Make Breastfeeding Compulsory for 6 mths? WDYT?

[Kazmar]

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

That is why formula is available

[briggsy's girl]

if we're talking education, i guess we have to go back and actually "fix" education in schools. yes reading, writing and arithmetic are important, but so is real life education. why is it not part of core science classes to teach about human biology - reproduction is (briefly) covered - why is it not covered more deeply. not necessarily the act of sex (as a lot of parents don't want that taught and i understand their stance) BUT, the science behind it. in a one hour BF "class" we had it explaiend to us how the breats works, how the constitution of BM changes depending on child age, needs, even the weather. this could all be incorporated into biology lessons so that it's not a case of playing catch up when someone is pregnant or a new mum

[ElleJay]

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?

Sorry for the double post - but here in Perth, I actually don't know of any 24 hour chemists - and there's definitely no 24 hour supermarkets and the only thing we have that's close to 24 hours is a Deli that's bout 40 minute drive from home.

[boobaloo]

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.

i don't really think anyone thinks it's 'no different' to breastmilk, but it is a good option for mothers who choose not to breastfeed (for whatever damn reason).
noone here has disputed that 'breast is best' in its nutritional qualities etc, simply that not every mother chooses to go down that path. which is thier choice, they don't have to justify it to anyone.
just because somebody can bf does not automatically put them up on the 'parenting pedestool', i know quite a few trashy mothers who bf thier children whilst either stoned or wasted beyond belief. surely you're not going to tell me they're doing a better job at feeding their child than someone who formula feeds???

[allycat06]

Sorry for the double post - but here in Perth, I actually don't know of any 24 hour chemists - and there's definitely no 24 hour supermarkets and the only thing we have that's close to 24 hours is a Deli that's bout 40 minute drive from home.

Exactly. So you always make sure you have stocked up on formula right?

[ElleJay]

That is why formula is available

I know that Kass, that's why my DS is on formula
I'm just saying you just can't enforce it and make it compulsary to be BFing
As I said, it's probably because I'm still bitter that I never got to BF for longer than 8 weeks

[Jennifer13]

I don't think breastFEEDING should be compulsory for six months, but perhaps we should make breastMILK compulsory for six months.

Let me explain:

I totally get that some mothers can't or don't want to breastfeed their child. We do need to address some society attitudes and support offered to new mothers, but let's put that to one side.

Why can't breastmilk be made readily available to those mothers that aren't breastfeeding themselves? Why can't a mother go to the chemist (and their well-stocked fridge - in my world) and buy homogenised pastuerised human milk instead of cows milk for their babies? Why can't we place the same value on providing human milk to all babies, not just those whose mothers personally breastfeed?

I understand why that hasn't happened. But if we're going to throw around suggestions like giving mothers no choice about breastfeeding, why can't we suggest that instead we make a human milk product readily available and let them still have the option of choice.

Better outcome for babies and no deprivation of civil rights.

[Phteven]

just because somebody can bf does not automatically put them up on the 'parenting pedestool', i know quite a few trashy mothers who bf thier children whilst either stoned or wasted beyond belief. surely you're not going to tell me they're doing a better job at feeding their child than someone who formula feeds???

The problem in this scenario isn't the method of feeding but the intoxication of the parent. An intoxicated mother who breastfeeds doesn't have to mix her breastmilk but an intoxicated mother who uses ABM does have to mix it. That's a recipe for disaster right there - the harm done by incorrect measuring could be pretty awful.
It's also entirely possible that a stoner mum might produce milk that is more nutritionally sound than ABM.

As for 24 hour chemists - the human race has survived for thousands of years without 24 hour chemists and funnily enough many still do. AFAIK they still haven't been placed on the hierachy of needs.

[boobaloo]

The problem in this scenario isn't the method of feeding but the intoxication of the parent. An intoxicated mother who breastfeeds doesn't have to mix her breastmilk but an intoxicated mother who uses ABM does have to mix it. That's a recipe for disaster right there - the harm done by incorrect measuring could be pretty awful.
It's also entirely possible that a stoner mum might produce milk that is more nutritionally sound than ABM.

.

yes, i'm sure a mix of breastmilk and jim beam is a perfect concoction for an infant, much better than a bottle of formula.

[Phteven]

The amount of alcohol that you need to consume to pass it on in your milk in any significant amount is so large that you would probably pass out instead of feeding. Breastmilk is nutritionally appropriate food even in cases when mothers have ludicrously inappropriate diets.

