Make Breastfeeding Compulsory for 6 mths? WDYT?

I just wanted to expand on my previous post and add that my breastfeeding journey with Ds3 was FAR from peachy keen; I had 3 bouts of bad thrush, 2 bouts of extremely bad mastitis not to mention infected nipples from biting on top of being a homeless single mother to 3 kids under 3 in the middle of winter when we all get our sickest................it was beyond tough. And I had alot of very hard moments where if I had of had a can of formula I would have used it. But I couldnt afford it anyway. So it certainly didnt 'come easy' to me; I had to work bloody hard at it. But it was worth it for me and Im glad I perservered. That was probably due to being on my third go around of being a mother/trying breastfeeding; lots of information and experience and determination. And therein lies the key.

And as a little sidenote; I have a friend who was told for her first and second babies that she is one of the rare few mothers who DONT produce breastmilk. At all. She is due to have her third baby in 5 or so weeks and I was very surprised and just a little bit happy to hear that she has found some very informed and helpful care providers who've given her hope that she may infact be able to breastfeed this baby. I cant imagine how she must feel knowing that she'll get a crack at it after being very sad something physical stopped her from sharing that specialness with her kids. Just goes to show that all these 'reasons' women are being given for not being able to breastfeed may not be a finality. There could be no more solid reason than not producing any breastmilk yet here she is being helped to atleast try and rectify it to give her a chance to breastfeed. Makes you wonder about the health system and all this supposed 'breast is best, breastfeeding friendly' initiatives :rolleyes:

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I would never judge a mum for whatever she does with her baby and I dont think Gisele is either...do you think more people are up in arms with her comments cause she is beautiful in some peoples eyes, cause she is a celebrity and because BF came naturally to her? Would it be different if it was a average housewife saying this? I dont think we need to be name calling her she is trying to set an example and I think she has gone about the wrong way but at least it has people talking about feeding?

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I do think that whenever celebs weigh into an issue they are often dismissed simply because they are celebs and what would they know etc, but we forget that they are people as well and entitled to their opinion, it is just that they often use a very public platform to let everyone know what their opinions are kwim? As I said earlier, I don't have an issue with the essence of what she is saying, but being new to parenthood and breastfeeding, I think she underestimated the reaction she would get. She possibly didn't know that this is quite an emotive subject where the battle lines are frequently drawn. After all, she is a new mum, high on happy hormones after her birth and I gather successful BF relationship with her babe so she probably thinks, somewhat naively, that everyone should be made to experience something so wonderful. I think she is a good role model for natural birth and breastfeeding, so I can't see why she shouldn't use her celebrity to help change perspectives, especially in her native Brazil where surgical birth rates are high.

I just say go with whatever makes you happy.

And if your mental and physical health is suffering from BFing, for whatever reason, you really shouldn't be doing it the way you currently are.

If supplementing with formula or stopping BF completely makes everyone involved (spectators and the collective 'you' are not involved) happy again, I'm all for it.

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Hmmm. Some great, thought provoking responses!
what do i think? i think this country has a serious lack of resources and support for women to BF. Rather than guilting woman and making it comulsory, or formula by prescription only, how about better hospital support, compulsory visits from nurses of LC to womens home after birth, more widespread BF classes pre and post natal??

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I agree. We need more of all this stuff for sure..... BUT more women out there also need to seek the support they must know they need at the time to enable them to continue feeding their babies breastmilk...... if someone is old enough to have a baby, then they are old enough to be responsible enough to seek out the support and help also..... we have ABA and there are breastfeeding clinics avail in some suburbs, it's a matter of getting out there, talking to people, asking your local MCHN's about what services are avail to them in their area, contacting an LC to come to your home (some are very affordable too) etc....... had I not done this for myself I don't think I'd still be BF my girl today.
With formula, on the shelves, and advertised EVERYWHERE :shakehead: its just made it far too easy (aka tempting) for women to stop BF their babies and go to formula....... had it been on prescription (as example)..... perhaps those women would still be BF their baby today? :dunno:

As for the above paragraph i've written, YES I completely agree for some women to BF their babies is simply not possible due to medical or emotional reasons, I respect that. I'm talking about the 'majority' (or 'others') whom stop BF their babies before 6mths who could have otherwise continued as nothing was wrong. They just "got tired of it" for example.

JMO.

Schmickers: great post. I agree, I view infant formula as a body fluid replacement and a medicine more than just a food. That's why I compare it to insulin rather than a a tin of Milo. And that's why I maintain it should be sold in chemists rather then the supermarket. The ramifications of administering formula compared to say drinking Milo the wrong way is so much more serious (yes, i know you know that, just saying). You are not just "feeding" your baby whether you use formula or breastmilk... you are maintaining the child's entire state of health... you are maintaining their immunity (something a mere food does not do) you are administering and adjusting hormones (real or artificial) and stem cells and a myriad of non food chemicals.

