What If There Was No Formula?

[joshiesmum]

There are a lot of things we do as parents that are "unnatural" its just what works best for you and your lo. it cracks me up on here why people get their knickers in such a twist over bottlefeeding and breastfeeding!! X

 

[Tasha]

I think what kiwimom meant is there is something wrong with the situation we find ourselves in, rather than bottle feeding is wrong. What I mean is that it is wrong that bottle feeding is the social norm (here any way), that it is okay for there to be hardly dressed girls all across the media and yet NIP is something that in many places is frowned upon even though they show less breast that those girls on the same shop/cafe adverts.

 

[Tiff]

I think what kiwimom meant is there is something wrong with the situation we find ourselves in, rather than bottle feeding is wrong. What I mean is that it is wrong that bottle feeding is the social norm (here any way), that it is okay for there to be hardly dressed girls all across the media and yet NIP is something that in many places is frowned upon even though they show less breast that those girls on the same shop/cafe adverts.

Fair enough, but then try working with society rather than to stigmatize something that quite a few people rely on. If that makes sense?

It isn't the bottle's fault that people view it as such, its people's fault. Therefore get out and educate the people. I agree with the sentiment that to throw it out almost makes it seem "wrong" somehow and it isn't. Lots of babies thrive off of breastmilk in bottles too!

 

[KiwiMOM]

Sorry, I knew "wrong" wasn't the right word, and "not normal" wasn't quite right either. But I don't know how else to word it. I'm not saying because a bottle isn't "normal" it's not necessary sometimes, I know formula does save lives. I also know a lot of people end up bottle feeding when with the right support they could have had successful breastfeeding relationships. I had a horrible time in the early days of BFing, I'm almost positive had I grown up different family and had a different support group I would have ended up bottle feeding. My LO didn't even latch for the first 5 days, or without the nipple shield til she was 7 weeks old. I HATED breastfeeding and would cry when my LO woke up, I've had so many blocked ducts and cracked nipples I've lost count. But I did get there in the end. Yes in more than a few ways I was jealous of people who grew up in houses where people would have supported transitioning to FFing in my shoes but that just wasn't going to happen in my family.

TL;DR I wanted to BF because in my family short of no milk coming in that's how babies are fed, I want to have the same for my children.

 

[Tiff]

Its so hard when it comes to this sort of thing. I'm sorry that you had such a rough go of it.

 

[KiwiMOM]

oh also, I'm not judging any one else and their parenting choices, I'm just saying how I'm going to parent and why, I don't see what's wrong with that?

 

[Ozzieshunni]

oh also, I'm not judging any one else and their parenting choices, I'm just saying how I'm going to parent and why, I don't see what's wrong with that?

I've been following and I agree with you. You've no judged anyone.

 

[Tiff]

oh also, I'm not judging any one else and their parenting choices, I'm just saying how I'm going to parent and why, I don't see what's wrong with that?

Nothing is wrong with that. But as always, this is a public forum so whatever you post is going to be subject to people's opinions. I've seen differing, but none rude or mean. It IS in the debates section afterall. If you aren't wanting people to discuss or debate your answers then this might not be the section for you.

 

[KiwiMOM]

oh also, I'm not judging any one else and their parenting choices, I'm just saying how I'm going to parent and why, I don't see what's wrong with that?

Nothing is wrong with that. But as always, this is a public forum so whatever you post is going to be subject to people's opinions. I've seen differing, but none rude or mean. It IS in the debates section afterall. If you aren't wanting people to discuss or debate your answers then this might not be the section for you.

I'm not upset or anything, it just felt a bit like people were assuming because I BF it mustn't have been really hard for me (by one reply) and also that people assumed I was judging people for FF and also for having a hospital birth

 

[Tiff]

oh also, I'm not judging any one else and their parenting choices, I'm just saying how I'm going to parent and why, I don't see what's wrong with that?

Nothing is wrong with that. But as always, this is a public forum so whatever you post is going to be subject to people's opinions. I've seen differing, but none rude or mean. It IS in the debates section afterall. If you aren't wanting people to discuss or debate your answers then this might not be the section for you.

I'm not upset or anything, it just felt a bit like people were assuming because I BF it mustn't have been really hard for me (by one reply) and also that people assumed I was judging people for FF and also for having a hospital birth

That's the problem with words on a forum, its hard to figure out what people mean unless they plaster smiliey faces all over their post. I personally didn't get that impression from your posts, and I certainly didn't assume that you had an "easy go" at BF.

So even if one person does think that, just know that there's one person who doesn't think that at all.

