The Dangers of Formula - Page 2

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Why is OK to use that tact for other public health issues (drugs, drunk driving, vaccinations, smoking, SIDS, etc) and not breastfeeding?

Good question!

[Mom2Boy&Girl]

Honestly? That kind of inflammatory statement (re: the "dangers" of formula) will only serve to alienate and malign mothers who have had to choose formula over what they KNOW is best -- breastmilk.

There are a million ways to promote the benefits of breastmilk. But making the mothers the bad guys in all this is incredibly short-sighted. I'm sure you know that there are a number of valid reasons why a mother can't BF or supply BM to her child. And it's not always about selfishness or lack of willpower.

So how about contacting your congressman about BF-friendly workplaces ... or extending short-term disability (like here in NJ) terms to longer than 6 weeks so that a better BFing relationship builds between mother and baby ... or eliminating "freebies" in doctors offices and hospitals so that moms that are on the fence about whether they want to BF are encouraged to at least try breastfeeding first? For women to choose BFing first, and to continue to BF longer, our society needs to take some serious steps in creating a BF-friendly environment.

That's my opinion, anyway. I breastfed my son for 22 months, and am still BFing my 15mo daughter because that is what I chose to do after educating myself ... but I might have made a different choice if I was not a SAHM or if I had a medical condition that required me to stop BFing.

And even after all my research on the subject, if someone told me how "dangerous" formula is to babies, I would have rolled my eyes at them. Formula is second best, for sure, but dangerous? Come on.

[syn_ack89]

Originally Posted by redhotmama

I am sure the message is out that BF is best, as 80-90% of American mamas attempt to BF their newborns. Then by 6 weeks only 30% remain. These mothers are being failed by someone. The babies are losing. How can we turn the tide?
Formula can be dangerous. I know adults with chronic illness that can be directly traced to FF, gluten allergies, extreme food allergies, IBS, etc. Plus the runaway breast cancer rates of all those women who were not fed breast milk from 1940-1970.
How did the tide turn against cigarettes? A few nasty lawsuits? Reputable scientific studies?

The main problem, IMO, is that many women have to go back to work at 6-8 weeks. If women got a paid year off (yes, in dream land ), I think that breastfeeding rates would skyrocket.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by Mom2Boy&Girl

And even after all my research on the subject, if someone told me how "dangerous" formula is to babies, I would have rolled my eyes at them. Formula is second best, for sure, but dangerous? Come on.

Then why is formula second best? (Actually according to the WHO it is 4th best.) If it isn't adding a risk of any kind, then we should be looking at it as equal to breastmilk. Even the formula companies know that isn't true.

I think that Diane Weissinger's article on the power of language has so much to teach us here. Breastfeeding is the biological norm. Formula is the intervention. If the intervention is better than the norm, then it is a beneficial intervention. If it is worse than the norm, then it is a detrimental intervention, and those exposed to it are at higher risk than the those exposed to the norm.

For example, studies have shown that babies who are formula fed have a higher risk of gastrointestinal tract infections than those who are breastfed.

I think it is a mother's right to know that information, just as it is her right to know the risks of smoking for her infant. What she decides to do with that information is up to her - but in no way do I think that it should be hidden from her!

And I agree wholeheartedly that we need to support breastfeeding in all aspects of society - from breastfeeding friendly birthing practices to maternity leave to breastfeeding images in the media.

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by Claire and Boys

I actually disagree, because I think it is better for BFing to be considered normal, rather than being "special" or "better" than FFing. That article about the language of breastfeeding summed it up well for me. I think it should be pointed out that FF babies have higher risk of obesity, SIDS, sickness, etc because it is fact. If it is put that way rather than harping on about the benefits of BFing, I think it would make more people stop and think about their choices.

I wouldn't even compare it to FFing. Just point out the wonderfulness of BFing. Period.

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by goodheartedmama

I'm shocked that so many people think it's okay to offend others in such ways. Yes, breastfeeding is best. But I'm confused about what people think it accomplishes when you say "your kid is going to be obese and sick because you feed him formula." It's really not going to change anything except perhaps formula feeders feel even more strongly that breastfeeders are rude and pushy.

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by laohaire

Why would it be any different from educating people about the risks of cigarettes? Why aren't we concerned about offending smokers?

Because it's apples and oranges.

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by BugMacGee

We all agree on the need for education. But this thread started about the dangers of FF. Not the *increased possibility somewhere down the line of.......*
I think this approach is unlikely to win many converts.

Exactly.

[BugMacGee]

I just cannot fathom telling a mom that was having difficulty breastfeeding that she'd better keep it up because her baby might someday get asthma.

What I do say is that it's a learning experience for both of you. There are so many wonderful benefits to breastfeeding including immunity, bonding, weight loss, cost, convenience etc. It does takes a commitment (then I throw in examples of micro-preemies who learn to breastfeed) but it's worth it.

Being positive usually works better than being negative IME.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by KirstenMary

I wouldn't even compare it to FFing. Just point out the wonderfulness of BFing. Period.

