Bottle feeding and guilt

Person_one

mildred1978 wrote: »

Problem quite handy if you've been born in a cave surrounded by wolves (other wild animals are available).

We don't though.

Person_one

mildred1978 wrote: »

My post outlined the science, not my beliefs. Humans wouldn't have gotten very far if we (the majority of the time) couldn't deal with childbirth or feeding babies. It's a relatively recent change that's given a choice.

We dealt with it by having lots and lots of babies in the hope that a few would make it to the age they could reproduce themselves. This happened until very very recently, my great grandmother only had half of her children make it to adulthood in the 1920s and 30s.

peachyprice

mildred1978 wrote: »

. Humans wouldn't have gotten very far if we (the majority of the time) couldn't deal with childbirth or feeding babies. It's a relatively recent change that's given a choice.

Formula may well be a recent invention, but the choice not to breastfeed your baby certainly isn't, wet nurses were part of many ancient civilisations and still are in some cultures.

poet123

The old debate which polarises mothers is easily summed up; do what suits you and your baby and that is what is best. Guilt over your choice is imposed by others, don't allow it, your body, your choice. Happy, healthy, high achieving babies are bottlefed too!!

mildred1978

peachyprice wrote: »

Formula may well be a recent invention, but the choice not to breastfeed your baby certainly isn't, wet nurses were part of many ancient civilisations and still are in some cultures.

Exactly. But the babies got breastmilk that way

mildred1978

Person_one wrote: »

We dealt with it by having lots and lots of babies in the hope that a few would make it to the age they could reproduce themselves. This happened until very very recently, my great grandmother only had half of her children make it to adulthood in the 1920s and 30s.

You're telling me what I already know.

But you're dismissing the fact that while society and technology have developed extremely fast in the last few centuries, humans are basically the same as they were tens of thousands of years ago.

Person_one

mildred1978 wrote: »

Exactly. But the babies got breastmilk that way

You do realise that lots of babies also died or became very ill due to poor nutrition and mothers not being able to feed them themselves? This still happens a lot in the developing world.

We've got so used to the idea that formula feeding is just a choice, that we've forgotten its a lifesaving invention.

looby75

I'm so pleased that the OP decided to leave the thread when she did.

Person_one

looby75 wrote: »

I'm so pleased that the OP decided to leave the thread when she did.

I do actually think that the thread wouldn't have gone so 'debatey' if she hadn't told us she was leaving it. I wouldn't have posted if I didn't know she wasn't reading, anyway.

janninew

I think threads like these do nobody any favours! Bottle feeding mothers end up stressed and upset as its such a sensitive subject. Just feed your baby how you want and forget EVERYBODY else and what they think!!