Something to terrify the parents..
I have a bugbear at the moment. Something that winds me up an incredible amount. It makes me very glad that this is the current thing in my life that winds me up the most* as it means that the rest of my life is going incredibly well.
( So yeah, breastfeeding )
( So yeah, breastfeeding )
- re the iron thing, I'm trying to remember but given that exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for 6 months I'm pretty 100% you are wrong there. After 6 months, sure! That's where weaning comes in.
- Formula's not _as_ good as breast milk. It doesn't provide the immunological benefits that breast milk does, it's not chemically identical to breast milk which is why manufacturers aren't allowed to say that now.
- re the prem babies thing, they use different formula on prem babies to normal term babies. Prem babies need MORE nutrition than normal ones b/c they're early, haven't finished growing and needing extra support. It's not _really_ comparable.
- Fathers can ofc help with breast feeding, mother expresses breast milk. It's actually something we got taught about so the father doesn't feel completely excluded (tho ofc there are other ways of father bonding with baby).
There's a lot of studies on the health benefits of breast feeding, and yes it's very important sometimes in developing countries b/c of issues people have already mentioned. Research also indicates atm that it's the top level way of feeding a baby for the first 6 months. That said ofc I'm totally up for women's rights and if the mother doesn't want to, the mother doesn't want to and that's that. The baby will be ok on formula so long as it's done properly.
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The iron thing - I thought it was 4 months, not 6 but I could be wrong
As good as? - The only confusion I have to that is if it's not as good then why is it considered a viable alternative? If it didn;t have everything the baby needs surely the hospitals wouldn't use it?
Prem babies - Our son was 8 weeks prem. When they ran out of breast milk because Izzy coudln't produce fast enough they gave him Cow and Gate formula. I watched them make it. That's the reason we used it, cos he was used to the taste.
Fathers - Yes, if the expressed milk is there. But when the baby needs feeding on the hour, for half an hour at a time, it is extremely difficult to find time to express as well.
Seems that we basically agree on the principles though, but with some clarification required on the details. At the end of the day as long as the baby and mother are both healthy that's the important thing. I feel it very wrong of people to say formula is bad, breast is good and have no other alternatives.
Hell, some groups are trying to ban the advertisement of formula as they feel it encourages it's use too much. These are the people that annoy me.
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There's certainly a perception in some areas (developing countries spring to mind but I'm pretty sure here) as a result of very clever advertising that formula milk is actually BETTER than breast milk. Hence the whole banning and stuff I think is trying to fight back against this huge perception that's built up. Kinda the whole 'give them an inch and they take a mile'. I'm certain that I heard that it's only recently that these companies have been banned from saying their stuff is as good as BM (cos it isn't).
As for 'why give it to babies if it's not as good' well I think you've answered your own question. Because otherwise you'd be starving said baby ;-)
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But all companies advertise their product as being the best, whatever that product is. Advertising rules state that they are not allowed to say it is as good as breast milk, much like they have to state that the Loreal model has actually had extensions.
I just wish these protestors would be equally as honest in their campaigns. But no one would back them if they said "You are all obviously too dumb to make decisions so we will make them for you."
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