I don't really "buy" the argument that formula needs to be sold in supermarkets for parents who might run out in the middle of the night. What does a diabetic do if he runs out of insulin in the middle of the night? Go to the local supermarket and buy some more? No, he goes to a chemist. And yes in my experience chemists are more likely to be 24 hour around here than supermarkets now days. So just like any other person with a dependency on a medication you stock up and stay prepared. Should Ventalin be available for asthmatics in supermarkets incase they run out in the middle of the night? Many parents need to administer ventalin to their children on a daily basis. I am reliant on medication so i stay stocked up. I have used formula and understand how inconvenient it can be... but I stayed stocked up.

I just think a change in perception needs to occur. Formula is not just a food... it is also a medication... and it needs to be treated as such. Maybe then mothers will be more likely to actually get the support they need to formula feed their babies! Has anyone thought that the broader public have a low care factor (both toward FF and BFers) because the whole process is simply viewed as 'feeding' children? The associations people have of "feeding" and "medicating" are quite different. Medicating is seen as much more "serious"... as it should be. Food and eating is seen as something which you can overlay a 'preference' "Hmmm what do i feel like eating today?" but taking your medicine is seen as something much more serious. Yes we feed our babies so that they are not hungry but that's not all there is to it (yes I know, stating the obvious to many in here) and this message needs to get out there.

Finally I see no reason why anyone should take anything personally here in this thread. I don't know about others, but when I "speak" in here i speak the words i want the policy makers to hear... the original topic of the thread was about making it compulsory ie legislating it... so i am responding in the same manner as i would if i had to stand up infront of the senate or during Question Time in parliament. I'm voicing my opinion to the decision makers... not other mums. Maybe that's why some members take it personally :dunno: they are reading the thread as if it's addressed to them personally... well that's not my intent at all. Consider it more along the lines of a draft letter to my local member.

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My 2 cents-
yes breast is best, we all know this, but atm there is only 2 choices.

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breast isn't best. It is natural and normal :)

As I've said in a previous post in this thread, I am not anti-formula, it has its place for sure. If formula didnt' exist for those women who really truely cannot BF their babies due to whatever reason, it has saved lives!
But I'm PRO-BF and we need to see more women BF'ing.... it is VITAL for the future of our population.

I don't know why people can't just feed their own kids and get a hobby to pass the remainder of their apparently ample spare time.

heart in the right place, brain not in gear before she opened her mouth
in an ideal world, there would be unlimited support for new mum's to BF. there would be unlimited access to milk bank for those who simply cant BF (physically, emotionally) so that those parents and bubbas have access to BM. it would be fantastic if milk banks weren't so limited, that using BM from another mother didn't carry so much stigma etc.
but the world we live in is far from ideal - and comments like the ones in the OP are anything but helpful. it gets people up in arms, sparks the BF/FF debate, leaves those who were unable to BF (for whatever reason) feeling judged.

i don't believe anyone has a right to legislate how someone feeds their child - provided the child is nourished (be it at the breast or using ABM) and cared for/not neglected, it's no one elses concern.

for those that have decided to FF (for whatever your reasons), please stop feeling judged by others comments. we all do what we believe to be in the best interests of our family unit, and THAT is what is most important. don't allow anyone to make you feel you have done anything inferior to someone else. you have done what is best for your family and thats all that matters. your decisions may have been different if more support was available to you, they may not - but the situation isn't going to change in hindsight, so don't let anyone make you feel bad about what you have done! it can't be changed now, and focussing on your past and what you did then takes you away from the present and the life you have with your family



oh, just a little aside - the prescription only ABM comments - i can see some merit to this - ONLY for the factor that, if formula was under the PBS scheme, the rampant profiteering that is happening with the formula companies would stop kwim?

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I don't know why people can't just feed their own kids and get a hobby to pass the remainder of their apparently ample spare time.

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Because it is important for our future that we are all well imformed in our choices.

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I'm talking about the 'majority' (or 'others') whom stop BF their babies before 6mths who could have otherwise continued as nothing was wrong. They just "got tired of it" for example.

JMO.

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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?

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With formula, on the shelves, and advertised EVERYWHERE :shakehead: its just made it far too easy (aka tempting) for women to stop BF their babies and go to formula....... had it been on prescription (as example)..... perhaps those women would still be BF their baby today? :dunno:

As for the above paragraph i've written, YES I completely agree for some women to BF their babies is simply not possible due to medical or emotional reasons, I respect that. I'm talking about the 'majority' (or 'others') whom stop BF their babies before 6mths who could have otherwise continued as nothing was wrong. They just "got tired of it" for example.

JMO.

