Paid to Breastfeed: would it have encouraged you to do it?

Air_Cooled_75

A lot of women don't breastfeed as it interferes too much with going out, drinking etc. but will make up any excuse. I don't say this lightly but from experience of many women I know sadly. The media don't have the courage to say this though.

Where I live the support is fantastic which undoubtably got me through the first 6 weeks or so and I carried on until nearly 18 months.

I just wonder if voucher for formula weren't given out how different the bf rates would be, I'm guessing not much, I think there needs to be a massive shift in attitude.

The fact that bf is a big issue here shows how much of an 'issue' it is and that it isn't seem as 'normal'.

IHateDida

I couldn't breastfeed for medical/personal reasons

Gigglepig wrote: »

women who formula feed are more likely to do so for cultural/their own personal views rather than medical reasons..

Absolute rubbish! :mad::mad: :mad:

Try reading some of the posts on the pregnancy/post birth thread - you will find very few who formula feed as their personal views or cultural reasons get in the way. Most mums (including myself) go through an enormous amount of guilt when they find they are unable to breastfeed (for whatever reason, mainly medical) and posts like yours are just utter claptrap! :mad:

nodiscount

I couldn't breastfeed for medical/personal reasons

peachyprice wrote: »

Frankly I think you should be ashamed of being judgemental, but hey ho.

Why? Not even bothering or attempting to breastfeeding is shameful!

I tried for three weeks and gave up because I was exhausted and everyone was discouraging me but at least I tried.

There is a stark difference between trying to bf and not being able to and not even bothering at all.

There was a programme the other day featuring young pregnant girls. All of them said they would definitely not bf. They weren't even going to bother to try. One of them even said 'boobs are only for sex'. Very stupid and sad.

Air_Cooled_75

But there are very few women who can't really breastfeed, I'm sure for those who really want to but 'can't' a lack of support is a massive factor. In countries where formula isn't readily available or too expensive women just have to. We have very low breastfeeding rates here and surely not all those women are unable to.

Breast feeding is very hard to begin with (in my experience, I was in tears at every feed etc.) but is so easy in the long run, I tried expressing for a bit but found it too much effort. LO was pretty good and settled into 4 hour night sleeps quite quickly.

Gigglepig

IHateDida wrote: »

Absolute rubbish! :mad::mad: :mad:

Try reading some of the posts on the pregnancy/post birth thread - you will find very few who formula feed as their personal views or cultural reasons get in the way. Most mums (including myself) go through an enormous amount of guilt when they find they are unable to breastfeed (for whatever reason, mainly medical) and posts like yours are just utter claptrap! :mad:

I prefer reading statistics rather than anectdotal evidence. The uk has had a low uptake on breastfeeding compared to for example Scandinavia. I don't think there is any suggestions that the comparatively low breastfeeding rates in the uk were due to medical reasons/poor health/rubbish gene pool.... But rather due to what you would call cultural reasons.

nodiscount

I couldn't breastfeed for medical/personal reasons

Air_Cooled_75 wrote: »

But there are very few women who can't really breastfeed, I'm sure for those who really want to but 'can't' a lack of support is a massive factor. In countries where formula isn't readily available or too expensive women just have to. We have very low breastfeeding rates here and surely not all those women are unable to.

Breast feeding is very hard to begin with (in my experience, I was in tears at every feed etc.) but is so easy in the long run, I tried expressing for a bit but found it too much effort. LO was pretty good and settled into 4 hour night sleeps quite quickly.

I agree. In my case I had zero support. I had to go on the internet to read about the correct way to latch on. It was too late.

I was also not eating and drinking properly which had a massive impact on the milk supply but I didn't know that then. More money should be spent on breastfeeding support not on flaming shopping vouchers.

nodiscount

I couldn't breastfeed for medical/personal reasons

Gigglepig wrote: »

I prefer reading statistics rather than anectdotal evidence. The uk has had a low uptake on breastfeeding compared to for example Scandinavia. I don't think there is any suggestions that the comparatively low breastfeeding rates in the uk were due to medical reasons/poor health/rubbish gene pool.... But rather due to what you would call cultural reasons.

Yes. I do believe that some communities see breastfeeding as weird, almost verging on paed-ophilia. Jealous boyfriends/partners may also be a problem. No amount of vouchers will change that perception.

apesxx

I couldn't breastfeed for medical/personal reasons

I think it's a stupid idea. The money should go towards more support for mothers who want to BF. I tried it with my daughter, I gave up after a week as she had lost too much weight. We were both stressed, she was screaming constantly. I broke down when the MW said my baby would have to go back to hospital if she lost anymore weight. The MW said she would get someone to come round and help with latching but it was another week before they showed up and I'd already gone over to bottles by then and as she was finally content with the bottles and feeding well I just left it at that. If I had got the support I so desperately needed then I maybe would have carried on longer :-(

With my 2nd child I chose to bottle feed. I feel I may have maybe given BF another go if it wernt for the MW. After birth I was shaking and in shock and wretching and vommiting and all the MW could do was try to attach him to my boob instead of leaving me til I had come round a bit and felt a bit better. After a bath and some sweet tea I felt much better but by this point I was dumped in a ward all by myself, no MW came in all day and I was sent home at tea time so no help to give BF another go and I just carried on with the formula.
If a MW had come onto the ward to see me once I felt better I probably would have been tempted to give it another go as I did regret not even trying to BF DS X

MoneySavingMamma

I do/have breastfed - I would have carried on whether the money was offered or not

peachyprice wrote: »

Frankly I think you should be ashamed of being judgemental, but hey ho.

Why should I be ashamed? Trying is THE RIGHT THING TO DO as is not smoking or drinking when pregnant!

Perhaps we should not judge the mothers of those poor babies that are born addicted to drugs?!

mrsbrayne

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Sheffield University is conducting research by offering new mums up to £200 to breastfeed their child.

Financial incentive for breastfeeding mothers

As breastfeeding's already a MoneySaver compared to buying formula would payment have encouraged you more?

If you haven’t joined the forum yet but want to join in you can join the forum then vote or reply to this thread by clicking "post reply" below.

My biggest issue is as the main earner I would only be able to take 6 weeks SMP as after this £136 pw won't pay my mortgage etc. Therefore I would hopefully breastfeed for 6 weeks then stop when return to work full time whilst my husband becomes a househusband