Formula Ads Banned?

[Noah_and_Elijah]

It's recently come to my attention that advertising formula could well be illegal...

If you think about it, any advertisment that you see on the TV is always for toddler milk (i.e 12 months +) and never for babies. :confused:

I mean I may have been given the wrong information and it may be ok to advertise baby fomula but if what I've heard is correct then why?

Why should it be illegal to advertise baby milk?

[Shanaynay]

Because formula is second best to breastmilk and it would be unethical to market it.
Many mums would not be as silly as to be swayed by an ad for formula here or there, but many are.
The breastfeeding rate in Australia is shocking and it is in the best interests of the health of the nation if advertising formula is limited.
Ads are biased and do not provide information anyhow, the information is readily there for any mum requiring formula :)

Personally I'd love to see breastfeeding ads everywhere :thumbsup:
(Perhaps I could advertise my boobs for lease? :laughing:)

[Noah_and_Elijah]

I think that there should be ads promoting breastfeeding, I totally agree!

I do however still think that 'banning' formula ads is going a bit far.

[studyingECS]

I think banning the ads is going too far like noahsmama said.

[Shanaynay]

Hope she doesn't mind, but I'm going to quote another hubber for another thread, I completely agree with her here:

Advertising infant formula has been illegal for quite a long time. Advertising toddler 'follow on' formula is not :rolleyes:

I actually agree with it. Yes, some people need to use formula, and that's fine. But advertising is promoting, and formula IMO should not be promoted as a great way to feed a baby. It is what it is, a useful substitute for people who are unwilling or unable to breastfeed.

As someone said earlier, we don't need advertising to choose a formula. If I decided to formula feed my next baby, I wouldn't pick a brand aimed who had the glossiest brochure or the prettiest tin, I would ask people I know and trust what worked for them. So all the advertising of formula does is make it a more accepted norm. I think breastfeeding rates are low enough without formula being promoted as a perfectly acceptable choice.

Just my two cents :)

[tickle]

I don't think it is going too far at all. I think it is really important that formula advertising is restricted. Here' (http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:KDoUSUXuKoUJ:www.who.int/entity/nutrition/infant_formula_trade_issues_eng.pdf+world+health+o rganisation+formula+advertising&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=au)s the information about the recommendation by the World Health Organisation regarding advertising forumla. That is the PDF viewed in HTML format, so if you want to make it easier to read click on the link from that page.

ETA quote:

HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF DIRECT ADVERTISING OF INFANT FORMULA
The Director-General’s report on infant and young child nutrition to the World Health Assembly
in 1992 briefly considered the health implications of direct advertising of infant formula to
the general public.
1
It pointed out that, because of the hazards associated with using breast-milk
substitutes, infant formula was no ordinary consumer product, but that, up to the age of four to
six months, it should be treated more as a nutritional medicine that should be used with the
advice and under the supervision of health workers. The report also noted that, even seen from
the viewpoint of fostering competition, direct advertising to mothers with infants in the first
four to six months of life was singularly inappropriate because:
• advertising infant formula as a substitute for breast milk competes unfairly with normal,
healthy breastfeeding, which is not subject to advertising, yet which is the safest and lowest-
cost method of nourishing an infant; and
• advertising infant formula as a substitute for breast milk favours uninformed decision
making, bypassing the necessary advice and supervision of the mother’s physician or health
worker.
In this respect, the report concluded, it can be considered that advertising of infant formula fails
to achieve the objectives of ensuring best quality and the lowest cost and creating an
informed public, which are among the benefits assumed to be a result of direct advertising.
The debate continues about the extent to which direct advertising of infant formula to the general
public influences the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding. Choice of infant-feeding mode
is a highly complex process that is affected by multiple factors including cultural traditions,
educational opportunities, accessibility of objective and consistent information, time available
and perceived options. WHO has consistently stated that appropriate marketing and distribution
of breast-milk substitutes is only one of several important factors where protecting healthy
practices in respect of infant and young child feeding is concerned.
Reviewing the basic principles common to all advertising and promotion is instructive in this
context. Generally speaking, all producers competing in the marketplace do so for two reasons:
• to expand the market for a given class of product, whatever its type; and
• to expand their share of the market – present and future – over that of their competitors.
To achieve these ends, simultaneously or consecutively, the marketing of infant formula
presupposes a market increasing in size as more infants are fed artificially. Moreover, the
advertising of infant formula is not passive, nor is it without consequences. Trying to prove the
precise effect of advertising, however, misses the point that there are inherent dangers in
encouraging uninformed decision-making and the bypassing of the mother’s physician or other
health worker. Those who suggest that direct advertising has no negative effect on breastfeeding
should be asked to demonstrate that such advertising fails to influence a mother’s decision about how to feed her infant.

