Breast feeding, pros and cons

surreysaver

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Actually, you are being a bit thick here yourself.

Not everyone in the world lives in Acacia Avenue with clean water.

I know thatgirlsam can look after herself, but leave her alone!

milliebear00001

Newbie here but couldn't resist!

Two babies down the line, I am still amazed at how much this topic gets to people! For the record, I tried to bf my first baby, but struggled and gave up - disappointed but didn't beat myself up about it - partly blamed the baby anyway lol! Second bub, fed like a dream, no problems at al and bf him til he was 18 months. Both had their upsides and their downs. I didn't find either method outstandingly better than the other.

My children? Well, the second one, like most second ones, got every infection under the son and had already (at 20 months) had two ear infections, and two lots of anti-bs, eczema and possible asthma. My first, bottle-fed daughter - rude health, perfect skin and chest, not a single anti-b in all her 5 years! Breastfeeding, no matter what zealous HV tell you, is not a panacea, anymore than bottle feeding is less publicly inconvenient!

Breastfeeding offers the perfect food for a baby, but if you can't or won't bf, then formula offers a damned good alternative these days - less guilt please - plenty of time for that later!

thatgirlsam

surreysaver wrote: »

I know thatgirlsam can look after herself, but leave her alone!

hehe.. who would have thought it surreysaver!
i appreciate that

onlyroz

I also have difficulty in understanding why someone with no particular medical problems would not even *try* to breastfeed their child. I don't think that "I don't fancy it" is really an acceptable answer, considering the widely known health benefits. Sure, if there's a genuine reason why you can't then don't beat yourself up about it, but I think it's a sorry state of affairs when people won't even give it a go.

neverdespairgirl

AnnieM wrote: »

(does it have to be screened for health issues?) just like wetnurses were employed in times gone by.

Yes, the mother is tested for all sorts of things, and the milk steralised as well.

Hell_Dans_Un_Handcart

thatgirlsam wrote: »

http://www.babycenter.in/baby/breastfeeding/breastfeedingdiet/

there is not a list on food you should not eat, but there are some you may like to avoid..
like i said - personal choice..
this is what i beleive in

Oh dear. You see, this is why we end up having these debates - that list (dodgy substances aside!) is utter tosh. Poor BFing advice is pretty rife and this is a very good example; we debate to point out that it's incorrect.

"You may want to avoid XXX until you're sure baby isn't allergic." Er, how will you know until you've tried?

thatgirlsam

onlyroz wrote: »

I also have difficulty in understanding why someone with no particular medical problems would not even *try* to breastfeed their child. I don't think that "I don't fancy it" is really an acceptable answer, considering the widely known health benefits. Sure, if there's a genuine reason why you can't then don't beat yourself up about it, but I think it's a sorry state of affairs when people won't even give it a go.

omg... there reasons may be ones that you don't understand, why should you, you don't know them!! (the reasons, i mean) ..

what is not acceptable to me is people beleiving they have the right to question others reasons for not bf.. it really is not your business, i would concentrate on raising your own child if i was you..

sorry, but im getting frustrated... why can't you understand that many women make a personal choice, and its very rarely because they 'can't be bothered or don't fancy it'
even if it was, its really not going to help if we all point fingers and shout 'BAD MUM'

thatgirlsam

Hell_Dans_Un_Handcart wrote: »

Oh dear. You see, this is why we end up having these debates - that list (dodgy substances aside!) is utter tosh. Poor BFing advice is pretty rife and this is a very good example; we debate to point out that it's incorrect.

"You may want to avoid XXX until you're sure baby isn't allergic." Er, how will you know until you've tried?

ok, allergies aside, although a valid point in my mind, there are certain herbs bf mums should avoid..

listen, i am not anti bf, and i don't know why im trying to point out pitfalls of bf!

i suppose its because there are certain mums who will always feel superior because they bf..
not just that bm is superior, because we know that, but in fact they are superior mothers..
it is this myth i would like to dispell, as anyone who thinks they are superior is a bit ott imo

neverdespairgirl

Hell_Dans_Un_Handcart wrote: »

Ever wondered why when women live in the same house find that their periods get into sync?

The evidence that they do get in sync is disputed, I think:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McClintock_effect

onlyroz

thatgirlsam wrote: »

what is not acceptable to me is people beleiving they have the right to question others reasons for not bf.

What is wrong with questioning the reason for not breastfeeding? What is unacceptable about asking someone "why did you choose to do that?" for any of their decisions? Asking the question is not the same thing as condemning. If I ask you why you go to church (for example), it does not mean that I think you're crazy for going, just that I'm interested in your reasons.

All I'm saying is that if you're going to make such an important decision that benefits the health of your baby, then you should consider your choice carefully. When it comes to breastfeeding, I think that someone who says "I don't fancy it", without being able to justify why, can't really have thought it through.