Make Breastfeeding Compulsory for 6 mths? WDYT?

[boobaloo]

Im not against formula. It was created for a reason. But I am and always will be against people that dont try or who dont respect bf.
I dont agree with the 'choice' of ff. A mother that CANT bf for what ever reason is not choosing, kwim. So if you CANT is different to WONT, and sits there denying the beauty of bf. Those have denied it to me are those making themselves feel guilty. I accept people feeding their child formula, as long as its for a reason, not 'just coz'.

are you also against people who choose c/s over a natural birth? or people that use ivf instead of natural conception? dummy instead of thumb?

none of us have the right to 'be against' people for making decisions that we wouldn't choose for ourselves and our families. that's the beauty of freedom of choice.
it's comments like these that created the term 'breastfeeding nazis'.

[briggsy's girl]

But I am and always will be against people that dont try or who dont respect bf.

another not picking i promise!!

there are reasons some people don't attempt to breast feed, and it's not always because they don't want to. previous bad experiences, sexual abuse etc - they just KNOW it's not right for them. they are not, as said in a post on a previous page (can't remember who said it), ill-informed. they are making decisions for them and what will work for them

i personally know of people who have pushed themselves to BF because it is the "right" thing to do. they have successfully carried out the act of BF, and yes, their child has had the physical nourishment. but those same women have been traumatised by it. have been unable to bond - hell, they resent those babies. they have nourished but not nurtured their children. the long term impacts of that are yet to be seen, but i think the POTENTIAL is there for mental health problems for those children going into teenage years and adulthood - in the same way that there is the POTENTIAL for there to be health implications from ABM. at what point does six months of physical nourishment at the breast trump (potentially) years of a relationship that isn't "ideal" because of failure to bond with a child while forcing oneself to BF??? at what point does that six months of BM stop having more of positive long term "community" wellbeing impact than the mental health of mother/child/family?

personally, i don't see it as any of my business as to how others nourish their children. i don't see a breastfeeding mother as a superior being. i don't see a FF mother as inferior or ill informed. i see MOTHERS caring for their children. we are ALL just mothers doing what we can to help our children

i am the first to offer support to someone wanting to BF (and wasn't afraid to ask when needed myself) - but if that same someone says to me "it's not working for me" or even "i don't want to do this" i will support their desire to FF and support that choice all the way.

[Kazmar]

Im against people that makes such MASSIVE choices without even looking into it, yes.
Im not against c/s etc but again I just hope the mother is fully informed before making that choice.

Im a breastfeeding nazi, yes!

BG-
I have stated I understand in many circumstances its not up to the mother, its her body, mind or baby that wont comply.

Thanks for not hammering but discussing what you dont agree with me, its actually helps me learn things, not just get all mad and stop discussing

[briggsy's girl]

but how does it personally impact you? how do you KNOW that they are ill-informed? why does it even need justification?

no one is forcing anyone that is able to and WANTS to BF to FF - and there should be no force the other way.

[Kazmar]

but how does it personally impact you? how do you KNOW that they are ill-informed? why does it even need justification?

no one is forcing anyone that is able to and WANTS to BF to FF - and there should be no force the other way.

Im coming from a place where I went through so much with dd1 that I did soooooo much digging around to 'justify' to il's WHY im bf, that it turned me, a little angry that I wasn't ever told all this while pg.

Again I get some cant for what ever reason.

[Bathsheba]

Hmmm... I just think that if we could discuss the issue in terms of what the original post made reference to we would be on safer ground. The super model or who ever she is was talking about the government getting involved by making BF compulsory. So let's talk MACRO instead of MICRO. I know it's much more interesting to talk about ourselves than government policy LOL but that is what the thread is about... surely we all agree that when you are talking about the direction a population should go is different to the paths we are on individually?

Gee... i want to grow up to be a hermit artist who lives in some secluded cottage up some mountain and lives on weeds and seriously considers having the electricity disconnected but who the hell cares? I can still stand on my soap box and make a strong argument for living harmoniously in a high density city with superfast internet bandwidth and good quality chocolate from Belgium for all!

Please don't look at me so blankly LOL

Ok what i am saying is that yes we all have our own battles and focuses but lets look at this topic objectively... not so subjectively... maybe? Just for fun? No?

What the model said is clearly crazy... but is there a "why" that doesn't hinge the whole argument on a single perspective?

[Kazmar]

Hmmm... I just think that if we could discuss the issue in terms of what the original post made reference to we would be on safer ground. The super model or who ever she is was talking about the government getting involved by making BF compulsory. So let's talk MACRO instead of MICRO. I know it's much more interesting to talk about ourselves than government policy LOL but that is what the thread is about... surely we all agree that when you are talking about the direction a population should go is different to the paths we are on individually?

Gee... i want to grow up to be a hermit artist who lives in some secluded cottage up some mountain and lives on weeds and seriously considers having the electricity disconnected but who the hell cares? I can still stand on my soap box and make a strong argument for living harmoniously in a high density city with superfast internet bandwidth and good quality chocolate from Belgium for all!

Please don't look at me so blankly LOL

Ok what i am saying is that yes we all have our own battles but lets look at this topic objectively... not so subjectively... maybe? Just for fun? No?

What the model said is clearly crazy... but is there a "why" that doesn't hinge the whole argument on a single perspective?

Got it

I think she just trying to prove how desperate we are get back to basics with bf I dont think we need to bring in the big guns yet, just more help and education on it

[briggsy's girl]

Im coming from a place where I went through so much with dd1 that I did soooooo much digging around to 'justify' to il's WHY im bf, that it turned me, a little angry that I wasn't ever told all this while pg.

