Breastmilk vs Formula

[MummaMilk]

Not good enough

After more than two decades, it is clear that a half-hearted advocacy of breastfeeding benefits multinational formula manufacturers, not mothers and babies, and that the baby-food industry has no intention of complying with UN recommendations on infant-feeding or with the principles of the International Code for Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes – unless they are forced to do so by law or consumer pressure or, more effectively, both.
Women do not fail to breastfeed. Health professionals, health agencies and governments fail to educate and support women who want to breastfeed.
Without support, many women will give up when they encounter even small difficulties. And yet, according to Mary Renfrew, ‘Giving up breastfeeding is not something that women do lightly. They don’t just stop breastfeeding and walk away from it. Many of them fight very hard to continue it and they fight with no support. These women are fighting society – a society that is not just bottle-friendly, but is deeply breastfeeding-unfriendly.’
To reverse this trend, governments all over the world must begin to take seriously the responsibility of ensuring the good health of future generations. To do this requires deep and profound social change. We must stop harassing mothers with simplistic ‘breast is best’ messages and put time, energy and money into re-educating health professionals and society at large.
We must also stop making compromises. Government health policies such as, say, in the UK and US, which aim for 75 per cent of women to be breastfeeding on hospital discharge, are little more than paying lip service to the importance of breastfeeding.
Most of these women will stop breastfeeding within a few weeks, and such policies benefit no one except the formula manufacturers, who will start making money the moment breastfeeding stops.

To get all mothers breastfeeding, we must be prepared to:


Ban all advertising of formula including follow-on milks
Ban all free samples of formula, even those given for educational or study purposes
Require truthful and prominent health warnings on all tins and cartons of infant formula
Put substantial funding into promoting breastfeeding in every community, especially among the socially disadvantaged, with a view to achieving 100-per-cent exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life
Fund advertising and education campaigns that target fathers, mother sin-law, schoolchildren, doctors, midwives and the general public
Give women who wish to breastfeed in public the necessary encouragement and approval
Make provisions for all women who are in employment to take at least six months paid leave after birth, without fear of losing their jobs.


Such strategies have already proven their worth elsewhere. In 1970, breastfeeding rates in Scandinavia were as low as those in Britain. Then, one by one, the Scandinavian countries banned all advertising of artificial formula milk, offered a year’s maternity leave with 80 per cent of pay and, on the mother’s return to work, an hour’s breastfeeding break every day. Today, 98 per cent of Scandinavian women initiate breastfeeding, and 94 per cent are still breastfeeding at one month, 81 per cent at two months, 69 per cent at four months and 42 per cent at six months. These rates, albeit still not optimal, are nevertheless the highest in the world, and the result of a concerted, multifaceted approach to promoting breastfeeding.

Given all that we know of the benefits of breastfeeding and the dangers of formula milk, it is simply not acceptable that we have allowed breastfeeding rates in the UK and elsewhere in the world to decline so disastrously.

The goal is clear – 100 per cent of mothers should be exclusively breastfeeding for at least the first six months of their babies’ lives.


More at the link http://www.theecologist.org/trial_investigations/268337/breastmilk_vs_formula_food.html

[MumtoD]

6 months paid leave? Hell will freeze over first.

Seems like a pointless article to me.

[Looshkin]

This part is absolutely the way I feel.


Women do not fail to breastfeed. Health professionals, health agencies and governments fail to educate and support women who want to breastfeed.


In 1970, breastfeeding rates in Scandinavia were as low as those in Britain. Then, one by one, the Scandinavian countries banned all advertising of artificial formula milk, offered a year’s maternity leave with 80 per cent of pay and, on the mother’s return to work, an hour’s breastfeeding break every day. Today, 98 per cent of Scandinavian women initiate breastfeeding, and 94 per cent are still breastfeeding at one month, 81 per cent at two months, 69 per cent at four months and 42 per cent at six months. These rates, albeit still not optimal, are nevertheless the highest in the world, and the result of a concerted, multifaceted approach to promoting breastfeeding.

