Make Breastfeeding Compulsory for 6 mths? WDYT?

[lyra stardust]

"You can't legislate to make people feed their babies normally …"

So am I "abnormal" for feeding my baby formula

[allycat06]

I agree that her statement was pretty ridiculous, she could have explained herself a lot better. However it was an interview with a fashion magazine let's remember, hardly highbrow reading. There was probably a lot more to that statement but perhaps the journalist chose to leave it out for shock factor? What I got from it was that she is saying something needs to be done about those women who choose not to breastfeed because they don't know any better.

[Phteven]

"You can't legislate to make people feed their babies normally …"

So am I "abnormal" for feeding my baby formula

Breastmilk is the normal food for babies. You are not abnormal but formula is.

[Ginger]

her heart is in the right place, even if her statement is 'over the top' and absurd. go easy on her.
i'm impressed that a role model is speaking out about something she believes in.
i wish more celebrities would be open about breastfeeding and how important it is.

[Miss.September]

Another example of trying to take away the power of choice. Most women do it because they believe it is the right thing to do. My mum tried desperately with me, and then again with my brother, but 30 years ago there wasn't much assistance for someone with problems. She cried and cried, in horrible pain and the only "support" she got was from nurses yelling at her, telling her that she was doing irreversable damage by stopping. Mum had the milk, but nothing she did would make it come out. Imagine the agony she would've been in if it had have been compulsory.

[Mother Goose]

I think Giselle is entitled to her belief. Highly misguided, sure; but it's still HER belief. I'd love (note my sarcasm) to see her get a politician to back it and put it through court and then police it... would bring about a whole heap of civil right issues!

As a FFing mother, I no longer find these wide sweeping statements offensive. Just ridiculous, misinformed (due to lack of information and perspective on wider issues), harmful, and damaging (to FFing mothers and also her own image and reputation).

As a healthcare professional, I find statements like these irritating. I find it irritating and frustrating that people fail to consider the wider picture. Has she considered the risks of making EVERY woman breastfeed her baby? The risks (as already mentioned by others) of PND? the risk of reactivating PTSD in certain women? How about the risk of causing serious illness or damage to the baby due to medications the Mother needs to take for various medical conditions? Arthritis medication, medication for depression, drug addiction, HIV, Hepatitis, schizophrenia, cancer etc. What about those mothers who genuinely can not produce milk (for what ever reason)? What about those who have infectious diseases that could be passed on via breast milk? By making such wide sweeping comments without fully researching EVERY aspect of it - how can one take the commenter seriously?

Just an aside - not an attack on formula so don't get me wrong - It still spins me out that people think donor breastmilk is so gross yet will happily give their babies (and themselves) milk from a cow, an animal living outdoors. Made for cow babies... cows who are ruminant - have 4 stomachs and can digest it, yet humans seem to have an increasing number of problems with it...

Kelly, I openly admit I have an issue with giving my baby (not that she is a baby now nor in need of breast milk) milk from a milk bank or donor; I am happy to give formula if I am unable to produce milk (as happened with DD). Let me explain WHY though. The milk bank is a new concept here in Australia. As yet, I do not trust the screening method of milk to ensure that the product being supplied to my baby is free from infectious diseases. This is MY personal skepticism. I do NOT intend to scare monger. However, I am yet to see sufficient data on the safety of the milk. And I certainly would NOT take it from an individual source (unless I knew THEM and their COMPLETE medical history better than my own).
Cow milk, although harsh on the immature stomach (which is why we don't give it before 12 months of age), does not pose the same disease risks as human milk.

If people do not feel comfortable giving cow milk formula or breast milk from a milk bank, or have a child with cow milk intolerance, or are unable to provide their own baby with breast milk - there is also soy formula available.

Just my humble opinion.

MG

[Liz]

What a dumb thing to say. Making it law isn't going to help more people breastfeed. More money/time/energy needs to go into the support options available, not into crucifying the mothers when they get into difficulty with breastfeeding.

[deletedit]

I reckon I was a wet nurse in a former life. I have very few issues breastfeeding.

I switched to formula with my first not because I had a low supply or anything, but because I was going back to work and I had lost far too much weight. If I continued breastfeeding I would have gone down to skin, bones and milk ducts and *then* the supply probably would have stopped. Apparently I need to be in my happy place (which I am nowadays) to be able to eat enough to maintain my weight as well as breastfeed.

[Shanti]

I disagree with making it compulsory but am a firm believer that formula should be prescription only. That way only women who genuinely can't breastfeed have access to it or women who simply choose not to should have to sign a conscious objection form stating that they have made an informed decision not too breastfeed. Just my opinion but I think having formula so readily available in the supermarket makes mother's a little too quick to give up sometimes without seeking help from other avenues first. Formula should be advertised as an adequate substitute for breastmilk not an alternative. Not intended to offend anyone. Just my opinion on the matter.

You've said that well Allycat, I agree with you

There is so much "can't" breastfeed out there, and yes it is true, there are some women who no matter what, just simply cannot BF their children and that is awfully sad for them and their babies. (for whatever medical reason/s) but its something like 1-2% of the population however the majority of us CAN BF with the correct information and SUPPORT given to us. It is a very small percentage of the population who can't BF physically.
I agree, noone should be forced to BF it needs' to be something the mother wants to do for her baby. You can't force a mother or baby to BF.

side note : I am not anti-formula, I believe it has it's place. But I am pro-BF.

