Over the last day or two Breastfeeding has come back into the news again. I will make no apologies for offending anyone with this post. I am not here to offend, I just wanted to put some of my thoughts down .
So I haven’t read the Lancet Study that has been published this week, I have read the headlines and listened to the news.
So most of the headlines told this story – Breastfeeding could cut child deaths.
Breastfeeding Saves Lives – Study found
If I told you there was a special food that you could give your children which had amazing effects and was taylor made for them then I’m sure you’d want to try some too, yet of course when you go to the comments sections of these headlines it always brings out both sides of the story.
Wow – the words inadequate and dictatorship were used in this comment.
Ok so who are these “brestapo brigade” that you are commenting about? The person who published the article in the Lancet is a scientist who has carried out a study on the benefits of breastfeeding, I don’t think the scientist set out to try and make people feel bad or bully anyone.
As a breastfeeding supporter myself I have never ever judged anyone for the way they choose to feed their child. If you choose to use formula, thats ok by me. If your don’t want to try that’s ok too. I totally respect a women’s choice to feed their own child however they wish to. But it’s those mums who want to try, who struggle, who don’t know whats normal and whats not that I want to help. It’s those people who need the support form the start of their journey. It’s those mums who through no fault of their own don’t have the gentle help of their own mums guidance as we would have years ago because we’ve lost those skills to pass on. Its the mums that don’t have the support and wanted so much to breastfeed that end up believing this “brestapo brigade” really do exist. I don’t judge people when I see them using formula but often they judge themselves. Mothers are still free to make their own choices but with more support (and more money for support instead of less) perhaps we would have more mums breastfeeding and less mums being internally heart broken at struggling to feed.
I think this comment from Sam Smithi sums up a lot about feeding too
“the amount of advertising for formula milk, it’s in your face, so I tend to go with that.” This tells me two very important things, firstly if breastmilk was advertised than would more mums chose this? We know it never will be because no one has the money to pay for breastmilk adverts – theres no money in it (unless you count the 20million that the NHS may save!)! Secondly more importantly the advertisement of infant formula is banned! No where will you find an advert for formula for 0-6month olds, the formula companies do a very good job of making you think it is but actually all the adverts are for follow on milk, not infant formula. Maybe I should do an advertising campaign for breastfeeding past 6 months (sticking to the advertising code!) and see if this increases the uptake, but in all honestly the only thing that will increase breastfeeding rates its putting more funding into breastfeeding support and perhaps a generation from now mum will be able to help their own daughters and granddaughters once again.
It’s amazing how much money it could save! I am breastfeeding Boo, she is two. And I must say that it was kind of pushed for the first 6 months and then after that it was ‘when are you going to stop!’ even from HCPs which is just shocking in itself.
I really don’t see how a study about breastfeeding and it’s impact and it’s potential should make anyone who chose to bottle feed feel bad? I can understand why those ladies who were not given the right breastfeeding support and had to stop before they wanted would feel angry at the lack of support when they read things like this. It would be interesting to see what would happen if we could get the same amount of advertising for breastfeeding as they spend on formula follow on …
The whole issue is simply freedom of choice and everyone should have the ability to choose what suits their unique situation best. No one should be made to feel guilty for their choice. The problem is the guilt inducing headlines or advertising, praying on women at a vulnerable time. The shaming needs to stop!
Absolutely, I have always always advocated for freedom of choice and have complete respect for people who makes different choices from me in all areas of life. Like you say unfortunately the media and advertising companies etc never give a balanced view which seeks to educate people. Until you have all the facts about something your faced with choices over how can you possibly be expected to make a balanced choice right for your situation. Thanks so much for commenting.
I haven’t read the study yet either -but I am going to now that I have seen it here, so thank you for sharing. 🙂 Good post!
#justanotherlinky
Thanks for commenting
Totally agree. I struggled with both my boys and the support wasn’t really there. With my second he had a tongue tie and I really struggled and I struggled alone. Thanks for linking up to #justanotherlinky xx
It’s sad to hear people don’t get support, rates might be so much if the money was there to fund support for mums who make the choice to breastfeed.