When does extended breastfeeding become weird....

Person_one

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

You have been around long enough to know this happens all the time on here- I am surprised you have let it drive you away though.

Don't worry, its only driving me off this particular thread! There's not really any point me sticking around on this one.

barbiedoll

Excellent post from Person One and very well put.
Midiwives and maternity units are trying to get this idea across and are promoting the fact that breastfeeding is the normal, natural way to feed your baby (which it is!)

This is why you won't get free samples of formula when in the hospital after the birth and you won't be encouraged to formula feed unless it is absolutely necessary, if you or your baby are ill, for example. Any good midwife would, of course, support mums in feeding their baby, whatever method they choose. But midwives would be failing in their duty of care to women and their babies if they didn't encourage good practice. And no matter what the reasons for not breastfeeding, there's no getting away from the fact that breast milk is better for babies than any other source of food.

Of course, in a ideal world, all women would be able to breastfeed their babies without pain, fear, or any other negative effects. We don't live in a ideal world, if we did, we would all be able to send our kids to public school, we would all have a decent roof over our kids heads and Coca-Cola and McDonalds would be banned for under-5's!

thatgirlsam

Person_one wrote: »

I think some people aren't quite reading my posts right, sorry mygirlsam because I usually agree with you too!

What I'm saying is that I would love it if by some miracle there was a fundamental shift in the way everybody thinks about breastmilk vs formula.

For an example you'll know a lot about, think about elective caesarians. Most women who get pregnant assume from day one that 'Plan A' best case scenario is to give birth vaginally but they accept that there is a chance things may go awry and they'll need a caesarian. We don't have women deciding at the 12 week scan that labour will be too painful, or too unpredictable for their lifestyle, or that they don't want their vagina to be for anything except sex so they'll have a caesarian.

I'm sure there are women who think that way but the medical and midwifery professions certainly don't encourage it and (correct me if I'm wrong) the NHS doesn't generally fund or support this choice.

So I'd love to see a situation where breastfeeding as plan A was considered as normal and unquestioned as giving birth. Where the artificial/intervention option is only considered when for whatever reason Plan A isn't possible.

Is that clearer?

I'm not saying that tomorrow we should ban formula, but I do hate the fact that the feeding of babies has created a hugely profitable industry and that its had such an influence over the way breastfeeding is viewed.

Fair do's

The bit I have highlighted in red is reality!

Midwives are not allowed to suggest bottle feeding, it has to be maternal request and when it is maternal request it is supported (as it should be)

What I was shocked at was the comment that formula should only be an alternative (in your ideal world) when medically indicated.. to me, that takes away a womans choice and is something I am uncomfortable with

In my ideal world women make INFORMED choices and are supported regardless

But I do love the 'mygirlsam'.... thanks, that made me

Shepherd1

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

Do you think this is wrong then?

Yes I do think its wrong to use food to comfort a child that is not hungry.

POPPYOSCAR

barbiedoll wrote: »

Excellent post from Person One and very well put.
Midiwives and maternity units are trying to get this idea across and are promoting the fact that breastfeeding is the normal, natural way to feed your baby (which it is!)

This is why you won't get free samples of formula when in the hospital after the birth and you won't be encouraged to formula feed unless it is absolutely necessary, if you or your baby are ill, for example. Any good midwife would, of course, support mums in feeding their baby, whatever method they choose. But midwives would be failing in their duty of care to women and their babies if they didn't encourage good practice. And no matter what the reasons for not breastfeeding, there's no getting away from the fact that breast milk is better for babies than any other source of food.

Of course, in a ideal world, all women would be able to breastfeed their babies without pain, fear, or any other negative effects. We don't live in a ideal world, if we did, we would all be able to send our kids to public school, we would all have a decent roof over our kids heads and Coca-Cola and McDonalds would be banned for under-5's!

Some but not all.

Person_one

thatgirlsam wrote: »

Fair do's

The bit I have highlighted in red is reality!

Ah, ok. As a midwife it probably is for you but that's just not the case for lots of women. They know as soon as they see the blue line that they won't be breastfeeding. There are all sorts of deeply entrenched reasons behind it, and I truly don't judge them whatever poet might think, but I still think its a real shame and can wish things were different.

Doesn't breastfeeding reduce the risks of breast cancer for the mother too? I'm not sure what the consensus is on that...

JBD

Person_one wrote: »

Ah, ok. As a midwife it probably is for you but that's just not the case for lots of women. They know as soon as they see the blue line that they won't be breastfeeding. There are all sorts of deeply entrenched reasons behind it, and I truly don't judge them whatever poet might think, but I still think its a real shame and can wish things were different.

Doesn't breastfeeding reduce the risks of breast cancer for the mother too? I'm not sure what the consensus is on that...

Yes, by 4% for every full year of breastfeeding.
Some people would not consider that an incentive for breastfeeding though, as people carry on smoking, drinking etc all of which increase risks of contracting cancer.

POPPYOSCAR

Person_one wrote: »

Ah, ok. As a midwife it probably is for you but that's just not the case for lots of women. They know as soon as they see the blue line that they won't be breastfeeding. There are all sorts of deeply entrenched reasons behind it, and I truly don't judge them whatever poet might think, but I still think its a real shame and can wish things were different.

Doesn't breastfeeding reduce the risks of breast cancer for the mother too? I'm not sure what the consensus is on that...

I do see what you are saying and my mother was one of those that did not even consider breast feeding. I think at the time formula was being presented as the way to go.

I think the only way forward is to have formula available much as it is today but to continue to put forward breastfeeding in a positive way.Afterall, it does seem to have become more fashionable in a way.

I have a young family member who was determined to do it despite her horrified mother telling her she was not a cow and should use a bottle!!.

poet123

All the posts are still in situ, Person One you are backtracking furiously, probably because Sam who knows what she is talking about also picked you up on the same points I did.

You advocated the removal of choice by placing formula on prescription, not in some ideal world but as your first contribution to this thread. To remove that choice would result in mothers having to breastfeed or do you not see that as force?

I know you don't condone rape which is why this stance is so odd, the concept is the same, yet you appear oblivious to that.

As for my disagreeing on here because we have disagreed previously, that is ridiculous. I post on each thread as I see it, in response to whoever posts, regardless of what has happened on other threads. I don't remember most of them, threads are simply debates they soon fade from memory, so you appear to have the advantage of me there. Perhaps if you remember previous threads the boot is actually on the other foot and your post was made to bait me!!

As you don't intend to respond your previous posts and mine will have to speak for us......and they do.:D

POPPYOSCAR

Going back to the original point of the thread....

No I have to say I do find it strange to see young children being breastfed - not something I wanted to do myself. I could not even say why I find it odd - perhaps because it is rare and not something we are used to. But each to their own I suppose.