This probably won't be a surprise to many, but other than the bit about fb I really don't agree with the article. I think when Mia refers to "breast feeding association" she's a little confused, she seems to be using it interchangeably about at least 2 organisations. And the ABA that she might be referring to at times is not anti-formula. It's pro-mums and pro-families, and yes, pro-breastfeeding. They support ff mums also - they offer all sorts of support but not specific information about formula brands or amounts as this is the job of health professionals and counsellors are not trained in it.

I have had a child fed formula in hospital without my consent or knowledge. Totally un-necessarily. I have also successfully bf a baby who was unable to attach for the first 3 weeks without a nipple shield, and I'm very grateful that i had midwives try to help me with bfing instead of giving him formula. I wonder if the mum Mia refers to in the article, or Mia, are actually aware that breastmilk is the best thing for jaundice, and that sadly many doctors are not even aware of that fact. I wonder if that would change Mia's view. I have come across a number of mums who are distraught that they are no longer able to bf because they've been given bad information and no support to keep bfing. Many of these mums are grateful that there is a "breast feeding association" who can help mums to continue feeding if they want to, or just to listen to them when they need to talk.

Being pro anything does not make you anti something else. The fact that a group of volunteers devoting their time to help other mums can cause such negative feelings really astounds me. The fact that midwives, or any other health professionals, might want to give a mum and bub the best chance of bfing, something mums have been doing since the beginning of time and which many actually desperately want to do, is a good thing. The real problem is that too many do not know enough about bfing to support mums. Doctors with 4 hours of bfing training, child health nurses attending seminars and workshops run by formula companies, that is what is taking away mums' choices.
So well put

From my own experience, I could easily have been a woman who could 'not' breastfeed based on inadequate support and lack of accurate information. Despite a great birth, my milk didn't come in until day 6. That in itself is enough to shake a new mothers confidence. On top of that, DD had a few (at that time) undiagnosed jaw and spine issues, and over two or three days after birth, stopped attaching. So that was another blow. I started hand expressing onto a spoon for her. Because I had great support from my midwives, doula and BB, I knew that DD's tummy was so tiny that this would be enough for her. Then, I hand expressed into a cup, then finally got my hands on a pump and cup fed her for about two weeks. Each feed I'd try to attach her to the breast with zero success. This was extremely demoralising. But, with all my support behind me, I kept going. For a few days we used a bottle, and then at about two weeks old she attached with a nipple shield. I fed DD with zero issues with the nipple shield until 5 months, when she attached without it out of the blue one day. All through my BF journey so far, support and correct information is what got me through. My ability to breastfeed was never once undermined by somebody 'well meaningly' suggesting I try her on some formula. If my confidence was shaken, the ABA was just a phone call away, or a friend, or my doula. When I moved out from DH at 3 weeks PP, I struggled alone. When we broke up again a few months ago, my milk all but dried up. I am so grateful for the support and information I was provided with. I'm so glad I was never once told to top up, switch over or supplement based on misinformation. At 8 months, breastfeeding is going strong. I absolutely cannot attribute this solely to my own efforts. It's been a team effort the whole way, and my team never let me down.