*Breastfeeding Uncovered - Channel 4*

[IVW]

Thought I would start a thread that we can all have a healthy discussion on and maybe take our minds off the actually ttc part

The oh is of course on a night shift so I am sat here watching the documentary on channel 4 about breast feeding and it got me thinking....what are all your thoughts on it....

* Are we all for breast feeding?

* What are our thoughts on baby milk formulas?

* Would you breast feed in public?

I am 100% all for breast feeding and 100% doing it in public as well, but I will be discreet about it.

As for baby milk formulas, I wouldnt be against them either. They have definitely come along way since we were babies, its maybe just something I would really need to research to ensure what I am giving my baby is as beneficial or as close to my breast milk.

Dreading the pain of it though

 

[night owl]

I’m definitely going to do my best to BF ( if baby number 1 ever turns up ), but I will be discreet about it - I know I used to get really embarrassed when I was little and out with my parents if I seen a breast feeding lady! Not all members of the public are comfortable with it for a variety of different reasons ( don’t want to get into a debate about whether everyone should just be comfortable with it or not) and I accept that not everyone is modern and forward thinking, and there’s different cultural beliefs and age groups who are naturally more conservative about these things, so I will try to go somewhere private unless it’s just not possible,

I’m not going to stress myself out over it too much though, if baby doesn’t take to it or I find it too painful I will do it for as much as can be tolerated before going onto a decent formula

 

[Sugarpop]

I just think that it is completely down to personal choice. For me, as long as the baby is being fed, it really doesn't matter how that happens. Pressure shouldn't be put on for either side & its so unfair when ladies feel pressured.

Personally, I will BF (if my baby ever arrives!) for a couple of months but can't see me doing it forever. I know many women just feel that it is something they really want to do but for me it isn't. I imagine I will express & feed using the bottle. If my baby isn't getting something from me or needs extra then formula will be it.

I have seen women feed in public and good for them. Personally, I wouldn't but that is just down to preference. I feel like I would feel uncomfortable & that's perfectly ok because that's just how I would feel.

 

[Niknaknoo]

Ahh I missed it but have set it to record on +1. Thanks for the reminder!
I’m all for all 3. Fed is best.
I breastfed ds until 14 months, wherever he needed fed, it definitely has benefits but also downsides. As in I did every night through the night as he wouldn’t take a bottle. I’ll be introducing a bottle a lot earlier this time - expressed milk if I’m able to breastfeed again.
But formula works for many and that is absolutely fine.

 

[IVW]

I will definitely need to educate myself on when best to get baby off the breast, as I hear some stories varying from 3 months up to 2 years, I personally think thats too long.

I feel uncomfortable myself if I see a lady with her boob on full view and theres no discreteness about it, so I will ensure I am not making people feel uncomfortable. Some people will say 'but why do you care' and my answer would be 'because I do' - simple. The woman on the show breast feeding were discreet but it was enough to ensure baby and mum were comfortable.

Breast is best at the end of the day and the statistics on this programme were quite alarming

Nurses shouldn't pressurise woman or make them feel guilty, I think if they go down the route of telling them the benefits and let them decide. Its a stressful enough time as it is, without having the pressure of having to breast feed.

 

[Akua]

I’m going to be totally honest. I have no intention of breastfeeding.

I know it’s best, and I don’t care if anyone else does it.... I just don’t think I’d like it

 

[night owl]

I have heard stories about people being heavily pressured into it by midwives, with them coming along every 20 mins trying to get baby onto the boob, even women recovering from C sections or had terrible births, I don’t know how much of that is hype or exaggerated but if it’s true it’s completely unnecessary, as long as the baby is fed something appropriate which does include formula that’s the most important thing!!

I’m trying to picture myself with a baby on my boob but I just can’t, it just seems like so far away like a distant fantasy or something, I can tell this 2ww is getting to me now!

 

[Niknaknoo]

I have heard stories about people being heavily pressured into it by midwives, with them coming along every 20 mins trying to get baby onto the boob, even women recovering from C sections or had terrible births, I don’t know how much of that is hype or exaggerated but if it’s true it’s completely unnecessary, as long as the baby is fed something appropriate which does include formula that’s the most important thing!!



