Baby Talk Magazine...AGAIN!!!

[MarcyC]

Got my latest issue of Baby Talk magazine. I don't pay for it, they just send it to me for free...oh gee thanks...

In the lastest issue a mom has written a little article...can't even remember what it's about, really....

But there's a blurb in there about breastfeeding, of course. She couldn't do it, had multiple problems (didn't say what the problems were, just that she had multiple). She pumped for awhile and called pumping a form of medieval torture, quit pumping, then switched to formula and had to listen to her breastfeeding friends tell her, among other things, that she was poisoning her baby.

:

Just ONCE, I would like to see a story in there of a mom who perservered. A mom who overcame nursing "obstacles." Or a mom who used an SNS, maybe even a mom who used an SNS or Lact-Aid long term. A mom who ordered dom, took Reglan, used herbs. I'd love to see a story in there about a mom who did what it took to get every drop of breastmilk she could into her baby.

[captivatedlife]

So many of us can't write that story - you can! I would go out to pick up a copy if you did.... Personally - I'd like to see a picture of you smiling while hooked up with the sns and nursing, maybe herbs strategically placed beside you....


You are an inspiration - don't forget it.

[rmzbm]

You'll never see that article because I think the whole point of what they DO print is to make moms feel ok about stopping.

[noeonend]

If someone wants to "ghostwrite" my story, I would be more than happy to submit it!!! (Vacuum birth, did not latch to ten weeks, masttitis 3 times, thrush 6 weeks, permanent damage from reynaud's, oversupply, weaned at 12 1/2 months b/c of low supply, but she did get 12 1/2 months of mommy milk, and I am going to do it again as soon as we get preggo!!!!!)

[katheek77]

I'll submit my story, but I doubt they want it. Long story short, I have tubular breasts (hence, undersupply and necessary supp.), have done everything EXCEPT domperidone (due to personal heart issues) and a perfectly healthy baby (ie...no preemie, no allergies, no special health issues) who COULD have gone straight to formula w/probably no real problems, and I'm still pumping 19 mos later. I also only get 8-9 oz in 6-7 pumps a day (and really never more than half of what she needed). Not "worth it", to many people, I'm sure

I think the torture part is exaggeration, but I suppose the right combo could render it so...inconvenient, definitely? Sometimes painful? Yep, esp. during my period, but I'm guessing nursing a biter or nursing while preggo would be as well.

That magazine constantly annoys me. Even more than Parenting. I like the humorous parts of parenting, which i get for free, but baby talk just annoys me.

[lacysmommy]

A friend of mine relactated and wanted to write an article about it. Maybe I'll put a bug in her ear. It's really inspiring hearing what she went through to relactate after having emergency surgery for Chron's Disease and having to suddenly wean her baby.

[ananas]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

You'll never see that article because I think the whole point of what they DO print is to make moms feel ok about stopping.

Exactly. If they post something that says "I overcame the challenges" they're making other moms feel "guilty" for not trying.

[MarcyC]

Oh, there's another article in there about buying organic. It says, if you can't afford organic infant formula, that's okay. Just buy the stuff w/DHA in it. But if you can't afford that, it's okay, too. Just the plain ol' formula is just fine. :Puke

[Equuskia]

Well, if they started publishing stories about women succeeding, then more women would do it, and less would buy the formula advertised on their pages. Duh!

And I skimmed through some of their "breastfeeding" articles. Ugh.

[Hippie Mama in MI]

I notice a lot of formula ads in Baby Talk magazine. Coincidence?

[nataliebassoon]

I have to agree, BabyTalk is very hypocritical about "Breast is Best". I wonder if they make most of their money from formula companies, because the underlying message is always- "if you don't breastfeed, that's okay, don't feel guilty"- it never bothered me that much when I was pregnant, but I've really started to notice it a lot now that I'm nursing. Definitely annoying at best, probably detrimental to so many babies. Isn't it funny how things are worded "breastfed babies experience less illness. blah blah blah, like formula feeding is the norm. It should say, "formula-fed babies are sick more blah blah blah etc. By the way, you should check out Hathor the Cowgoddess for a great lactivism website: http://www.thecowgoddess.com

[AnalogWife]

What made me mad was the way she made pumping look like something only a moron or weirdo would do. She gave an accurate description of what happens, but put an ugly spin to it.

[Mama Shifra]

Originally Posted by Hippie Mama in MI

I notice a lot of formula ads in Baby Talk magazine. Coincidence?

No, it's not. When my oldest was a baby (she's 16) Baby Talk was sponsered by the National Association of Diaper Services, which was why it was then so cloth diaper friendly. There is a reason that Baby Talk is given out free! Baby Talk is the voice of its sponsers. Whoever pays the big bucks get the say. Now it is the formula companies, so now Baby Talk is trying to convince you to use formula. [Mind you, in 1991, when my oldest was born, Ross Labs (makers of Similac) and Enfamil would not advertise to consumers. It was only when Gerber started advertising to consumers that they started too.]

Shifra