[~Emmylou~]

Firstly I agree that the promotion of formula undermines efforts to raise the abysmal breastfeeding rate in this country and I object to it mainly on those grounds alone.

But secondly, I think allowing advertising and marketing of formula opens a big ethical can of worms. We'd end up with a situation where formula companies would be playing off their brands against eachother. One would be claiming that "Formula A" has this super ingredient and another company would counter claim with their formula has another super super ingredient :ecomcity: - and you would definitely end up with a situation where some mothers would be more confused than they are now.

Once you let marketers start promoting something, truth in advertising is the first thing to go out the window.

Yes this already happens with toddler milks, but the difference is that toddler milk isn't a toddlers only source of nutrition like formula is for an infant. So it's definitely very ethically delicate territory.

[Kizmet]

Is there a publication solely existing for the information of formula? I had no idea what to choose and why some had this and others didn't and some had that and others didn't and why some where cheaper and if it is more expensive then does that mean better....I just had no idea and no idea where to get the information about it from

[Seekrit]

Talking to people in the US, it appears that formula is pushed and pushed there and it results in a low breastfeeding rate. Girls talk of coming home from the hospital to samples sitting on the door mat, "just in case you can't" brochures and hospitals inadvertantly advertising it (like Johnson's do, simply because they supply baby bath for free to hospitals they say that it's used in over 90%... makes you think it's best etc)
It makes women second guess themselves so early in the breastfeeding relationship...... at a time when they're so vunerable and so scared and so damn tired that being given brochures about how it's "just as good" or sometimes better (let's admit it, your boobs don't hand out glossy paper either... shiny things = better) can really damage a relationship as such.

Also, while it's not illegal, I don't see any Breastfeeding ads around either.

[Ashleigh<3]

You wouldn't believe how much people actually believe that babies are SUPPOSED to have formula.
It isn't until you actually have a baby of your own that you learn that breast milk is number one and then formula being second best.

I noticed recently, wool worths has started advertising vegetables! They have a little kid sitting down at the table making faces with the veges/fruit and then they bring up the woolie logo.
I'd much rather see productive advertisements like that then SHREK cereal. :thumbsup:

One thing that really gets to me is popular social websites like face book, my space sending out emails to mothers with breast feeding pictures with an explanation as to why their photos were deleted. They actually use the words, 'sexually explicit', meanwhile there are credible porn stars with their nudes up.
Yeah, good on you guys- NOT.

If recognizable websites like those, are preaching that kind of message in regards to breast feeding- the public, the ignorant, the misinformed are going to actually believe that breast feeding should be condemned.
Therefore the percentage of breast feeding mothers will diminish.

[tickle]

Is there a publication solely existing for the information of formula? I had no idea what to choose and why some had this and others didn't and some had that and others didn't and why some where cheaper and if it is more expensive then does that mean better....I just had no idea and no idea where to get the information about it from

I don't formula feed but if I needed that information I would speak to my GP about it and get their advice. Advertising will never give you an unbiased advice on what is best for you and your baby as they will all say that their product is best for you.

[Noah_and_Elijah]

Thanks for that info tickle. :)

I understand what you are all saying but I still think it's going too far. By banning something from being advertised or marketed it's like saying that it's 'illegal' or socially unacceptable when it shouldn't be at all.

Feeding a child, regardless of how it's done should not be seen as unacceptable.