I’m trying to picture myself with a baby on my boob but I just can’t, it just seems like so far away like a distant fantasy or something, I can tell this 2ww is getting to me now!

The breastfeeding support lady I had in hospital was awful. Rude and pushy. I did want to breastfeed but she made it feel harder than it was.




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[liz85]

I think both is great however not sure the breast feeding is for me. It’s so awkward telling midwives this tho as I feel judged every time I say I don’t think I’m going to do it. Could still change my mind. X

 

[WinterWolf]

Everyone tells me that if you don't want to breastfeed, be prepared for a battle at the hospital! Like, even bring your own bottles/formula because they might refuse to give them to you until you've had a real go at breastfeeding. I think I'll be doing a combination of breastfeeding and formula feeding. I really don't want to be the only one able to feed my baby so will be starting it on bottles of breastmilk as young as I can. I'll definitely have the formula around for if I can't express enough breastmilk though. I'll keep an open mind. Might not even be able to breastfeed, who knows!

 

[Princess81]

I’m 100% breast. I breastfed my son for 4 months but his allergies meant that he had to go on specialised formula. If I had more support I would have totally changed my diet and continued to BF. It broke my heart that I had to stop.
I will BF any more babies til at least 1 year.
From a Midwifery perspective, if a mum wants to breastfeed, it’s crucial that the baby is put to the breast, even after a section. It’s all positive feedback mechanism and for a mum wanting to BF giving the odd formula feed really does impact on her supply. I’m not BF Mafia by any means but if a mum wants to BF we try to make sure she knows the importance of commuting to it for the sake of supply.

 

[IVW]

Everyone tells me that if you don't want to breastfeed, be prepared for a battle at the hospital! Like, even bring your own bottles/formula because they might refuse to give them to you until you've had a real go at breastfeeding. I think I'll be doing a combination of breastfeeding and formula feeding. I really don't want to be the only one able to feed my baby so will be starting it on bottles of breastmilk as young as I can. I'll definitely have the formula around for if I can't express enough breastmilk though. I'll keep an open mind. Might not even be able to breastfeed, who knows!

And there was me thinking, it was just the british that were pushy for BF, so are they like that over in Oz?

 

[IVW]

I have heard stories about people being heavily pressured into it by midwives, with them coming along every 20 mins trying to get baby onto the boob, even women recovering from C sections or had terrible births, I don’t know how much of that is hype or exaggerated but if it’s true it’s completely unnecessary, as long as the baby is fed something appropriate which does include formula that’s the most important thing!!

I’m trying to picture myself with a baby on my boob but I just can’t, it just seems like so far away like a distant fantasy or something, I can tell this 2ww is getting to me now!

I have heard the same as well and it actually makes me quite sad, as there is nothing worse than feeling pressured into doing something you dont really want to do and then made to feel guilty afterwards - anyone would think they are on commission for the up sell of BF

As mentioned before, they should recommend and guide a new mum, but if they really dont want to, then just leave it.

 

[IVW]

I’m going to be totally honest. I have no intention of breastfeeding.

I know it’s best, and I don’t care if anyone else does it.... I just don’t think I’d like it

and that's totally your prerogative

you tell them nurses to F off

 

[WolfMamma]

I breastfed DD until about 7 months by which time I was half feeding, half weaning her. I had trouble expressing, mainly because all I could afford was a crappy manual pump so I gave up and just exclusively breastfed.

It had its pros and cons, it was majorly convenient, food on tap at all times, no extra stuff to carry, no prep, it's was great. It did also have its cons, I was the only one who could do it, first few weeks hurt like hell and I ended up feeling like a glorified zombie dairy cow as she fed every 2 hours day and night for most of the time I was feeding her.

Despite all those cons however, this one will also be exclusively breastfed. I won't even bother trying to express this time. I was discreet in public and never faced any opposition, I always tried to go into a corner or cover myself up somehow when I fed her, not through embarrassment or worrying about the feelings of others but because I liked the private alone time, just me and her. If that wasn't possible however, she just got fed however I could manage it.