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Just a thought. If I hadn't been able to buy formula for my babies, then I would never have been able to let them leave my side until they were old enough for cows milk. I breast fed all three of mine until they where ready to wean. But a couple of nights a week DH would give them a bottle while I went to work. When they were newborns I would express, but I have found that I am physically unable to express enough milk after about three months - despite having no supply issues and biibs that are FULL of milk. So I wouldn't have been able to leave my baby's side for more then 2 hrs at a time (which is about the longest any of them would go between feeds until about a year old). How fair is that?

I know I am not alone on this, many mothers combine formula and breastfeeding for many reasons.

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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?

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It doesn't only affect her and her baby. It has public health implications so it also affects tax-payers.

I personally don't feel judged or feel bad at all for formula feeding my DD along with breastfeeding (how we raise our child is between me and DH) but I'm sure a lot of women do. I think what the FF mums in this thread are trying to do is highlight the fact that as much as BF is natural, it is often far from easy. And rarely is it the lack of milk, it's the many other issues that can arrise with breastfeeding.

I had a midwife check on almost every one of DD's feeds in hospital, I did as much reading as I can before and after her birth, I got lots of advice from BB and I asked friends and family for further advice and I was given so much support and encouragement. I also paid for my own private LC. We eventually got there but no amount of 'support', 'encouragement' or 'training' could prevent DD from being sleepy, a lazy sucker, us both contracting thrush (twice) and my nipples being affected by severe vasospasm.

Oh, and expressing is not easy for some mums either so EBM is not always the answer to a difficult breastfeeding journey.

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I don't know why people can't just feed their own kids and get a hobby to pass the remainder of their apparently ample spare time.

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Because for some people 'feeding their kids' brings physical, emotional and mental pain. Breastfeeding is one of the toughest things I have ever done in my life. The early pain, the constancy of it, the effect on my hormones, sex life, working life, you name it, it has been central to my experience of parenting.

I persevered because I wanted to and I believe in it. There are many women who are not supported, or educated or physically well enough to continue, and many of these women feel guilty, uneasy, or sad about their experience. I don't want to negate anyone's experiences. Its not just feeding for many, it is a lifestyle choice, a health choice, a MASSIVE choice whether you FF or BF.

I would have thought that the emotion throughout this thread would demonstrate that its not just "feeding" children that is involved. Its our experience as parents we are discussing.

The lack of information and support about breastfeeding, and conversely all the 'breast is best' stuff works against women and against breastfeeding...yes it is normal, but it is HARD. Even if you succeed it continues to be a challenge...just like all parenting experiences.

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It doesn't only affect her and her baby. It has public health implications so it also affects tax-payers.

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Public health implications? There are plenty of BF babies out there who sadly, get ill later in life. I said it in my earlier post and although I can only speak on behalf of three FF babies all now in their 30's, my mum's three children are doing just fine.

3 people is generally not considered a large enough cohort to reach any definitive conclusion.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...th-burden.html

I agree with you Arcadia. I feel it is a public health issue very worth of discussion. It's a shame when dismissive and flippant comments are made when many are really doing the hard yards trying to look at the issue from so many more angles than their own. The original post high-lighted how outrageous it can be when you voice a strong opinon from a limited perspective. You don't have to agree with everything or explain exactly why you disagree but you can at least have the courtesy of acknowledging that it is an issue with multiple perspectives and that's it's one that is very sensitive to many....AND that's an issue that needs more attention of government funded policy makers. If you don't have time or inclination for all that then maybe it's you who needs to go do your hobby... with all due respect ;)

Don't worry Bath, my free time is well utilised. Parents make their own decisions based on their own circumstances and time spent "proving" how right you are on the Internet is time wasted. This microcosm of the parenting world doesn't change anything at all out there in the real world.

PS. Coming to you from a supportive husband of a BF'ing mother, neither of whom care what anyone else does in their own homes. Our babies have also had formula.

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3 people is generally not considered a large enough cohort to reach any definitive conclusion.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...th-burden.html

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I realise that but I was only attempting to reiterate that I'm still a firm believer in freedom of choice, especially when it comes to raising your children. I think when it comes to public health implications, there are a lot more serious issues to be considered than formula feeding babies. And once again, if the mother's sanity will be saved from formula feeding (ie being tired of breastfeeding could be more than simply 'oh I can't be bothered'), then surely that is a good idea for all of those 'immediately' involved.

ETA: and let's not forget, I'm actually still breastfeeding!!!

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It doesn't only affect her and her baby. It has public health implications so it also affects tax-payers.