 

[KiwiMOM]

oh also, I'm not judging any one else and their parenting choices, I'm just saying how I'm going to parent and why, I don't see what's wrong with that?

Nothing is wrong with that. But as always, this is a public forum so whatever you post is going to be subject to people's opinions. I've seen differing, but none rude or mean. It IS in the debates section afterall. If you aren't wanting people to discuss or debate your answers then this might not be the section for you.

I'm not upset or anything, it just felt a bit like people were assuming because I BF it mustn't have been really hard for me (by one reply) and also that people assumed I was judging people for FF and also for having a hospital birth

That's the problem with words on a forum, its hard to figure out what people mean unless they plaster smiliey faces all over their post. I personally didn't get that impression from your posts, and I certainly didn't assume that you had an "easy go" at BF.

So even if one person does think that, just know that there's one person who doesn't think that at all.

thank you

 

[Eternal]

oh also, I'm not judging any one else and their parenting choices, I'm just saying how I'm going to parent and why, I don't see what's wrong with that?

Nothing is wrong with that. But as always, this is a public forum so whatever you post is going to be subject to people's opinions. I've seen differing, but none rude or mean. It IS in the debates section afterall. If you aren't wanting people to discuss or debate your answers then this might not be the section for you.

I'm not upset or anything, it just felt a bit like people were assuming because I BF it mustn't have been really hard for me (by one reply[/B]) and also that people assumed I was judging people for FF and also for having a hospital birth

Assuming that's meaning that was aimed at me, and I didn't say you had an easy time, I said you were able to breastfed. I am all for breastfeeding and natural births, it's what I wanted, but I would argue until I'm blue in the face that's I was wrong.

 

[Katy Bug]

Yes, this thought went through my mind. Like if some kind of war were to happen or somehow the economy ran out of power to operate machines and factories and stuff. Which is probably why I'm going to breastfeed my second whenever I have one. You just never know what'll happen!

 

[vixxen]

Havent read the whole thread but thought i would add my bit lol.
My baby could'ent be breast fed it required to much of her energy for the first 4 weeks of her life she was fed ebm via a feeding tube there was a short spell of managing to feed her myself but then she went into heart failure when i was then told she would need high calorie formula as she had went from 5.13 down to 5.4. Even now at 16 weeks on high calorie formula she only weighs 9lb 4 so i really believe if there was no formula my baby would be dead.

 

[NellyLou]

Oh my goodness, Vixxen! I hope your little one is thriving now!

 

[vixxen]

Nope am back up the hospital tomorow my daughter is yet again going to be tube fed Will bein allweekend learning how to do it at least we got the birthdays in the family out the way with.

 

[Eternal]

Nope am back up the hospital tomorow my daughter is yet again going to be tube fed Will bein allweekend learning how to do it at least we got the birthdays in the family out the way with.

I'm so sorry, poor thing, hope she gets better soon x

 

[NellyLou]

Oh, I hope she improves quickly! Tube feeding is a wonderful thing as well. My sil used a feeding tube for 5 years.

 

[emyandpotato]

Okay coming in late to this debate but here's my opinion. If there was no formula then the majority of people would breastfeed, we'd all be more educated and have more social and medical support with it, people in third world countries would not be conned in to using formula, many babies would be healthier, PND rates would likely lower, co-sleeping and the use of baby carriers would likely increase, breast cancer rates would perhaps be lower, nursing in public would be normal, as would nursing toddlers and children. It's very likely that drugs to increase supply would become far cheaper and more available, perhaps with medication to stimulate supply in women who could not produce any milk would become available. Maternity leave in most countries would have to be extended to allow for a minimum of one year nursing on demand.

Then there would be children who starve to death, children who's mothers have had enough and supplement with normal milk, water, rice... Anything, because they're exhausted and in agony and alone and they have no idea what to do. There will be mothers who simply don't want to breastfeed and take the advice of friends and simply give normal milk because that's the only alternative. There would women who feel helpless because they want or need to work but cannot because they need to nurse. There would be a massive decrease in people adopting babies who are not rich enough to appoint a wet nurse or buy donor milk. Not to mention how on earth children in foster care would manage. The billions of abandoned orphans in third world countries would starve or become very ill. Society would return to the idea of women as women and men as men, forget stay at home dads, and god forbid two gay men adopt a child.

The answer is not no formula, it's knowledge, support, and the responsible promotion of formula only when it is needed. People also need to accept that despite everything, some people choose to formula feed, and that's okay.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Women who haven't had a baby can lactate. It's called adoptive relactation, so I don't think the argument about babies not being adopted really flies here.