But I think this is where the paradigm shift needs to occur. Breastfeeding isn't wonderful. It isn't magical or miraculous or super special. It's the biological norm. Formula isn't. And the formula industry has convinced the public that it is.

In a vacuum, I wouldn't really have an issue with your position. But in a society that says "Breastfeeding is the gold standard, but hey, we all do what we can, and formula feeding is fine too" we need to speak the truth. The truth is, there are dangers that come with using formula. The truth is, that when a mother chooses not to breastfeed, her baby is more likely to have certain health issues, and is more likely to die.

Do I think we should attack individual women with these facts? Absolutely not. But I think we need to start getting them out there in the broader arena of ideas, because they're true. I can't imagine a doctor withholding information on the importance of putting babies in carseats because not every mother can afford a carseat, or it might make a mother who chooses not to use a carseat feel guilty, or using a carseat might be less convenient to her then just holding the baby.

I think it's going to take a balance of positive and negative to turn the tide back towards the biological norm of breastfeeding.

[maplesugar]

If the dangers of formula feeding were widely publicized via mainstream venues, women would be more likely to breastfeed. They would be more likely to choose breastfeeding while still pregnant.
The dangers are real, and it is a disservice to babies and moms to keep these dangers obscured.

I think stating the dangers could be very effective in raising breastfeeding rates. Not many people want to harm their babies intentionally.
Yes, formula is food. But it is a highly processed, chemical food produced in big factories by big corporations. There is a lot of risk just with contamination. Everyone has heard the stories of botched formula batches.

Personally, if I couldn't give my baby breastmilk, I would be inclined to get a goat.

[BugMacGee]

Well, I'm sure a goat isn't much of a viable option for most women!

[krystyn33]

Originally Posted by Mom2Boy&Girl

There are a million ways to promote the benefits of breastmilk. But making the mothers the bad guys in all this is incredibly short-sighted. I'm sure you know that there are a number of valid reasons why a mother can't BF or supply BM to her child. And it's not always about selfishness or lack of willpower.

So how about contacting your congressman about BF-friendly workplaces ... or extending short-term disability (like here in NJ) terms to longer than 6 weeks so that a better BFing relationship builds between mother and baby ... or eliminating "freebies" in doctors offices and hospitals so that moms that are on the fence about whether they want to BF are encouraged to at least try breastfeeding first? For women to choose BFing first, and to continue to BF longer, our society needs to take some serious steps in creating a BF-friendly environment.

I think there is an incorrect perception of lactivists as focusing attacks on moms who FF. The goals of most of us lactivists include fighting the lies of the formula companies, working toward the BFing friendly policies you mention and implementing education and support resources to promote BFing success. Perpetuating this idea of lactivism accomplishes nothing positive and continues to alientate moms.

To say there are benefits to BFing is a strategy which is failing women and children. Any fact of a BFing benefit may be turned around semantically and it presents nothing but a risk in FFing. Less BF babies get asthma=more FF babies get asthma. That is logic. It is true. It is not an attack on FFing moms. The guilty party is the formula companies who have successfully exploited this fear of mommy guilt to suppress the real impact of this information (as per the ad campaigns which have been mentioned).

BFing is not always easy in the beginning (or at times throughout) and moms who believe there are no real drawbacks to FF are less likely to make the effort. If our goal is greater BFing success then we need to "out" the truth, however painful it may be for some to hear.

[My4Boys]

If changing the language to talk about the risks of not breastfeeding were ineffective, the International Formula Council would not have worked so hard to suppress the breastfeeding campaing ads and re-create them to be newer versions of breast is best. They benefit from keeping alive the notion that lactivism is fought at a personal level. They benefit from it being OK for a doctor to tell you how important it is not to co-sleep, but not how important it is to breastfeed. They benefit from the misinformation and lies that abound about breastfeeding. They benefit from women taking the issue to an us (breastfeeders) vs them (formula feeders) level instead of banding together to get supports in place that benefit all mothers whether or not they breastfeed (better birthing practices, decent maternity leave, acknowledgement that motherhood is more than giving birth). They benefit, babies suffer, mothers feel guilty and fight amonst themselves.

[angelpie545]

Originally Posted by syn_ack89

The main problem, IMO, is that many women have to go back to work at 6-8 weeks. If women got a paid year off (yes, in dream land ), I think that breastfeeding rates would skyrocket.

Yes, this is another huge issue in the US, along with the lack of breastfeeding-friendly laws for employers to follow. IMO, there is NO reason why the US shouldn't have at least a six-month federal maternity leave policy that employers should be required by law to follow. I also think that it should be federally mandated that all employers be required to provide a place for breastfeeding mothers to pump, and to give them the time to pump(within reasonable expectations, of course). Research shows that policies such as this increase worker productivity and reduces turnover, thus benefiting the particular company. Nursing mothers should also by law be free from any sort of discrimination in the office place. All that alone would probably increase breastfeeding rates.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

But I think this is where the paradigm shift needs to occur. Breastfeeding isn't wonderful. It isn't magical or miraculous or super special. It's the biological norm. Formula isn't. And the formula industry has convinced the public that it is.

