I am really annoyed

I read an article in today's NYT, which compares NOT breast feeding to smoking while you are pregnant. I didn't get to finish the article, but am going to read it on my way home.

IMHO, they are going way over board. Although yes, it is healthier to BF than to FF, there is no need to start a national campaign against formula feeding! They are making the women that can not BF or just don't want to BF feel inadequate.

Although I am still on the fence about BFing and don't know if I am 100% comfortable with it, therefore I don't know if I am going to do it. I'm sure if you look on the New York Times website, you will be able to find it.

It really made me angry!

Re: I am really annoyed

I too get very upset when people dictate to others as to how they choose to feed their babies. Surely there are advantages to breast feeding a child but that does not mean the rest of the population should be alarmed or assume that they are putting their babies at risk if they do not. I have no intentions of breast feeding my child when the time comes (though I may change my mind). I come from a family of four children and none of us were sickly as kids or have any chronic health problems as adults. We all bonded with our mother just fine. I just dont get why this is an issue at all when millions of healthy children are born to and raised on formula.

Re: I am really annoyed

Here's the article: Breast-Feed or Else
I do plan on breastfeeding but I don't need to be guilted into it.

Re: I am really annoyed

Its really tough on me right now. I was BF until I was hospitalized for a week and lost my milk supply. NOt something I could control, and my daughter is now FF. She is doing great, and I am happy. BUt sometimes, life throws you a curve and you just have to roll with it.

Re: I am really annoyed

I saw this article too, and it really annoyed me too.
Many of my friends formula fed, even I was formulas fed, and I think I turned out fine

Re: I am really annoyed

I think that its wrong to try and shove the ideas down people's throats. I know its a personal decision for many woman, but I still do not understand why you wouldn't breastfeed if you could, kwim? But like I said, thats JMO people do what they want obviously.

Re: I am really annoyed

Posted by pmpkn087

Although I am still on the fence about BFing and don't know if I am 100% comfortable with it, therefore I don't know if I am going to do it. I'm sure if you look on the New York Times website, you will be able to find it.

It really made me angry!

Re: I am really annoyed

if this country wants women to breastfeed then the government should give women more than 12 weeks unpaid leave and require companies to give private area for pumping

Re: I am really annoyed

Posted by Sassyz75

if this country wants women to breastfeed then the government should give women more than 12 weeks unpaid leave and require companies to give private area for pumping

Re: I am really annoyed

I have BF'd all my kids for the 1st year of their lives and it is funny how I was not AT ALL annoyed by this article, it is factual statements. I never knock anyone who cannot Breastfeed because sometimes it is out of the Mom's hands, I enjoyed the article and was proud to read that all my hard work and all the inconvenience is so well worth it.
I would definitely not compare NOT Bfing to cigarette smoking though, that is ridiculous, I woud say it is llike buying Revlon mascara vs. Lancome , they are both GREAT, but one is a tad bit better.
Do what works for you, if you are stressed or are uncomfortable about BFing, then the baby will sense it and it will be a horrible experience for both of you.

Re: I am really annoyed

Posted by Sassyz75

if this country wants women to breastfeed then the government should give women more than 12 weeks unpaid leave and require companies to give private area for pumping

Re: I am really annoyed

Posted by Sassyz75

if this country wants women to breastfeed then the government should give women more than 12 weeks unpaid leave and require companies to give private area for pumping

Re: I am really annoyed

Posted by ChilisWife

Posted by Sassyz75

if this country wants women to breastfeed then the government should give women more than 12 weeks unpaid leave and require companies to give private area for pumping

Love this response. So true!!

Re: I am really annoyed

They had this on the Today show this morning and it ****** me off. I really tried not to pay too much attention (it was about ads that our now going to be playing on TV about breastfeeding) and then Matt Lauer said that congress is looking into whether they should pass a law to put on formula that breastfeeding is best for your baby??!! Give me a freakin break.

And yes i am one of those people who is not breastfeeding because it's not for me. Yes i am having twins and have to go back to work, but honestly I do not want to breastfeed and what right does anyone have to make someone feel guilty about not doing so?? We give up our bodies for months and carry our children and then spend years raising them, loving them and doing so much for them. It's my choice how i choose to raise my child, not anyone elses and everyone should keep their mouth shut.

I don't even think i want to go read this article now.

