure and the emotional turmoil new mums face but I don't.