In a vacuum, I wouldn't really have an issue with your position. But in a society that says "Breastfeeding is the gold standard, but hey, we all do what we can, and formula feeding is fine too" we need to speak the truth. The truth is, there are dangers that come with using formula. The truth is, that when a mother chooses not to breastfeed, her baby is more likely to have certain health issues, and is more likely to die.

Do I think we should attack individual women with these facts? Absolutely not. But I think we need to start getting them out there in the broader arena of ideas, because they're true. I can't imagine a doctor withholding information on the importance of putting babies in carseats because not every mother can afford a carseat, or it might make a mother who chooses not to use a carseat feel guilty, or using a carseat might be less convenient to her then just holding the baby.

I think it's going to take a balance of positive and negative to turn the tide back towards the biological norm of breastfeeding.

: I can't say it better so I won't even try.

[delphiniumpansy]

Originally Posted by Mom2Boy&Girl

Honestly? That kind of inflammatory statement (re: the "dangers" of formula) will only serve to alienate and malign mothers who have had to choose formula over what they KNOW is best -- breastmilk.

There are a million ways to promote the benefits of breastmilk. But making the mothers the bad guys in all this is incredibly short-sighted. I'm sure you know that there are a number of valid reasons why a mother can't BF or supply BM to her child. And it's not always about selfishness or lack of willpower.

So how about contacting your congressman about BF-friendly workplaces ... or extending short-term disability (like here in NJ) terms to longer than 6 weeks so that a better BFing relationship builds between mother and baby ... or eliminating "freebies" in doctors offices and hospitals so that moms that are on the fence about whether they want to BF are encouraged to at least try breastfeeding first? For women to choose BFing first, and to continue to BF longer, our society needs to take some serious steps in creating a BF-friendly environment.

That's my opinion, anyway. I breastfed my son for 22 months, and am still BFing my 15mo daughter because that is what I chose to do after educating myself ... but I might have made a different choice if I was not a SAHM or if I had a medical condition that required me to stop BFing.

And even after all my research on the subject, if someone told me how "dangerous" formula is to babies, I would have rolled my eyes at them. Formula is second best, for sure, but dangerous? Come on.

Right on. I agree. It is much better to teach mothers why breastfeeding is best than try to teach them that formula is not good for any reason. You just make enemies. Plus, it denigrates the experience of millions of women who you really should have on your side. And, saying formula is going to make your baby die is just hyperbole. Further alienating. Not good for the cause at all.

In my county, there is a breastfeeding coalition that puts posters on the sides of buses. That is cool! It says "Breastfeeding: Recommended for at least one year. The Healthy Choice for Moms and Babies."

[bri276]

The danger approach doesn't work because too many people know healthy (or at least, apparently healthy) babies who are formula fed. Even a doctor lecturing them on the "dangers" of something that they feel they can see with their own eyes to be safe isn't going to work. And once people are on the defensive (ie, well I ff my first baby and he's fine!) they don't listen, at all. For anyone to really understand why they should go through the extra time and effort that breastfeeding *sometimes* requires in the beginning, they usually need education, support and especially support of their partner/family. Education works much better when people's minds remain open.

[Equuskia]

Originally Posted by delphiniumpansy

Right on. I agree. It is much better to teach mothers why breastfeeding is best than try to teach them that formula is not good for any reason. You just make enemies. Plus, it denigrates the experience of millions of women who you really should have on your side. And, saying formula is going to make your baby die is just hyperbole. Further alienating. Not good for the cause at all.

In my county, there is a breastfeeding coalition that puts posters on the sides of buses. That is cool! It says "Breastfeeding: Recommended for at least one year. The Healthy Choice for Moms and Babies."

But by saying breast is best, you are implying that formula is second best, or just as good. Like "fresh foods and vegetables are best, but when you don't have time to eat them, grab a V8!" Except it doesn't work that way. Breast is normal, it's how all mammals feed their young. In animal husbandry, everyone knows that milk substitute is inferior to the real thing, in the same way that formula is inferior to the real thing. Formula is an imitation, an inferior substitute.

If women knew that formula feeding increased the risk of diabetes, asthma, ear infections, obesity, etc in their children, as well as increase their own risk of breast and uterine cancer, as well as osteoporosis (the very things that bfing is said to reduce, thus ffing would increase those risks), I think more mothers would step back and say "Wait a minute. I was never told this. I didn't know ffing was not only risky for my child, but for me as well!" It will make them ask questions and demand answers.

As for "My children were formula fed and are fine.". Yes, your children turned out fine. I was born in 1980, before car seat laws came into full effect. My mother carried me home in her arms in the car, and hey, I'm fine. I'm sure she was never in a car seat, and neither was her mother. Does this mean we should not put our children in carseats? After all, many generations have carried in arms, and they turned out just fine.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by delphiniumpansy

And, saying formula is going to make your baby die is just hyperbole. Further alienating. Not good for the cause at all.

Saying to an individual mother that formula feeding will make her baby die is bad practice. Making it known that formula feeding puts a baby at risk for many diseases and even death is not hyperbole, but fact.

http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/a...a-report-2.htm