And that bit - :yelclap:

[HelenHasTwins]

Really are we going to do this debate AGAIN:confused:

[Whispers]

Really are we going to do this debate AGAIN:confused:
:iagree:

[Looshkin]

6 months paid leave? Hell will freeze over first.

Seems like a pointless article to me.

If that's what we said about many things we wouldn't have any of the benefits we have.

I am sure many people said "pay single parents a wage for doing nothing.. no way!"

And now we do have some sort of financial security for mothers that have lost their partners etc.

What's that old saying, "if you always do what you've always done, you'll only get what you've already got"

[Mummy2R&K]

Here we go again........

[Looshkin]

Really are we going to do this debate AGAIN:confused:

Did you read the article? :confused:

This is not a debate, Mamamilk has shared some good information.

It is not bashing bottle feeding, it is an incredibly relevant and positive peice of information in regards to our governments strategy to support and educate women and our society in general.

How about you try not to get so defensive - this is not a personal attack.

eta: sorry Helenstwins, I do not mean to be rude and that was really blunt of me.

It saddens me that we can not have a positive discussion about something that is actually really positive for *many* women in our society, that may mean a hell of a lot less grief and guilt and pain for future mums... without it ever getting to the constructive discussion part because everyone chucks such a stink about it even being up for discussion... :no:

[MummaMilk]

Really are we going to do this debate AGAIN:confused:
You don't have to read this thread. No one is making you.

[MummaMilk]

Did you read the article? :confused:

This is not a debate, Mamamilk has shared some good information.

It is not bashing bottle feeding, it is an incredibly relevant and positive peice of information in regards to our governments strategy to support and educate women and our society in general.

How about you try not to get so defensive - this is not a personal attack.
And that ^

[Theophania]

'the dangers of formula milk'.... come on!!!!!! I was in agreement with a lot of what this article said but there are not any dangers of using formula... it is just not as beneficial as breast milk and again we all know this!

[sam's mum]

6 months paid leave? Hell will freeze over first.

Seems like a pointless article to me.

from January 2011 there will 18 weeks paid maternity leave won't there? It isn't 6 months, but it is a heck of a lot closer than hell freezing over.

[elleandsam]

I think this is all well and good.... however....

The banning of all free samples? I think free samples should be available. For those of us who choose to breastfeed it is much easier to try your child on a day or two's worth of samples then spending up to $39 (a tin of Karicare Goat's formula DOES cost that much) to have a horrible reaction after one feed and then for the whole tin to be a waste.

As long as this is a free country parents will have the ability to make choices for their family. Why does everyone have to be so hung up on how other people raise their children?

I don't give my opinion on my thoughts on breastfeeding, I wish other people would show me the same courtesy.

[Whispers]

Ban all advertising of formula including follow-on milks



DISAGREE




Ban all free samples of formula, even those given for educational or study purposes



DISAGREE


Require truthful and prominent health warnings on all tins and cartons of infant formula

AGREE


Put substantial funding into promoting breastfeeding in every community, especially among the socially disadvantaged, with a view to achieving 100-per-cent exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life
AGREE


Fund advertising and education campaigns that target fathers, mother sin-law, schoolchildren, doctors, midwives and the general public

AGREE


Give women who wish to breastfeed in public the necessary encouragement and approval

AGREE


Make provisions for all women who are in employment to take at least six months paid leave after birth, without fear of losing their jobs.

AGREE


I think support for all mothers not just breastfeeding mother :yes:

[Roopee]

****pulls chair close to computer and waits****


Its a good article with some good info in it- if it helps one mum breastfeed for longer/seek help etc etc then it's done a good job.

[sam's mum]

'the dangers of formula milk'.... come on!!!!!! I was in agreement with a lot of what this article said but there are not any dangers of using formula... it is just not as beneficial as breast milk and again we all know this!

unfortunately there are some dangers in using formula.