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Sorry don't buy it. As far as I am aware, Although there are studies showing 'links' to various health concerns. There has been no causal effecfts actually proven. Unless you can show me in hard cold $ where formula feeding babies directly causes or contributes to an increased cost to the tax payer, This argument is week at best.

ok...well this is horrible no wonder women develop PND because of all this YOU MUST BREASTFEED nonsense...yes it probably is best but they wouldnt sell formula in the supermarkets if it wasnt at least half decent.....what bout my grandparents and great grandparents cows milk strait from the bucket and clearly that was okay for them because im here today.........so i must be part of this 1% group because i COULDNT breastfeed to the point the midwife shoved a bottle of FORMULA in DS's mouth sooo quick because he was going yellow and losing too much weight....i dont want to keep going coz its just going round an round in circles and my DS is fine from a day 3 ff baby.....good luck to those who can BF for a long period!!!

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ok...well this is horrible no wonder women develop PND because of all this YOU MUST BREASTFEED nonsense...yes it probably is best but they wouldnt sell formula in the supermarkets if it wasnt at least half decent.....what bout my grandparents and great grandparents cows milk strait from the bucket and clearly that was okay for them because im here today.........so i must be part of this 1% group because i COULDNT breastfeed to the point the midwife shoved a bottle of FORMULA in DS's mouth sooo quick because he was going yellow and losing too much weight....i dont want to keep going coz its just going round an round in circles and my DS is fine from a day 3 ff baby.....good luck to those who can BF for a long period!!!

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They also make cigarettes and sell those.....

IM NOT SAYING FORMULA IS AS BAD AS SMOKES!!!!!!

Im just saying 'companies' dont have our best interest at heart;)

In the end there's a lot more to parenting then having kids. As parents its our duty to make imformed choices. So what ever it is I hope the mothers/fathers are informed;)

Back to topic: sorry :redface:

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3 people is generally not considered a large enough cohort to reach any definitive conclusion.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...th-burden.html

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I'm not entering into this debate but I just wanted to say that there are not enough studies to prove anything. The handful of studies that exist are simply not big enough or are flawed methodologically.

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It doesn't only affect her and her baby. It has public health implications so it also affects tax-payers.

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my breastfed son has spent far more time in the public health system than my formula fed daughter.

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Im just saying 'companies' dont have our best interest at heart;)
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Kass (im not attacking u i promise, u know i love ya!) 90% of the formulas on the shelves are owned by big brand companies, there is little choice, i understand your passionate but formula is not poison!
Hun u are incredibly lucky that breastfeeding has come easy to u and your girls and you've been able to maintain it for long periods which is absolutely awesome, but unfortunately for some mums its not that easy, and it hurts them to not be able to give their babies what nature intended, be gentle on them, u dont know how they feel. they arent bad ppl for using formula

My experience with DD1 was hard because of the dumb, uneducated il's. I was 19 yrs old and unsure of myself let alone my mothering. But I was sure I was doing the right thing, no matter what they said. They honestly put me through hell! But I pushed forward and dd1 and I are better for it.

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'.

ps, stop pickign on me :lol: Im not good with words and I get all flusted hahaha

I am assuming Dedicated Mummy is speaking on the same hypothetical political platform as I am? What you would say to a friend and what you want to say to a policy maker (polititian) is quite different... BB is public speaking... maybe we should all assume that we hope to address things in the same way as we would if we had the attention of the powers that be? Yes we should be tactful... but surely we should be able to say things as we see it (and yes, large multi-national companies DO often put profits before ethics).

Is this meant to be a gentle one-to-one chat with a friend or this is a place for us to say what needs to be changed according to the government policies that dictate our lives? It seems that a lot of tension is occuring because some people want BB to be a cosy chat between friends and others want it to be a platform for their bigger, hate to say it but: political, ideas. If you want both in the same place you're gonna get hurt feelings and conflict. The original post alluded to an idea that is political... compulsory Bfing... I reckon we should go with that and keep the discussion non-personal. just my vote.

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I am assuming Dedicated Mummy is speaking on the same hypothetical political platform as I am? What you would say to a friend and what you want to say to a policy maker (polititian) is quite different... BB is public speaking... maybe we should all assume that we hope to address things in the same way as we would if we had the attention of the powers that be? Yes we should be tactful... but surely we should be able to say things as we see it (and yes, large multi-national companies DO often put profits before ethics).

Is this meant to be a gentle one-to-one chat with a friend or this is a place for us to say what needs to be changed according to the government policies that dictate our lives? It seems that a lot of tension is occuring because some people want BB to be a cosy chat between friends and others want it to be a platform for their bigger, hate to say it but: political, ideas.

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See, good with words. Me, not so much hahahaha

Well I do think we're way off topic BUT I thinks it's a healthy convo still? FF VS BF always ends up mummas trying to justify their choices. Im not wanting anyone to feel this way :(

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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'.

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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'.

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

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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.

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 :lol:

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.

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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.

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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.

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?

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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?

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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:)

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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.

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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

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

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.

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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?

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*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.

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 :lol: