health

Moms seeking baby formula tire of those who say, just breastfeed

16 Comments
By REBECCA BOONE, LINDSEY TANNER and JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER

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16 Comments

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Look as someone with a sister and sister-in-law one couldn't produce at all the other not enough as well as my children's mother deciding being a mother wasn't for her right after my son was born I get and understand the need for formula in some cases.

But let's be honest, in the USA in particular, the vast majority of those using formula don't and didn't need to and had they gone with breast-feeding there wouldn't be any issues today.

Formula was invented for situations where previously a wet nurse was needed, it was not meant to be used as it is today as a "convenience".

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Less than 5% of women in the US are unable to breastfeed, or have babies intolerant to their milk.

Look it up.

If it doesn’t suit your lifestyle or you just don’t want to isn’t an excuse. Why not breastfeed your baby and let others who can’t buy formula, instead of being a selfish sociopath?

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Less than 5% of women in the US are unable to breastfeed, or have babies intolerant to their milk.

Look it up.

If it doesn’t suit your lifestyle or you just don’t want to isn’t an excuse. Why not breastfeed your baby and let others who can’t buy formula, instead of being a selfish sociopath?

Let me guess, you are a guy who has never breastfed a baby?

I'm also a guy who has never breastfed a baby, but I'm married to someone who breastfed my own kids so I know a bit about it.

I realize that to guys this looks like just a switch that women can flip and if they suddenly lose access to formula they can easily just start breastfeeding, which would lead to the conclusion that anyone who is complaining about having to do that is just being selfish. But that isn't the case. This is some insanely difficult stuff their bodies have to do and it depends on a lot of stuff.

Also, whlie health experts recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, after that even those who mainly breastfeed need to rely on formula as a supplement.

You guys condemning mothers for using formula based on the fact that you looked up one single statistic and now think you are the expert on all things related to breastfeeding are the ones acting like selfish sociopaths, not the mothers.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

We certainly don't want statistics or facts, do we?

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Less than 5% of women in the US are unable to breastfeed, or have babies intolerant to their milk.

Look it up.

That is very true. My kid was bottle-fed because she had a heavy intolerance to her mom’s milk, so it does happen more often than reported.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

We certainly don't want statistics or facts, do we?

i gave you facts. Let me give you some more.

Fact: That 5% figure only tells us how many mothers are incapable of breastfeeding at all. It does not mean that the other 95% of mothers are capable of breastfeeding 100% of the time without having to ever rely on formula, which is not at all the case. Almost all mothers will have points at time at which they cannot breastfeed when their baby is hungry. Sometimes they get sick. Sometimes they can't produce at that exact moment. Sometimes they are taking a shower and the father has to feed a baby that needs to be fed right away. These are facts that someone who has had kids would know.

Fact: This bears repeating - exclusive breastfeeding is only recommended for the first 6 months. After that most mothers who breastfeed are also giving their infant formula. There is nothing irresponsible or out of the ordinary about this. Toddlers often rely on formula well past their second birthday, way past the time at which most mothers have stopped breastfeeding. Those moms CAN'T just switch back to breastfeeding as the exclusive means of feeding. Again a fact that you would know if you knew anything at all about raising kids.

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Peter NeilToday 12:12 pm JST

Less than 5% of women in the US are unable to breastfeed, or have babies intolerant to their milk.

Look it up.

If it doesn’t suit your lifestyle or you just don’t want to isn’t an excuse. Why not breastfeed your baby and let others who can’t buy formula, instead of being a selfish sociopath

Don't tell women what to do with their bodies. It's none of your business. At all.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

The formula industry is out of control in the US, thanks to American women funding it who are able, but unwilling to breastfeed. One of the lowest rates in the world, yet everyone knows it’s best for babies.

Are you more concerned about the “inconvenience” to mothers, or more concerned about the babies?

Most countries don’t even have a formula industry and it’s not an option. Some hospitals outside the US ban formula.

Oh, and don’t tell people to shut up.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

How did humans survive without manufactured breast milk?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They didn’t. They’ve devolved into a new species where parents whine more than babies.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

It all depends… some people can’t produce enough milk, so babies can’t properly drink enough milk, and some babies can’t drink breast milk.

My son couldn’t drink properly which lead to painful experiences for my wife with excess build-up. We did a mix of breast feeding and formula… it was nice to be able to feed my son.

My daughter could drink like a champ when she came out, so she has never had any formula… this was also helpful to my wife and the issues with our son made her question her self-worth.

I guess this is just a long way of saying… all experiences are different and we shouldn’t cast blanket judgement.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

girl_in_tokyoMay 20  06:48 pm JST

Don't tell women what to do with their bodies. It's none of your business. At all.

Babies aren’t born from immaculate conception and it is the business of both parents.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

For a wide range of reasons some women can't breastfeed. For them, formula is the go-to alternative. There is no reason to feel guilty about that. We are a diverse species. Everyone can't do everything. Think about the stuff you can't do but others can. It's natural.

The problem was caused by an overenthusiastic Health & Safety reaction by the Feds to some cases of illness, with no consideration as to the consequential damage they were causing. It was shockingly irresponsible conduct and new rules should be implemented to prevent it happening again.

Luckily, the globalised system that governments want to take down came to the rescue. By routing supplies via medical practitioners to avoid stockpiling, profiteering and the use of supplies by elective formula users who can breastfeed but do not want to, there should be enough for women who really need it to be supplied without the stress of searching for it and the fear of not obtaining it.

If no such 'Plan B' for medical supplies exists in the US, maybe Biden could actually create a legacy for himself by creating it, so next time there is a shortage, stuff can be directed to those that need it.

Wet nursing was common before formula, and another back-up plan would be for health authorities to maintain local wet-nursing registers for emergencies.

Situations like this show us failings in society that we should fix so they do not recur.

Maybe the American education system could help youngsters learn how not to be 'triggered' by everything they encounter that doesn't make them happy. People are entitled to voice their opinions, just as others can respond to them or ignore them. The push to silence expression in a nation where it is a constitutional right is bizarre.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Peter NeilMay 20 08:27 pm JST

The formula industry is out of control in the US, thanks to American women funding it who are able, but unwilling to breastfeed. One of the lowest rates in the world, yet everyone knows it’s best for babies.

Are you more concerned about the “inconvenience” to mothers, or more concerned about the babies?

Most countries don’t even have a formula industry and it’s not an option. Some hospitals outside the US ban formula.

Oh, and don’t tell people to shut up.

Stop telling women what to do with their bodies. It's none of your business what women and their partners decide is best for their family.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

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