[shed]

The reason there are no breastfeeding ads around is because there is no profit in it for a particular company. Boobs Incorporated does not exist. Its all about the moolah. The ABA is mostly run by volunteers.

I don't agree that formula should be advertised as such, but I do think the information should be available to those who need it. Somehow.

hmm, but how?

How about, free lactation consultants, just ring to make an appointment, in ALL public hospitals, you go there to discuss your breastfeeding issues, work out a strategy or get advice on which formula. Available to all mothers for the 12 months after their baby is born.

Funded by the formula companies, not run by them, PAID into medicare in the form of a levy, every year to pay for the program.

[Kizmet]

i'd never expect to go solely off advertising :)

[Shanaynay]

You wouldn't believe how much people actually believe that babies are SUPPOSED to have formula.
It isn't until you actually have a baby of your own that you learn that breast milk is number one and then formula being second best.

Many women STILL don't know even after having babies! I have a friend who has just had her 4th baby, she has never gone to antenatal classes or anything, and has NO idea of the differences between breastmilk and formula.
Well she does now because I've :ecomcity: away at her, but for the first 3 she had no idea.

[SorenLorensen]

as a formula feeding mum i dont care......
i didnt use ads or any of that to decide what formula i was giving DD, i looked into it and found out what was in them, compaired....it was all pretty simple really and and im pretty sure an ad would not have helped me at all since they would not list what in them anyway......

also as a FF mum i know that BF is VERY low in numbers at the moment.......and that pretty sad so i dont think FF should be advertised....well, atleast not untill the BF rates get a hell of alot higher

[shed]

Actually, the establishment of breastfeeding rates are pretty good.

Its the rapid drop that is of concern. I don't have my book with me here but statistically speaking the number of babies who leave the hospital being breastfed is actually quite good.

At the 3 month mark there is a big difference.

At 6 months, hardly anyone still going.

At 12 month, its something like 3%.

So most new mothers are giving it a red hot go. For some reason its not working.

Whatever they are doing, i.e. banning formula ads is not working.

[RedPanda]

Advertisements wouldn't help bottlefeeding mothers anyway, so it's no great loss. I like your idea Shed, of formula companies funding LCs.

I do however find it extremely hard to believe that women can give birth in this day and age and NOT get the "Breast is Best" message. It's seriously everywhere. Any pregnancy book, any pregnancy magazine, any doctor, any CHN, any hospital, most other mothers, high school health classes, posters in doctors' offices... the list goes on. The problem is not that the message is not out there, the problem is that there's no support backing it up.

If I had a dollar for every health professional who lectured me about breastfeeding, I'd be loaded. If I had a dollar for every professional who gave me actual, structured advice (other than just "persevere"), I'd still be waiting for a dollar!

[SorenLorensen]

Actually, the establishment of breastfeeding rates are pretty good.

Its the rapid drop that is of concern. I don't have my book with me here but statistically speaking the number of babies who leave the hospital being breastfed is actually quite good.

At the 3 month mark there is a big difference.

At 6 months, hardly anyone still going.

At 12 month, its something like 3%.

So most new mothers are giving it a red hot go. For some reason its not working.

Whatever they are doing, i.e. banning formula ads is not working.
yes they start out pretty well.....but it does not last too long, as you said there is a rapid drop and that is what makes the general rate low

[studyingECS]

This is totally irrelevent but when i was at the hospital the other day i saw a poster saying "support working breastfeeding mothers" and instantly i thought of you BH girls :p

[~Emmylou~]

Actually, the establishment of breastfeeding rates are pretty good.

Its the rapid drop that is of concern. I don't have my book with me here but statistically speaking the number of babies who leave the hospital being breastfed is actually quite good.

At the 3 month mark there is a big difference.

At 6 months, hardly anyone still going.

At 12 month, its something like 3%.

So most new mothers are giving it a red hot go. For some reason its not working.

Whatever they are doing, i.e. banning formula ads is not working.

It's about 85% of babies leaving hospital breastfed.

By six months only 10% are still being breastfed.

Absolutely agree that there are ALOT of mothers out there who are being seriously letdown right along the line for so many to stop in the first six months.