In Australia we are fortunate that it hasn't really hit us here. But in China many babies died because of tainted formula. There was some concern that the tainted formula may have been shipped to Australia and NZ.

In many countries where they do not have reliable access to clean water formula does a lot of damage.

[Looshkin]

unfortunately there are some dangers in using formula.

In Australia we are fortunate that it hasn't really hit us here. But in China many babies died because of tainted formula. There was some concern that the tainted formula may have been shipped to Australia and NZ.

In many countries where they do not have reliable access to clean water formula does a lot of damage.


Am I missing something here, because I thought there was evidence that formula can increase risks of certain health problems and hence why the government is actually putting money into it.

The government wouldn't really finance anything that wouldn't make in a sense, a financial return.

I was reading an article that explained that it wasn't breastfeeding that decreased the risks, it was formula feeding that increased them.

I don't think the two are the same thing.
And whilst I understand the real risks of formula feeding are painful for mums who are feeling grief and pain over feeding formula.. it is my belief that we shouldn't just pull the proverbial wool over our eyes, or stick our heads in the sand.. simply because the plausible reality makes us uncomfortable.

I thought part of the idea is to increase practice like donor milk and such as being as acceptable socially as using formula currently is, that although it is only 4th best on the list of the WHO's list of preference, it is still seen incorrectly perceived as a far far better option than the "disgusting" and taboo use of donor milk.. just like breastfeeding would have been not long ago.. and still is in some places.

[~Temet Nosce~]

I agree with everything except the banning of formula in any way shape or form.

Besides, if the government won't ban smoking, I don't know what makes people think they will ban formula.

[sam's mum]

Am I missing something here, because I thought there was evidence that formula can increase risks of certain health problems and hence why the government is actually putting money into it.

The government wouldn't really finance anything that wouldn't make in a sense, a financial return.

I was reading an article that explained that it wasn't breastfeeding that decreased the risks, it was formula feeding that increased them.

I don't think the two are the same thing.
And whilst I understand the real risks of formula feeding are painful for mums who are feeling grief and pain over feeding formula.. it is my belief that we shouldn't just pull the proverbial wool over our eyes, or stick our heads in the sand.. simply because the plausible reality makes us uncomfortable.

I thought part of the idea is to increase practice like donor milk and such as being as acceptable socially as using formula currently is, that although it is only 4th best on the list of the WHO's list of preference, it is still seen incorrectly perceived as a far far better option than the "disgusting" and taboo use of donor milk.. just like breastfeeding would have been not long ago.. and still is in some places.

a lot of people take issue with those studies and don't believe them.

There can be no disputing the direct link in the above instances.

[Fuchsia!]

I agree with everything except the banning of formula in any way shape or form.

Besides, if the government won't ban smoking, I don't know what makes people think they will ban formula.

Eventually smoking will be banned.

Imagine the uproar if they just turned around tomorrow and said Smoking will be banned?

They know that it wouldnt work, but slowly phasing it out, making it harder to smoke, they a slowly desentizing you.

The same could happen with formula, if the govenment sees that reducing the use of formula will save them money and relieve the health system, then they will.

[84zsazsa]

Fantastic read & SO VERY true!!! :yelclap: :yelclap:

I like every part of it & wait for the day when it all comes together.

As for the other things mentioned, dangers etc...people wont eat something they dont like be it food or information. If it dont 'fit' in with their choices they will choose to ignore facts that have been out there for a long time and so the problem continues....

[BabelFish]

ANOTHER one of these threads? Jeepers, some people sure do have an agenda to push, don't they?

I wonder if there is an actual limit in the rules as to how many threads can be started on the same topic? It's just absurd and ridiculous, insulting, offensive - sooo many other things I could say.

[HelenHasTwins]

Did you read the article? :confused:

This is not a debate, Mamamilk has shared some good information.

It is not bashing bottle feeding, it is an incredibly relevant and positive peice of information in regards to our governments strategy to support and educate women and our society in general.