I have my views on formula but I find it's best to keep quiet in general. As long as baby is fed, it's fed at the end of the day. I was a formula baby and my immune system is one of the best I know. My daughter was breast and hers is even better than mine so it's all swings and roundabouts.

 

[IVW]

I breastfed DD until about 7 months by which time I was half feeding, half weaning her. I had trouble expressing, mainly because all I could afford was a crappy manual pump so I gave up and just exclusively breastfed.

It had its pros and cons, it was majorly convenient, food on tap at all times, no extra stuff to carry, no prep, it's was great. It did also have its cons, I was the only one who could do it, first few weeks hurt like hell and I ended up feeling like a glorified zombie dairy cow as she fed every 2 hours day and night for most of the time I was feeding her.

Despite all those cons however, this one will also be exclusively breastfed. I won't even bother trying to express this time. I was discreet in public and never faced any opposition, I always tried to go into a corner or cover myself up somehow when I fed her, not through embarrassment or worrying about the feelings of others but because I liked the private alone time, just me and her. If that wasn't possible however, she just got fed however I could manage it.

I have my views on formula but I find it's best to keep quiet in general. As long as baby is fed, it's fed at the end of the day. I was a formula baby and my immune system is one of the best I know. My daughter was breast and hers is even better than mine so it's all swings and roundabouts.

I think if i had a breast feeding diary, in an ideal world, it would sound something like this

I remember watching my friend expressing some milk before we had our girls night out and wow even on an electric pump, that made a god awful noise, barely anything came out. Now i dont know if this was because she was empty, but she persevered but for not a lot of milk - i think i am dreading the expressing part more than the actual BF itself

Everyone is different at the end of the day and you can only do the best for your child. You wont ever know if formula or breast is best, so you do what you think is right.

 

[princessp]

I found the total opposite. I feel that people are pushed to formula feed when instead they needed breastfeeding support. once formula is introduced, then establishing breastfeeding can be difficult.

All women have the choice whether to breastfeed or not, however I feel that decision should be an informed decision, knowing all the risks of formula feeding e.g higher risk of SIDS, Obesity, Higher risk of childhood cancer.

I have found that breastfeeding is much easier than formula feeding, especially once established.

People should remember that breastfeeding shouldn't be painful and if it is, it needs to be investigated as things like a bad latch or tongue tie.

I don't flaunt myself feeding in public but I never hide myself away. they are only boobs. I see more boob when I look in magazines or go to the beach.

 

[millielaura]

I definitely found what she was saying in the documentary to be right , that I got a big long list of why breastfeeding was better but no support to do it. So I was left formula feeding terrified that I was damaging my baby, feeling I was going to cause her to die of sids or cancer. It really is cruelty to tell women all this then not support them to breastfeed. My daughter didn’t latch at all in hosp and I got nothing hand expressing. I never saw a lactation consultant or anything. And I was made to feel like it was my choice sort of thing to then introduce formula after she had no milk for 18 hours, but what mother would like to see her newborn baby hysterically screaming , not able to have any milk ..unable to give it to her for 18 hours straight. It broke my heart! I was never even warned that could happen and if I had been warned and prepared it would of made a lot of difference I think. Instead I felt a failure compared to all the other women on the ward. My health visitor and community midwife were lovely thank goodness and said I shouldn’t feel guilty . Xxxx

 

[IVW]

I was totally unaware, which of course i would be as i am not pregnant, that there are 'breastfeeding workshops' also (forgot what they were referred to as) but a lot were getting shut down due to funding, no surprises there

Its great to know that these things are around and also to be able to sit and chat with mums in the same position as you, must also be reassuring.

It sounds like every hospital is different and like most things, it depends on what type of midwife you get, I have heard some right horror storys about midwifes who are literally complete b*tches and think they know everything about everything - i hope to god i dont get someone like that and if i do, i will not hesitate in asking for someone else. I want to have someone who will give me the best advice and support of my decisions - FX IVW

Either way all our midwifes do a fabulous job in the end

 

[princessp]

Yes that MillieLaura you are right. Some tell you about risk etc but offer no support.

You are often told that you should breastfeed but not given the correct information or any support to do it. It's wrong. You are instead then offered formula which contradicts everything they have told you.