Interesting to see whether the recommendations from the recent government inquiry will be implemented :detective:

[shed]

If I had a dollar for every health professional who lectured me about breastfeeding, I'd be loaded. If I had a dollar for every professional who gave me actual, structured advice (other than just "persevere"), I'd still be waiting for a dollar!


You are so right. Even the breastfeeding books go on and on and on about it being so wonderful before they actually get on to techniques.

I read a lot of books and would have to skip the first three chapters. I was like "yeah yeah, I know WHY blah blah blah, just show me HOW!".

[Noah_and_Elijah]

I do however find it extremely hard to believe that women can give birth in this day and age and NOT get the "Breast is Best" message!

I understand that breast is best. I just gave up breastfeeding because I wanted to. There were no ill effects on my son and I was alot happier for it.

I do understand that the breastfeeding rates in Australia leave alot to be desired but I guess what I was bewildered by was the fact that 'banning' these ads makes it seem like formula feeding is such a bad thing when really it's not. Yes, it's not ideal compared to breastfeeding but it's not bad either.

[Ashleigh<3]

Many women STILL don't know even after having babies! I have a friend who has just had her 4th baby, she has never gone to antenatal classes or anything, and has NO idea of the differences between breastmilk and formula.
Well she does now because I've :ecomcity: away at her, but for the first 3 she had no idea.


To that I says, Whoah!
I also wonder if she ever actually read a pregnancy book, saw a midwife, went to antenatal appointments.
Sounds to me like she's just sat in front of the tv where she's been subjected to formula advertisements.

I don't think formula itself should be illegal, the advertising for formula-yes. Why?
Because unethical advertising schemes are there to take advantage of people (and their $$$).
By buying formula you are supporting that notion.
I am a formula feeding mother and even I know this. :(

Think of the same principle on a different product.
Painkillers, instead of advertising natural plant remedies, they advertise ibuprofen/paracetamol.
Thank goodness they don't advertise morphine as a painkiller, can you imagine the outcome?

[Mummy2R&K]

The reason there are no breastfeeding ads around is because there is no profit in it for a particular company. Boobs Incorporated does not exist. Its all about the moolah. The ABA is mostly run by volunteers.

I don't agree that formula should be advertised as such, but I do think the information should be available to those who need it. Somehow.

hmm, but how?

How about, free lactation consultants, just ring to make an appointment, in ALL public hospitals, you go there to discuss your breastfeeding issues, work out a strategy or get advice on which formula. Available to all mothers for the 12 months after their baby is born.

Funded by the formula companies, not run by them, PAID into medicare in the form of a levy, every year to pay for the program.


I see a breastfeeding add on TV all the time?? i also think that whilst in hospital after giving birth, unless u clearly say u are going to FF, u should automatically get a visit from an LC. The Govt should really provide more funding towards it. When i saw an LC, it is only on certain days, there should be one everyday....i had alot of trouble on the days she didn't work and i had to wait and get more stressed whilst waiting.

[~J'dore~]

I've breastfed all three of my babies (still feeding DS3) and I can totally understand why some mothers give up and switch to formula. I remember with DS2 sitting in a doctors waiting room for 1 1/2 hours waiting for my appointment when I had mastitis, DS1 was going crazy and I was actually in so much pain I was crying and when I finally did get seen for my appointment it was for about 3 minutes! There was no encouragement or advice just a script for antiboditics.

I don't think most mother's switch because of advertising, I think that it's because it can be really hard and stressful at times. I personally got through it and continued to breastfeed, but I think that's because I had done it before and knew that it does get better and easier.

In saying that though, I do agree that they shouldn't advertise it. I feel that there is enough social pressure out there to bottlefed instead of breast with out the TV glamourising it as well.

[RedPanda]

I understand that breast is best. I just gave up breastfeeding because I wanted to. There were no ill effects on my son and I was alot happier for it.

I do understand that the breastfeeding rates in

Sorry Noahsmama, I didn't mean to imply that mothers should heed the advice at any cost. I was just responding to earlier suggestions that further education is needed on the "Breast is Best" message. I think the message is well and truly out there.