How about you try not to get so defensive - this is not a personal attack.

eta: sorry Helenstwins, I do not mean to be rude and that was really blunt of me.

It saddens me that we can not have a positive discussion about something that is actually really positive for *many* women in our society, that may mean a hell of a lot less grief and guilt and pain for future mums... without it ever getting to the constructive discussion part because everyone chucks such a stink about it even being up for discussion... :no:


It's all cool, I have thick skin, you need to when you have been through what I have...I did read the article and I do get where they are coming from... and I didn't take it as a personal attack at all.... I guess I just get sick of the debating, and I knew this thread would start one...

I don't care either way, which way anyone feeds their baby, it is a personal choice and some women don't have a choice, but I am not going to go into that, because as I said, up to each mum what they want to do or can or can't do, not me.....

[MummaMilk]

ANOTHER one of these threads? Jeepers, some people sure do have an agenda to push, don't they?

I wonder if there is an actual limit in the rules as to how many threads can be started on the same topic? It's just absurd and ridiculous, insulting, offensive - sooo many other things I could say.
If you find this topic offensive then don't read these threads :confused:

If you actually want to read the article it is about the lack of support women breastfeeding it is about the 'normalization' of formula over history and how this effected breastfeeding rates.

[Boobycino]

I liked the article, though the thread title was a touch provactive from mummas milk... but thats all I'm gonna say on the endlessly tiring debate of "breastmilk vs formula"

I do like the idea of the article, of where it seems to be coming from. Because telling people "breast is best" isn't all that helpful without real and meaningful support to back it up.

Breast feeding is exhausting, overwhelming, sometimes isolating, very physical aspect of being a mother and going "la-de-da breast milk is the best thing for your baby and everyone should breast feed" helps nobody.

Giving woman the real and physical support (as in, time off, breaks, as well as education, information, assistance etc) needed to breast feed is so important. Particularly with the break down of the family, where a lot of us aren't living with mums, grandmas, aunties, older sisters etc to give us very real advice about breast feeding. Breast feeding is sooooooo not as 'natural' and instant as is cracked up to be, so I can completely understand how mothers may be disheartened and unable to continue.

I'm totally pro-choice with feeding, 100% whatever you choose, but I do think there a plenty of mummas out there who would choose to breast feed if they had the support to do so. And its equally their right to have the oportunity to breast feed as its anyone elses right to have the oportunity to formula feed.

[sam's mum]

ANOTHER one of these threads? Jeepers, some people sure do have an agenda to push, don't they?

I wonder if there is an actual limit in the rules as to how many threads can be started on the same topic? It's just absurd and ridiculous, insulting, offensive - sooo many other things I could say.

there is a limit on the number of threads that people start that are duplicates of each other. eg you can't post the same thing in different sections of the forum.

there isn't a limit on the number of threads that people can start on the same topic though. some people tend to only participate in one part of the forum and therefore only post on the one topic.

Unfortunately, given that these threads usually get closed, many people feel a sense of frustration that they haven't had the opportunity to have a full and complete conversation with like minded people on the topic. Thus the topic gets raised again and again.

As moderators we generally only give a thread a couple of opportunities to stay on track before we close it. We understand that this can contribute to this sense of frustration, but we are volunteers and we are not going to keep cleaning the same thread over and over.

[BabelFish]

I totally understand sam's mum - and thanks for answering.

The reason I asked is because at the political forum I moderate, people can be warned or infracted for continuing to start threads on topics that have been closed.

For example, at one point before the US election we had 32 threads on the validity of Barack Obama's birth certificate. It had really been done to death. So any threads on the topic after that we merged or deleted.

It also taught the trolls a lesson. That was also where the rule about posting text or links without commentary came up. The whole idea of forums is to share your ideas and opinions, not just post a bunch of other people's words and leave it at that.