[butterfly_warrior]

Boobaloo - I need to spread the love!

I can't see how breast milk containing all sorts of illegal or legal drugs could be a better nutritional option than formula. What about the effect of the drugs carried in breastmilk on a young infant?

BW

[Little Chicken]

I don't think breastFEEDING should be compulsory for six months, but perhaps we should make breastMILK compulsory for six months.

Let me explain:

I totally get that some mothers can't or don't want to breastfeed their child. We do need to address some society attitudes and support offered to new mothers, but let's put that to one side.

Why can't breastmilk be made readily available to those mothers that aren't breastfeeding themselves? Why can't a mother go to the chemist (and their well-stocked fridge - in my world) and buy homogenised pastuerised human milk instead of cows milk for their babies? Why can't we place the same value on providing human milk to all babies, not just those whose mothers personally breastfeed?

I understand why that hasn't happened. But if we're going to throw around suggestions like giving mothers no choice about breastfeeding, why can't we suggest that instead we make a human milk product readily available and let them still have the option of choice.

Better outcome for babies and no deprivation of civil rights.

Good idea, but completely unworkable and unfeasible. Where are you going to get all this milk from? Human milk dairy farms? I would say all the milk bank used now is predominately for the use of sick newborn, premature babies. And the hoops to go through before you can donate are huge. Basically if you can't donate blood you can't donate milk, and look how hard is it to get blood donors and that pool iof potential donors is huge.

Nor do I agree with having formula on prescription. It's already difficult to get a GP appointment, if my baby was starving hubngry I can't wait a week to see a GP, and quite frankly the fact that formula was available in the supermarket had absolutely no bearing on my decision to change to formula feeding after 5 months, after all milk from the breast that is always there is a bit more convinient. Yes formula is a substitute for breast milk and that is it a substitute. Shall we put all vitamin supplements on prescription as well? Too much of those can be dangerous, maybe you should only be able to buy them from a qualified pharmacist as well, the same for herbal supplements.

As long as a baby is fed appropriately, and looked after well, is it anyone's business if that baby gets it's nourishment from a bottle or the breast?

[boobaloo]

Boobaloo - I need to spread the love!

I can't see how breast milk containing all sorts of illegal or legal drugs could be a better nutritional option than formula. What about the effect of the drugs carried in breastmilk on a young infant?

BW

exactly. but you know, these women are FAR better mothers than those that give thier child nutritionally balanced formula *severe sarcasm*

[Phteven]

Boobaloo - I need to spread the love!

I can't see how breast milk containing all sorts of illegal or legal drugs could be a better nutritional option than formula. What about the effect of the drugs carried in breastmilk on a young infant?

BW

Is the cow's milk in formula drug free? Antibiotics for mastitis? Worming medicine? De-lousing and tick treatments? Fertilizers and chemicals in the feed? Chemical sprays to clean and de-infest the dairy?

I'd rather take my chances with trace amounts of alcomohol.

exactly. but you know, these women are FAR better mothers than those that give thier child nutritionally balanced formula *severe sarcasm*

Who said anything about good or bad mothers? I have no doubt that many terrific mothers use formula but I'm talking about formula and breast milk not mothers. There is nothing to be gained by pretending that formula is the nutritional equal of breast milk.

[Little Chicken]

Is the cow's milk in formula drug free? Antibiotics for mastitis? Worming medicine? De-lousing and tick treatments? Fertilizers and chemicals in the feed? Chemical sprays to clean and de-infest the dairy?

I'd rather take my chances with trace amounts of alcomohol.

And caffeine, and preservatives and artificial colourings from dietary sources, and pesticides and insectides from fruit and veggies, hormones and drugs from the meat you eat etc etc

[boobaloo]

what about speed? ecstacy? marijuana? i have seen numerous mothers in *small town* breastfeeding thier child, whilst under the influence of these drugs, plus huge amounts of grog.
how can that be better than formula?

[Phteven]

If those mothers were mixing formula how accurate do you think their measurements would be? How often would a baby need to be given formula that was too weak or too strong before it had an impact on their health?

[boobaloo]

they could either pre make bottles, or have someone in a responsible state of mind do it for them.
how's breastfeeding your child, whilst smashed, with an increased risk of drpping the baby, falling over, passing out, more socially responsible than a bottle of bloody formula???