Re: I am really annoyed

Posted by Sassyz75

if this country wants women to breastfeed then the government should give women more than 12 weeks unpaid leave and require companies to give private area for pumping

Re: I am really annoyed

Posted by emilain

I have BF'd all my kids for the 1st year of their lives and it is funny how I was not AT ALL annoyed by this article, it is factual statements. I never knock anyone who cannot Breastfeed because sometimes it is out of the Mom's hands, I enjoyed the article and was proud to read that all my hard work and all the inconvenience is so well worth it.
I would definitely not compare NOT Bfing to cigarette smoking though, that is ridiculous, I woud say it is llike buying Revlon mascara vs. Lancome , they are both GREAT, but one is a tad bit better.
Do what works for you, if you are stressed or are uncomfortable about BFing, then the baby will sense it and it will be a horrible experience for both of you.

Re: I am really annoyed

Posted by Sassyz75

if this country wants women to breastfeed then the government should give women more than 12 weeks unpaid leave and require companies to give private area for pumping

Re: I am really annoyed

I plan on BF, but that is MY choice. This article is total crap- it such a personal decision.

This country makes it so hard to have babies in general. JMO.

Re: I am really annoyed

Posted by Sassyz75

if this country wants women to breastfeed then the government should give women more than 12 weeks unpaid leave and require companies to give private area for pumping

Re: I am really annoyed

I've been BF-ing (full time pumping) for 3 months now. I really wanted to BF and planned on it from day 1, but like someone else said, I certainly didn't want to be guilted into it.

When I was in the hospital, a lactation consultant came by one evening unannounced. I hadn't asked for her and she had no idea what my breastfeeding status was. So of course I got all sorts of encouragement from her since I WAS breastfeeding, but um... what if I wasn't? Was she there to shove her agenda down my throat?

Yes breastmilk is BEST, but that doesn't mean formula isn't GREAT on its own. I cannot stand the anti-formula crusade.

Re: I am really annoyed

I love this quote in the article too

"It can't do all of the things that are being claimed for it," Dr. Kramer said, injecting a note of caution into the debate. "But it probably does some of them."

Reading that article makes it seem that my babies will be obese, not as smart as BF babies, have a chance of getting all types of infections or cancers and I will have a greater chance of getting breast/ovarian cancer.

I'm not saying that Breastmilk might not be better that formula, but honestly to throw all of this at a woman makes her feel guilty and that is what they are trying to do. They should focus more of their attention on parents who neglect their children then bother with this.

Re: I am really annoyed

Jack was formula fed and has yet to have an ear infection or any other common baby ailment..he is 20 months old. I have a friend who is b-feeding and her son is 14 months and has a fever at least once a month and has had numerous ear infections. My point being that breastfeeding does not equal guarenteed better immune systems or overall healtier babies.

Ignore those on their breastfeeding soap boxes and do what is best for you. That is at least what I do.

Also, what right do people have to criticize people who don't breastfeed when there are crack w h or es out there giving birth to sickly, underweight, drug dependant babies and there is no mainstream action or rally to sterlize those women. I think that is a far worse problem than b-feeding vs formula feeding. JMO

Message edited 6/14/2006 9:58:35 AM.

Re: I am really annoyed

Listen I was formula fed and I know many people who were formula fed and I think we all turned out fine now I did BF and FF my DD and she is now 21 months and she is doding great and I am sorry FF and smoking while prego are just 2 totally different things. Not for nothing some peopel try to BF and they may have complications and can't BF so they have to FF I don't know who these people think they are to dictate to us mothers what we should and shouldn't. We are the mothers not them and what we choose to do is our choice and they should just mind thier own business

Re: I am really annoyed

Here's another perspective: think of the millions of $$$$ that formula companies spend each year trying to get you to buy their product. In light of that I think a public awareness campaign is a good idea. Of course some people can't breast feed for various reasons, but with so much factual evidence out there supporting the benefits of breast feeding, I think it is important that people are aware that formula feeding, while sometimes necessary, does not equal breast feeding.

I think the most important thing is to make an informed decision. If breast feeding is not for you, that's your decision. Also, as previous posters have noted society's views toward breast feeding need to change, too, to make it easier for mothers to breast feed, so prehaps the awareness campaign will help to facilitate those changes, as well.

Re: I am really annoyed

Posted by ddunne2

Jack was formula fed and has yet to have an ear infection or any other common baby ailment..he is 20 months old. I have a friend who is b-feeding and her son is 14 months and has a fever at least once a month and has had numerous ear infections. My point being that breastfeeding does not equal guarenteed better immune systems or overall healtier babies.

Ignore those on their breastfeeding soap boxes and do what is best for you. That is at least what I do.

Also, what right do people have to criticize people who don't breastfeed when there are crack w h or es out there giving birth to sickly, underweight, drug dependant babies and there is no mainstream action or rally to sterlize those women. I think that is a far worse problem than b-feeding vs formula feeding. JMO

Message edited 6/14/2006 5:45:29 PM.