[Mummy2R&K]

I liked the article, though the thread title was a touch provactive from mummas milk... but thats all I'm gonna say on the endlessly tiring debate of "breastmilk vs formula"

I do like the idea of the article, of where it seems to be coming from. Because telling people "breast is best" isn't all that helpful without real and meaningful support to back it up.

Breast feeding is exhausting, overwhelming, sometimes isolating, very physical aspect of being a mother and going "la-de-da breast milk is the best thing for your baby and everyone should breast feed" helps nobody.

Giving woman the real and physical support (as in, time off, breaks, as well as education, information, assistance etc) needed to breast feed is so important. Particularly with the break down of the family, where a lot of us aren't living with mums, grandmas, aunties, older sisters etc to give us very real advice about breast feeding. Breast feeding is sooooooo not as 'natural' and instant as is cracked up to be, so I can completely understand how mothers may be disheartened and unable to continue.

I'm totally pro-choice with feeding, 100% whatever you choose, but I do think there a plenty of mummas out there who would choose to breast feed if they had the support to do so. And its equally their right to have the oportunity to breast feed as its anyone elses right to have the oportunity to formula feed.


:iagree::iagree::iagree:

[Jakois]

The article outlines ways in which the breastfeeding rate could be improved.
IMO I think the article has alot of valid points.

i dont understand why the minute any articles on BF are posted, numerous posts follow with the good ol' hear we go again song.

If you dont want to read the info then dont. Simple.

[LilMissnBoo]

I liked the article, though the thread title was a touch provactive from mummas milk... but thats all I'm gonna say on the endlessly tiring debate of "breastmilk vs formula"

I do like the idea of the article, of where it seems to be coming from. Because telling people "breast is best" isn't all that helpful without real and meaningful support to back it up.

Breast feeding is exhausting, overwhelming, sometimes isolating, very physical aspect of being a mother and going "la-de-da breast milk is the best thing for your baby and everyone should breast feed" helps nobody.

Giving woman the real and physical support (as in, time off, breaks, as well as education, information, assistance etc) needed to breast feed is so important. Particularly with the break down of the family, where a lot of us aren't living with mums, grandmas, aunties, older sisters etc to give us very real advice about breast feeding. Breast feeding is sooooooo not as 'natural' and instant as is cracked up to be, so I can completely understand how mothers may be disheartened and unable to continue.

I'm totally pro-choice with feeding, 100% whatever you choose, but I do think there a plenty of mummas out there who would choose to breast feed if they had the support to do so. And its equally their right to have the oportunity to breast feed as its anyone elses right to have the oportunity to formula feed.

:iagree:That is a great post, Chel. Sums up my thoughts perfectly!

[elleandsam]

The article outlines ways in which the breastfeeding rate could be improved.
IMO I think the article has alot of valid points.

i dont understand why the minute any articles on BF are posted, numerous posts follow with the good ol' hear we go again song.

If you dont want to read the info then dont. Simple.

The title says breast feeding vs formula, basically asking everyone to pick a side.

As the suggestions would hinder my ability to feed my child (taking away samples and advertising of formula) I have every right to weigh in on the article. Just because my review of the article isn't glowing it doesn't mean I have any less of a right to voice it.

[Boobycino]

I dont want to get my head bitten off for saying this... not everything has to turn into a debate.

If you feel someone has posted a topic to spark an arguement, why rise to the occasion and give them the satisfaction?

Otherwise, sometimes its nice to give people the benefit of the doubt, I didn't personally find the information offensive, I think its good food for thought, maybe it could have been posted in the "breast feeding" section to avoid being challenged.

I just find it frustrating when people who's opinions I've come to value and really count on in my day to day life, when there is this drive to debate something completely trivial and a totally exhausted topic - even when the debate seems to be whether or not it should be debated!

It just makes bubhub less plesant.

I feel sorry for the moderators.

[BabelFish]

I dont want to get my head bitten off for saying this... not everything has to turn into a debate.

If you feel someone has posted a topic to spark an arguement, why rise to the occasion and give them the satisfaction?
You're right ... don't feed the trolls. Point taken.