I'm also a bottlefeeder :)

[shed]

I find the Breast is Best slogan really annoying.

It doesn't change anyone's mind about anything. Why don't they put their money where their mouth is?

When I had my baby I was determined to breastfeed. I had NO support, I had different techniques given to me and I had no back up. I was offered the chance to use formula which I refused.

If I hadn't been able to breastfeed I would probably be still grieving about it to this day. I know not everyone thinks this way but a lot of women do.

Not all formula feeding mothers are happy, proud and defiant about it. Not all of them gave up because they wanted to. Not all of them think that its just as good.

So lets help them. Lets concentrate on them.

The ones that can't be bothered or didn't want to don't need any help anyway so they should be left alone, which is what they want.

Its not about judgement, its about directing support to where its wanted, not a blanket statement directed at everybody who happens to have a baby.

[ShadyCharacter]

Hope she doesn't mind, but I'm going to quote another hubber for another thread, I completely agree with her here:Don't mind at all, was just going to do the same thing :D

[ShadyCharacter]

Also, while it's not illegal, I don't see any Breastfeeding ads around either.Yep, you know why? Because no-one wants to pay for the ads because no-one stands to profit from people breastfeeding.

Well, cept perhaps the guvvyment, and they are still too stupid to realise ;)

[Mummy2R&K]

Thank you Thank you Shed!! :yelclap: :yelclap: Very well said.

I do get very upset sometimes that i switched to formula, but I felt like I had no choice, I was in just so much pain and I can tell u, i was leading down the path to PND.

But I made the switch and bubs is so happy and content now and I think that's all that maters.....the bottom line he is FED! I wanted to breastfeed, I did see a LC twice, she was so lovely, but I think the stress started from Day 1 when DS was in neo natal unit and Midwife was trying to get him to feed....she was constantly putting him on and off the nipple trying to get him to latch properly...he was screaming, I was crying and stressed beyond belief, my blood pressure shot up, my pulse sped up....this is how my nipples started to fall off i think - him not attaching properly that day over that experience. The bloody hospital were gonna try and send me home the next day and he still wasn't even feeding properly! I mean this is were trouble starts, pushing new mothers out the door before they are comfortable. after nearly 3 weeks of stress and pain (so much i would scream every time he latched on and i would kick my legs etc) I just couldn't take it anymore. It was the most unenjoyable experience of my life......I have now learnt and I am going to seek the help of the LC from Day 1 - whilst I'm still in hospital, not 2 weeks later - and tell any pushy person in hospital to back off and let me try at my own pace!

[reAllytee]

Shed yet again i say i wuv you :hugs:

You are saying everything ive been trying to say for yonks & could never get it out right ! :yelclap:

[Funkychicken]

The ABA have an ad that was made for television. I'm not sure if it is or has been run though. Here is the link. It's great. :thumbsup:

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/media/rose5.mpg

[Silvana]

Thank you Thank you Shed!! :yelclap: :yelclap: Very well said.

I do get very upset sometimes that i switched to formula, but I felt like I had no choice, I was in just so much pain and I can tell u, i was leading down the path to PND.

But I made the switch and bubs is so happy and content now and I think that's all that maters.....the bottom line he is FED! I wanted to breastfeed, I did see a LC twice, she was so lovely, but I think the stress started from Day 1 when DS was in neo natal unit and Midwife was trying to get him to feed....she was constantly putting him on and off the nipple trying to get him to latch properly...he was screaming, I was crying and stressed beyond belief, my blood pressure shot up, my pulse sped up....this is how my nipples started to fall off i think - him not attaching properly that day over that experience. The bloody hospital were gonna try and send me home the next day and he still wasn't even feeding properly! I mean this is were trouble starts, pushing new mothers out the door before they are comfortable. after nearly 3 weeks of stress and pain (so much i would scream every time he latched on and i would kick my legs etc) I just couldn't take it anymore. It was the most unenjoyable experience of my life......I have now learnt and I am going to seek the help of the LC from Day 1 - whilst I'm still in hospital, not 2 weeks later - and tell any pushy person in hospital to back off and let me try at my own pace!