[EmnM]

"The risks (as already mentioned by others) of PND? "

I think it is important to say that current evidence suggests breastfeeding mothers are less likely to have PND. Just as an aside.....often it is the whole experience of having a new baby and what comes with that that are likely to cause PND, not just 'breastfeeding'.
I do not agree with making breastfeeding compulsory, despite being pro-breastfeeding. I think women should know more about the choice they are making and options like 'donor milk' should be available to all breastfeeding mothers. It is much more easier I would think to discuss the risks of formula feeding (not to offend, just stating a fact) when you have a viable safe alternative for mothers.

Education and support are by far so important to give to mothers and if, a mother has made the choice after everything, to formula feed, that choice should be supported. I do believe women can still be pro-breastfeeding and encourage others to do the same, even if their journey has lead them to use formula.

Giselle, is obviously high on the exquisiteness that a breastfeeding relationship can bring to many women. The good thing that it has brought up is the lack of choices available for women and access to education and support and other recommendations such as donor milk. That part, can hopefully lead to good discussions and the possibility of change.

I would donate my milk in a heartbeat (but there is not a donor milk centre near where I live), if it could help another mother to make a preferred choice to give their baby breastmilk ......and give a baby what should naturally be their's.

[allycat06]

however the majority of us CAN BF with the correct information and SUPPORT given to us.

So very true. Support really is the key, even if it's just your partner saying "I'm so glad you are doing this for our child". It can make so much of a difference. I think if people still adopted the "it takes a village to raise a child" mentality then there would be a lot more sucessful breastfeeding in the western world.

[Shanti]

I also think that it's wonderful Gisele is pro-breastfeeding and really passionate about it as breastfeeding is something that affects everybody in our society not just mothers or babies/kids. For if it wasn't for breastfeeding, we would have alot higher death rates around the world in infants, more landfill, higher medical costs etc.... the list goes on which I won't go into here.

I don't feel it's an attack on FF mothers at all.

[kungfubecca]

I don't want to rant like I did on facebook about this, but as much as I am pro breast feeding, as others have already mentioned you can't do this.

It's nice to be passionate but there is a bigger picture to be looked at, promote, educate and assist is better.

some people have suggested that formula not be sold in supermarkets, this could be a real step in the right direction, I don't believe formula should be prescription only however if it was treated like an over the counter medication pharmacies could comit to having staff on hand with knowledge about lactation etc not to bully those who have already made a conscious and educated decision, but to support those who come in without all the information, or those who haven't been supported. Having someone who might be a calm voice of reason on a cold yucky sunday evening when you have been screamed at all day, you don't know what is wrong and you think that your not satisfying your bub and go to try formula. They don't have to be experts, but they can hold your hand and possibly offer an objective view, and help you make contact with the maternal and child health hotline, your local aba.

supermarkets do make it too easy, and sometimes we just need to get through one day to start the next one a fresh.

oh look i ranted

[EmnM]

supermarkets do make it too easy, and sometimes we just need to get through one day to start the next one a fresh.

I think you made some good points, support and education in the local chemist - good one.

[Cocolove]

Gee what a way to make you feel even worse if your body didn't actually make milk in the first place........

Well, my opinion is that she's a moron. What if you CAN'T breastfeed? Would Gisele in her wisdom have you sent to jail? Perhaps she should stick to modelling?

wth??? I am sooo pro bf, but even taking out the, 'what if you physically CAN'T bf' (which i agree with 100%) how about......every mothers choice? Geez, we're still free enough to make our own decisions, aren't we??

Agree with all of these statements.

If formula was prescription only there would be alot of sick babies as someone else has said some women will just use cows milk.

I couldnt manage past 6 weeks..so sue me.. my children are healthy happy & very much alive, my eldest never ever had a taste of BM but she has a way above average IQ for her age, DD2 has behavioural problem she was fed for 2 weeks, DS is abover average for his age and only fed for 6 weeks...Go figure.

[Bathsheba]

I agree that chemist only sales could be a good compromise... there are lots of products that can't be sold by a supermarket but you can buy without prescription at a chemist... just so that you get access to a bit of advice... let's hope though that the chemist hasn't been told what to tell the customers by the formula companies though

People hate the word "compulsory"... why doesn't this model know this?

[Honeybee]

I really do take exception to the comments that almost all women can breastfeed. It makes me feel like people think I am lying when I say that I couldn't, or that I could have if I had just tried hard enough. You can't ignore the women who really, really, really wanted to exclusively BF but simply could not make enough milk for their baby. I actually think that I might have bonded better with my son if I'd started supplementing with formula sooner, because for 12 weeks all I thought about was my inadequate milk supply. And I really did try everything that there was available, I just couldn't make enough milk. I would challenge anyone who suggests that my son is less intelligent because he has had some formula.

[Cocolove]

. I would challenge anyone who suggests that my son is less intelligent because he has had some formula.

Me too