[MummaMilk]

To clear a few things up, I posted this title because that's basically what the article is called.

I posted this in the general chat section because I thought that this article was valid for everyone, not just breastfeeders or formula feeders. I also posted it in this section because there seems to be a lot of people on bh who feel cheated by the system when it comes to how they did/do/tried to feed there children.

I didn't add my personal comments at the time of posting the OP because I didn't have anything to add, I could of commented on a few of the points but by the time I did others had already said exactly the same thing.

If you have an issue with something I post then hit the warning button, don't derail the thread to get it closed when others clearly are trying to participate in the conversation.

[Jakois]

The title says breast feeding vs formula, basically asking everyone to pick a side.

As the suggestions would hinder my ability to feed my child (taking away samples and advertising of formula) I have every right to weigh in on the article. Just because my review of the article isn't glowing it doesn't mean I have any less of a right to voice it.

Nobody has said you dont have the right to voice your opinion. What I said was if you dont want to read the article dont.

[Nomsie]

I totally understand sam's mum - and thanks for answering.

The reason I asked is because at the political forum I moderate, people can be warned or infracted for continuing to start threads on topics that have been closed.

For example, at one point before the US election we had 32 threads on the validity of Barack Obama's birth certificate. It had really been done to death. So any threads on the topic after that we merged or deleted.

It also taught the trolls a lesson. That was also where the rule about posting text or links without commentary came up. The whole idea of forums is to share your ideas and opinions, not just post a bunch of other people's words and leave it at that.

As the breastfeeding/ formula feeding "debate" (if indeed that is what it has to be) relates to every day parenting, we could not simply stop any thread that raised this issue if we felt there had been an influx lately. (yep, even if it has been done to death 1,000,000 tmes in the past week!)

It is highly relevant to parenting within at least the first year, and for most beyond that- and people should be aware of the infromation and currents thoughts and theories on these issues if they so choose.

Also, the rules on one forum are not necessarily the rules of another. :D (believe me, after reading hundreds of emails about this particular topic over the past week, I am about bf/ff out, I cannot take it anymore, so I would love to say no more til 2010! If only...;))


:flowerz:

If we could now direct our posts back to the original topic, it would be much appreciated. Thank you :shakehands:

[~Temet Nosce~]

Man I bet the mods will be glad for that bubhub maintenance :p sorry thats off topic as well

[MummaMilk]

:laughing: probably KK!

from January 2011 there will 18 weeks paid maternity leave won't there? It isn't 6 months, but it is a heck of a lot closer than hell freezing over.
Is that for all workers?

[Jakois]

Man I bet the mods will be glad for that bubhub maintenance :p sorry thats off topic as well

I bet they will be having a big party tonight. That is probably what the so called maintenance is:detective:. The Mods are having a big party and they dont want us to know:hissy:.

[BabelFish]

It can be a very thankless task, moderating, and they ARE all volunteers and it's a big job, moderating a forum the size of this one. It's amazing what goes on behind the scenes that people are totally unaware of - but the fact that they are totally unaware is a sign of a really well moderated forum, as this one definitely is.

So I just wanted to say a big thanks to the mods anyway and sorry for going off-topic.

[Nomsie]

Man I bet the mods will be glad for that bubhub maintenance :p sorry thats off topic as well


I bet they will be having a big party tonight. That is probably what the so called maintenance is:detective:. The Mods are having a big party and they dont want us to know:hissy:.

Oh look, the party doesn't start until the maintenance begins, but that is neither here nor there! ;) :laughing:

Keep your darn posts on topic before I have to do something really drastic! :raspberry:

[sam's mum]

Oh look, the party doesn't start until the maintenance begins, but that is neither here nor there! ;) :laughing:

Keep your darn posts on topic before I have to do something really drastic! :raspberry:

great, now there will be gate crashers...

[MummaMilk]

I'm sure they will wear pink sparkly knickers, so you won't notice them :p