Again I get some cant for what ever reason.

i have to wonder what was going on with your hospital if you weren't given BF information before the birth - i was given ample information, able to attend a "class" beforehand - but really, it was the hands on support AFTER E was born that helped - theory didn't help. yes, you have had to justify your choices to your IL's (and i've been there - i've been told BF beyond six months is "sick", so trust me, i hear you on that!) but that is YOUR journey. others have a different journey, and they have to make their own choices. your IL's were ill-informed. that doesn't mean other FF parents are kwim?

i really hate threads like this that create a divide, that tar all people doing X with the same brush (FF, C/S whatever). we're all people, we all deserve to be respected for our choices, whatever they are

[butterfly_warrior]

When it comes to treating formula like a medication so it's only available in chemists... Well, we don't have 24 hour chemists around here.

But, just like I balance never running out of my own medications (and there are many) I have never run out of my son's formula. I will also add that the majority of times I buy formula I buy it from the chemist because it's cheaper! $23 in the chemist, $28 in coles. Doesn't take a genius to do the maths there!

I don't necessarily agree with it only being available on prescription though - simply because our doctors are so overworked at the moment and this step would certainly increase workload and make it necessary for them to see a lot of otherwise healthy mothers and babies when their time could be better used attending to those who are sick.

Over the counter sales in chemists... hmmm... I'm annoyed enough at having to now get panadeine over the counter and to justify why I need it every single time! And yes, I probably do go through more painkillers than I do formula! I can certainly see an argument for going that way - but perhaps only for the stage one formulas and not the over 6 months ones?

BW

[Bathsheba]

Yep, i agree BW... my thinking is a work in progress but i don't think formula needs to be by prescription only (although like a previous poster said that could mean a huge rebate through the Pharmaceuticals benefits scheme... ie the stuff won't cost so much!) becasue yes, doctors are overworked enough as it is. That is also a good suggestion for chemist sales for baby formulas though, especially stage 1. That's when parents could do with some advice and extra information. I still think infant formula should be government regulated like other medicines eg insulin... take away the need to market different formulas seem better and worse according to some emotion-based advertisement. There should be formula variations for children with allergies/intolerances etc... but essentially every formula should be the same and not marketed as slightly different for profit.... "oooh this one is in a gold tin so it's probaly better" etc. Think of the millions spent on advertising that really needs to be churned back into research... like it's done with any other medicine.

[~Raven~]

Once again, isn't that a mothers freedom of choice? If she's 'tired' of breastfeeding, shouldn't she be allowed to make the decision which only affects her and her baby's life?

*scratches head* interesting rationale. Could also apply it to just about everything else to do with parenting one endures My day is full of doing things that I've grown rather tired of doing

To address the OP, I don't think there should be a law but it should be encouraged and more support networks established.

[Kazmar]

Coming from a town with the lowest rate of bf in vic! and one of the highest rates of young mothers, we cannot argue that there needs to be more education.

I had mid wife support for bf but didn't get much info, maybe a leaflet? There's an optional class. MAYBE there should be compulsary classes on things like bf. So the parents cant make anything BUT an informed choice

Ahhhhhhhhhh, I have the answer

[briggsy's girl]

*scratches head* interesting rationale. Could also apply it to just about everything else to do with parenting one endures My day is full of doing things that I've grown rather tired of doing

i can "kinda" understand the "tired of breastfeeding" sentiment - i am working, DH is not. overnight though, it's still ME that has to deal with DD as she wants breast. water doesn't cut it. EBM doesn't cut it. she wants breast so i'm IT. we have a teething poppet atm so a good night is two wake ups - a bad night - well, i won't go there! i love that i have been able to BF, esp given all the other things my body wouldn't do properly! but i am having nights where i'm over it and would quite happily "hand her over" to DH for the night so i can have an unbroken sleep!

[briggsy's girl]

I had mid wife support for bf but didn't get much info, maybe a leaflet? There's an optional class. MAYBE there should be compulsary classes on things like bf. So the parents cant make anything BUT an informed choice

why should anything be compulsory though? as long as your child is not neglected, why should anyone else dictate what you do during pregnancy, birth or beyond? isn't that the whole argument people are making?

[allycat06]

Ok in regards to limiting the availability of formula, I really can't understand how that's fair. Can you think of anything worse than running out of formula for your baby and having to trek across the city to access it? What about if you run out in the middle of the night and it's only available from stores that are open office hours?

I don't really see how it's any different to now. Not everyone lives near a supermarket or chemist that is open 24 hours. I'm sure there are lots of formula feeding parents in remote areas who live hours from the closest shop. They just make sure they are stocked up to prevent that situation. The perscription could work like it does for the birth control pill or any other medication that is taken long term, you get several repeats which prevents having to get a new script constantly.

I definitley believe formula has it's place for women who have problems whether they are physical or emotional. What bothers me are those who choose it because they think it is no different to breastmilk. And for that we only have advertising to blame. Yes it's your choice, but perhaps had they received adequate information and support on the matter they may have chosen differently?

[Mummato2]

This is on par with the compulsory vaccination debate......near impossible to enforce and a complete disregard to basic human rights.....

[ElleJay]

When I heard this on the morning show - or the Today program - yesterday, I got so angry!
How does she have the right to say that?! If it's not medically possible to feed your child, then it can't be done! Then again, I'm probably very resentful that I couldn't BF my DS for longer than I did because of medical issues

[Kazmar]

why should anything be compulsory though? as long as your child is not neglected, why should anyone else dictate what you do during pregnancy, birth or beyond? isn't that the whole argument people are making?

That way Australia is basing its choices on fact and info, what ever they choose. We can parent in any way we choose but we should have access to education. And if people arn't going into with looking for this info then it should be a must. Not to tell you "you should bf" but to give the facts, not how bad formula is, just what your choice involves.
A gentle, full of info class/s