Parenting Forums

Posted: 07 October 2006 at 3:56pm | IP Logged

A hard hitting look at why breastfeeding figures are so low in the UK and also the long term affects of bottle feeding.  Some really not nice stuff in here so be warned before reading it.

http://www.theecologist.org/archive_detail.asp?content_id=58 6

Posted: 07 October 2006 at 7:19pm | IP Logged

I have pondered for a little while before responding to this post but, we all have a right to our opinions don't we?!

I have started to read/skim through this but decided against reading anymore when i was half way through the 'why women don't breastfeed'

I know this was post was just to make us aware of the benefit's of bf, and the truth of formula, but stuff like this totally frustrates/angers me. As a mother who tried and failed twice at bf, i get annoyed at smug mothers who constantly throw comments like ' I exclusively bf my baby for such and such a time, I would never dream of formula feeding' well bully for you because guess what I didn't bf.

I just couldn't get the hang of it no matter how hard i tried and believe me I tried, and I think this was one of the factors which contributed to my pnd first time round.

So things that say bottle fed babies are twice as likely to die of SIDS and get inner ear infections and eczema etc.. makes me feel worse over it, because harry has suffered with inner ear infections on and off since birth he's had grommets fitted three times, he was what the gp's called 'a happy wheezer' and guess what suffers with eczema, all the things which bottle fed babies are twice more likely to get.

We all know that breast is best, but for this study to blame/suggest that women under 24, on low income and or poorly educated don't even attempt it only adds fuel to my fire on this subject, because i had my first at 18, was brought up on a very low income and on a council estate.

I'm not going to say any more as you have all probably guess my reaction to this, I applaud anyone who bf's exclusively because i know how difficult it is to master, I have attempted it enough times, but I don't like being told, that my children we brought up on 'junk food' the term they describe formula as,  for the first 4-6 months of its life, i think women who bottle feed, get enough look downs from smug breastfeeding mothers, i know I did.

***Post edit, Sorry didn't mean to make my post so aggressive, but it really got my goat up, and I'm not having a dig at any bf mums on here***

Posted: 07 October 2006 at 7:54pm | IP Logged

I too have read over this and typed a huge response and then deleted it all for fear of going on too much lol

I breast fed Ellis for a few weeks then switched to formula as we were both having a really hard time with it - I had no support from my HV and was miserable

Because of that experience I decided that Lily would go onto formula straight away

Both my girls have been completely fine and have had no ill affects from formual feeding

I am all for breast feeding and think its a shame theres no more support etc for it but we each have to make the decision that is best for us

I only read a bit of this article and was quite shocked at what they were saying - but I still stand by my decision to bottle feed my girls

I agree with what you have said about breast feeding mothers who like to tell you how long they have done it for etc and more or less make you feel like a failure for not doing it (I have come across a few around my area)

It made interesting reading but I did what was best for my children and they are not any worse off because of it

Posted: 07 October 2006 at 7:58pm | IP Logged

its nice to read fee and rins pov's

i never wanted to bottle feed and never tried it

i knew i wouldnt be comfortable doing it and i made the best choice for me and lily as a pair

i also knew id be returning to work and dh wanted to bond with lily too

i read a lot about it beforehand

i have just read most of this article and found it highly offensive and very slanted. TBH i am sick to death of preaching bf mothers-especially near me.

Posted: 07 October 2006 at 8:27pm | IP Logged

Well, it makes interesting reading (and maybe useful for my college project!) but I don't find these sort of articles very helpful to encourage mothers to breastfeed.. 

I have to be honest, I find it intriguing that some women choose not to give it a go but I think that women that aren't able to breastfeed for whatever reason shouldn't be made to feel guilty about putting their babies onto formula milk - becoming a mother is terrifying enough without worrying about your baby not putting on weight and being in agony and exhausted on top of everything else can be overwhelming..

god I hope I'm not a smug bf mother..I was just too lazy and stubborn to put Ellie onto bottles lol

this topic never fails to get people's backs up does it?!  

Posted: 07 October 2006 at 8:36pm | IP Logged

I breastfed both mine.

Tasja decided for me, she found my nipple and she knew what she was doing..so I was glad that one of us did.  I had a great mw who said if you can you can if you cant you cant dont stress yourself about it.  I was still feeding tasja when I returned to work..yet did both bottle and boob..expressed and formula.  Didnt do her anyharm.  I carried on feeding her..cos at the time the policy the RAF had was if you are breastfeeding..you wont go into the gas chamber..even more of a reason to carry on..cos its horrible in there lol.  I did stop when she was 9mths old cos she bit me in a temper little madam.

Isla was the same, yet she took a bit longer to take to it, I managed full feeds for her for the first 6 weeks, but I couldnt keep up with her..so after a tearful chat with my mw, she just said do both..so isla had 'me' in the morning and in the evening, then bottles inbetween.  After a few weeks Isla turned her nose up at 'me' snob that she was and went onto bottles.  Id left the RAF at this point so I didnt have to worry about going back into the gas chamber.  Im glad i left because now when you return to work at the end of your mat leave you have to be fully operational where work is concerned and no longer be allowed to bf, which is pants..and sooner or later someone (very brave lady to do it) will take the RAF or the military on on infringements of rights.

Posted: 07 October 2006 at 9:14pm | IP Logged

So sorry to go totally off topic, everyone else ignore me  - Hi Rin1983!

Can you just explain what 'happy wheezer' means? It's just that my 4month old son has always made 'noises' when breathing/sleeping etc. The doctor has listened to his chest etc and said it's ok, (except she didn't hear him at the time) I get frustrated as i constantly worry somethings wrong (asthma) but no-one seems bothered. your post struck a chord.

Cheryl