You described my situation perfectly. Just add the squeezing my nipples into a container to get the colustrum out. I thought that this was a ******** practice. It was excruciating. I felt like we were living in the 1800's.

I remember being left in my room, with a screaming baby for over an hour when the LC told me she would only be a few minutes. I was crying because I couldn't feed my screaming daughter. And they want us to breastfeed? She was on formula the next day and she has been good ever since. With only two colds (due to childcare). She has thrived and is always healthy.

I do not feel guilty for one second. Simply because I chose to feed my daughter.

[Shanaynay]

To that I says, Whoah!
I also wonder if she ever actually read a pregnancy book, saw a midwife, went to antenatal appointments.
Sounds to me like she's just sat in front of the tv where she's been subjected to formula advertisements.

That's about right! Her last pg for example, she didn't go to the antenatal clinic till the month she was due! And I don't know if it's the age of the people I know, or where I live (Boganville :p) but it is NOT uncommon here!

And as Shady said, the government would profit by promoting breastfeeding more! I don't understand why there is nothing done about it. Perhaps we need more women like us in parliament. Too bad we are all at home breastfeeding our babies and toddlers :D

[allysophia]

I understand that breast is best. I just gave up breastfeeding because I wanted to. There were no ill effects on my son and I was alot happier for it.

I do understand that the breastfeeding rates in Australia leave alot to be desired but I guess what I was bewildered by was the fact that 'banning' these ads makes it seem like formula feeding is such a bad thing when really it's not. Yes, it's not ideal compared to breastfeeding but it's not bad either.

Sadly, we cant know *for sure* that there are no ill-effects to you discontinuing BF. A lot of the ill-effects aren't realized till the children are a lot older. Studies have shown a myriad of difference between the average BF baby and the FF baby, however.

FF is a poor second to BF. For some moms its a great inferior alternative. But lets not kid ourselves, there are cold hard facts that tell us just how bad FF can be for the child's short term and long term health.

I don't like companies advertising junk food, alcohol, cigerettes or formula.

[Noah_and_Elijah]

How do you know there are no ill-effects to you discontinuing BF?

The GP tells me he is in excellent health and apart from his lactose intollerance (which was picked up while I was breastfeeding mind you) he is a perfectly healthy little boy! :thumbsup:

[allysophia]

The GP tells me he is in excellent health and apart from his lactose intollerance (which was picked up while I was breastfeeding mind you) he is a perfectly healthy little boy! :thumbsup:

I rewrote my post when I realized how forceful it was coming across :) --sorry

What I was trying to say was, its hard to know the long term effects of making the switch. The two are simply not comparable.

[Noah_and_Elijah]

Sadly, we cant know *for sure* that there are no ill-effects to you discontinuing BF.

I don't know "for sure" but I am confident.

If you bothered to read my posts you would see that I am supportive of breastfeeding and I know that 'breast is best' my issue was simply that I didn't understand why formula feeding had to be banned.

That's all so please don't get on your soap box and preach to me about the ill effects of formula feeding because frankly I'm not interested.

If you have nothing to add to the discussion on fomula advertising then leave.

ETA: I see your apology ^ thank you.

[Noah_and_Elijah]

The two are simply not comparable.

and I agree

[shed]

That's all so please don't get on your soap box and preach to me about the ill effects of formula feeding because frankly I'm not interested.


A perfect example of what I was saying about leaving those who aren't interested alone. They don't care so lets not use resources on them (no offence leesh).

lets concentrate on who those who do want help. The woman who is at the hospital up the road, alone in her room struggling to get her day-old baby latched on.

The woman who is in her loungeroom with a screaming baby who won't feed.

The mother who wants to go back to work but feels to embarassed to express at work.

The pregnant mother who wants to breastfeed but doesn't have a clue about the process.

Directed efforts.

[Noah_and_Elijah]

(no offence leesh)

None taken, I agree. Direct the help to where it's needed most.

[spoon]

To be honest, I think it is the medical professionals that should be educated. Advertisments are not the most successful way of sending home an important message. PR is the way to go.

I have issues with the way the medical staff approached me when i was trying to breast feed my first born.

I brought my newborn baby boy to my breast with love and was over the moon when he fed for nearly an hour. just so easily latched on, but during my first ever breast feed this silly cow of a midwife said "gee, I hope you are not planning on breast feeding, he is going to starve." I tried to shrug it off but it stuck with me, even now 12 years later.

Now "breast is best" might be fine in theory but mine is not. it is not good enough. a medical professional told me so within my first hour of being a mummy.

BTW she was talking about the size of my breasts and the fact that they are small.

[Ashleigh<3]

The GP tells me he is in excellent health and apart from his lactose intollerance (which was picked up while I was breastfeeding mind you) he is a perfectly healthy little boy! :thumbsup:

Leesh- I truly believe that Noah is a healthy little boy.

I think what most repliers to this thread are trying to point out is the incompetent advertising of formula and the lack of information.

I'm a FF mother and I know that formula is packed with oils, sugar, whey, etc.
It does not contain anti-bodies, digestive enzymes etc. (Babies need those benefits).
It is a fact that babies who are fed formula have a HUGE risk of being hospitalized.
It's more common for FF babies to suffer from ear infections, (which my dd suffers from), diarrhea- (yep- that too!).

What is awful, is we are not informed of this come the time the cute little bare bottomed baby is crawling around on the TV sipping down it's formula.

It is advertised happily on tv without statistics of health risks.
In fact, formula is not even considered an equal substitute, I never ever knew any of that information until after I chose formula which evidently goes to show, you can never learn enough about breast milk and the truth behind formula.

1. breast milk from mothers breast
2. expressed breast milk in bottle
3. milk bank breast milk
4. formula

We need more milk banks me thinks.

[SorenLorensen]

i think also the way some people refer to FF babies puts up walls.......

when we are told things that put us down such as things in reference to our babies health some mothers feel the need to defend themselves and will put up a wall and not listen. and becuase of this they dont take anything on bored and never consider BF any of their children....

i agree with shed that some dont want to hear it so leave them be....and the ones that do want to listen dont want to be insulted or put down while they do and some as a result of this will turn into a mum that does not want to listen (very understandable i think)

support will go a long way not being put down. words can do ALOT and depending on how you use them will depend on how you get your message across.

[TyBean]

Not all formula feeding mothers are happy, proud and defiant about it. Not all of them gave up because they wanted to. Not all of them think that its just as good.

So lets help them. Lets concentrate on them.

The ones that can't be bothered or didn't want to don't need any help anyway so they should be left alone, which is what they want.


I 150% agree!!! :yes: If I had help I *may* have been able to breastfeed... but I had problem upon problem.... and middies that come in and tried to latch Tyler on and ended up walking out as they couldn't get him on the nipple either... he wanted the side of the boob.... :rolleyes: I may have overcome the pain and mutilation... which the middies also did not help!!!.... they were just as rough and damaging if not more than Tyler was.

Not once was I told or informed there were people out there who could help me... (ie LC...) I had no idea....

I was spiralling downhill fast.... I dreaded Tyler waking up... I cringed and literally hid in the toilet and locked the door when he woke up. I would finally be persuaded to come out and I would cry even before he was on the boob. I wanted nothing,... absolutey nothing to do with him... I resented him.... and if only someone had told me of the help I could have got!!!....

I still like a failure for not BF him... and I still cry about it... even though at the time it was the right decision...

I would have taken help with open arms!!! :yes:

But on the other hand I know many gorgeous mums who are FF and are completely happy with that... and good on them I say.... they don't need or want the help... so why waste their time.. as well as the funds and people tryng to help them...

Help those who want and need it I say!!! :thumbsup:

[mum2bubba]

If it IS illegal, then that makes me mad. What next, they just get rid of formula altogether? :rolleyes:

Formula is NOT poison, when are people going to learn.

[Ashleigh<3]

If it IS illegal, then that makes me mad. What next, they just get rid of formula altogether? :rolleyes:

Formula is NOT poison, when are people going to learn.

Of course it's not poison, but I suppose it's a bit like saccharin which is found in diet drinks.
The long term effect can be quite harmful.
It is more of a worry when we are talking about infants though.

Formula will never be illegal, to many people are reliant on it and they are still working on developing better alternatives, (in other words- the government makes more $$$$).

[reAllytee]

A perfect example of what I was saying about leaving those who aren't interested alone. They don't care so lets not use resources on them (no offence leesh).

lets concentrate on who those who do want help. The woman who is at the hospital up the road, alone in her room struggling to get her day-old baby latched on.

The woman who is in her loungeroom with a screaming baby who won't feed.

The mother who wants to go back to work but feels to embarassed to express at work.

The pregnant mother who wants to breastfeed but doesn't have a clue about the process.

Directed efforts.



Yes help during my days trying to b/f a reflux baby who is refusing to feed would be helpful.

Im sick of feeling like a failure even when i keep trying ! *sigh*

Anywhos !

[bel_aiden]

Im sick of feeling like a failure even when i keep trying ! *sigh*

Anywhos !


off subject.. but... your no where near a failure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! your doen an awsome job!!!!:thumbsup:

[icugal]

IMHO, I think the banning of formula ads is just ridiculous. I'm sorry, but I am just not THAT influenced by the media to neccesitate them being banned. I'm not going to give up breastfeeding just because I saw an ad for formula on TV.. give me some credit !!! I think the majority of women out there are smart enough to make their own decisions about how they feed their babies.

As it turns out, I am a FF mum and that's not because I saw advertising.. it's because I had a very poor milk supply and my son was starving. I expressed for as long as I could before I made the final switch to formula full-time. Yes breast is best, but sometimes it just doesn't work out the way people like. Simple as that

As for the original topic... ever noticed in the ad for the Toddler milk how the paediatrician introduces the concept of providing good nutrition for our children.. but then the spiel switches over to the mum who then continues on with "..and that's why I use <insert brand name>". By having the first woman doing the entire ad, it would have suggested that paediatricians support the use of toddler milk. Next time you see the ad, watch it closely... it's quite clever how they've managed to get the message across without having the paediatrician actually endorse the product.

[shed]

As for the original topic... ever noticed in the ad for the Toddler milk how the paediatrician introduces the concept of providing good nutrition for our children.. but then the spiel switches over to the mum who then continues on with "..and that's why I use <insert brand name>". By having the first woman doing the entire ad, it would have suggested that paediatricians support the use of toddler milk. Next time you see the ad, watch it closely... it's quite clever how they've managed to get the message across without having the paediatrician actually endorse the product.

ooh, I never really noticed that. I know that ad, I think its hilarious. She says something about "and more DHA than any other toddler milk" and I always think "do you even know wtf you are talking about?". It just makes me laugh.

[reAllytee]

off subject.. but... your no where near a failure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! your doen an awsome job!!!!:thumbsup:

Thanks hun :hugs:

Just wish it was easier than this !

[ShadyCharacter]

ooh, I never really noticed that. I know that ad, I think its hilarious. She says something about "and more DHA than any other toddler milk" and I always think "do you even know wtf you are talking about?". It just makes me laugh.
I laugh at that one with the Bear holding a baby bear saying "Well I breastfed for the first 12 months but then didn't want to put him straight onto a milk from another species, so I used xyz toddler formula". Uummm, what exactly do they think formula is based on? Bear milk protein?? :laughing:

[Shanaynay]

Uummm, what exactly do they think formula is based on? Bear milk protein?? :laughing:
:laughing::laughing::laughing:

[reAllytee]

I laugh at that one with the Bear holding a baby bear saying "Well I breastfed for the first 12 months but then didn't want to put him straight onto a milk from another species, so I used xyz toddler formula". Uummm, what exactly do they think formula is based on? Bear milk protein?? :laughing:

Every single time i hear this i want to hit my t.v !

Luckily we dont watch a lot of normal t.v otherwise we wouldnt have one !

[Mischief]

Closed at OP's request.