"Breastmilk is best; ask your doctor"

[annettemarie]

OK, I am sick and Nick is watching TV. But I just saw a Nestle commercial. In white text on the bottom of the screen it said "Breastmilk is best; ask yuor doctor."

Some people see that and think "See! Good! They're promoting breastfeeding!" But I think in reality that it just adds to this misconception that breastfeeding is something mysterious and difficult that requires doctor input. You don't have to ask your doctor about what formula to feed your baby. You can buy whatever you want based on a commercial. But breastfeeding? That requires medical intervention.

[ananas]

It's kind of similar to the whole "Ask your doctor if "some prescription drug" is right for you!"

Sounds like they're basically saying "Discuss it with your doctor, see if breastfeeding may work for you"

[velcromom]

Yep, ask your doctor cuz "only doctors know about breastfeeding. You can't possibly do it on your own".

[Calidris]

"Ask your doctor cause we know he will probably have some nice formula samples for you...."

[frontierpsych]

Originally Posted by Calidris

"Ask your doctor cause we know he will probably have some nice formula samples for you...."

:

I think they're banking on the fact that 99% of women KNOW breastfeeding is better, but how many of those women are willing to put forth the effort, either real or imagined, to actually breastfeed?

It seems like many women either expect it to be so difficult they don't bother trying, or expect it to be so easy (because natural = easy, right?) that they give up when they encounter a minor snag.

Doctors seem to perpetuate this. I cringe everytime I hear something about breastfeeding being the "golden standard". Does that not sound about impossible to achieve??

The fact of the matter is that it's different for everyone. Most docs are so apt to put on a "one size fits all" approach that they end up being more of a hinderance than a help. If their little smidgen of advice doesn't work for your inverted nipples/bad latch/low supply/thrush/mastitis/etc, then "Hey, you tried everything you could, here's some formula."

[syn_ack89]

And considering what TERRIBLE advice many doctors give about breastfeeding...they are the last place I would go for bfing questions!!!

[bamsmom]

Originally Posted by syn_ack89

And considering what TERRIBLE advice many doctors give about breastfeeding...they are the last place I would go for bfing questions!!!

:

given the fact that doctors aren't [I]required[I] to know about breastfeeding or keep up-to-date on the lastest research showing the benefits of bf'ing (or the risks of not bf'ing), they don't seem like the ideal place to go for bf'ing info, IMO.

i think all those formula commercials instead should say something like, "breastmilk is best; ask a lactation consultant." or better yet, "breastmilk is best; do your own research on MDC!"

[sarahn4639]

personally i'd really like "breastfeeding is normal, formula is inferior" or "breastmilk is best, ask your baby"

[bamsmom]

Originally Posted by sarahn4639

personally i'd really like "breastfeeding is normal, formula is inferior" or "breastmilk is best, ask your baby"

ooooo...good ones!!

[mytwogirls]

Ok, I am going to play devils advocate here for a moment..no flaming me pretty please! My OB (yes I said the dreaded "O" word!) is so pro-breastfeeding and I know many around the area are too (I work L&D) In fact I saw him yesterday for my annual exam and he said "I am so glad to see you are still breastfeeding after having a hysterectomy" (I had one due to placenta accreta in Nov. 2007) Many patients quit because of the pain and moving around after surgery. Their practice NEVER hands out formula products and has breast feeding posters in their exam rooms. I know not every OB is like mine, as I am sure you will point out. I just wanted you all to be aware there are some good guys out there so don't bash them all

[mytwogirls]

Oh...and I wanted to let you all know it was OB who actually taught me to nurse All the nurses scattered after the delivery and lactation was on calls so he just took my boob and said, "Here this is how you do it." ! He watched to make sure she latched on and was actually drinking. His wife, also an OB, came in later that evening and made sure everything was still going ok. Wish more OB/GYNs were like these two.

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by mytwogirls

Oh...and I wanted to let you all know it was OB who actually taught me to nurse All the nurses scattered after the delivery and lactation was on calls so he just took my boob and said, "Here this is how you do it." ! He watched to make sure she latched on and was actually drinking. His wife, also an OB, came in later that evening and made sure everything was still going ok. Wish more OB/GYNs were like these two.

Cool!

[nausicaamom]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

OK, I am sick and Nick is watching TV. But I just saw a Nestle commercial. In white text on the bottom of the screen it said "Breastmilk is best; ask yuor doctor."

Your luck, the ones I saw on TLC yesterday didn't even have that disclaimer on it, in fact I haven't seen it on a Neslte commercial in ages.

[bamsmom]

mytwogirls- that's awesome that your ob is so breastfeeding-savvy! mine never even mentioned bf'ing to me (i guess that [I]is[I] better than her hawking free formula samples though!) of course, the hospital did make sure i got my "gift bag" of formula before i left (took the bag, left the formula!)

OP, i totally agree about the formula commercials...soooo frustrating...wish lactivists had the money to throw into advertising campaigns!!

[AnalogWife]

I got an email with an offer for a "Breastfeeding Support Kit." I clicked on it, and it was from ENFAMIL. The kit had formula in it, I was supposed to get this supportive kit from my kid's pedi. Seriously, the lengths these companies go....

[PapayaMom]

I love how more mainstream people I know will talk about how "nice" it is that the formula companies give out samples in the hospital. As if they are just trying to say congrats or something. I asked one mom if she really thought that the formula companies were giving out samples without it, in some huge way, affecting their bottom line. I mean coooome on these are businesses who want to make money they aren't doing it to be benevolent...

and to stay ontopic here I think many docs, if a woman asks, will say oh yeah it's better but formula is fine too. I am sure that Nestle had a team of experts crafting that phrase to bank on the fact that all of their give-aways to the docs will work.

I guess I am feeling cynical today

[DahliaRW]

What bothers me even more about those ads is when they say things similiar to "our formula has xxx, like the ones found in breastmilk" trying to make it sound like their formula is "just like" breastmilk for the most part. When obviously it's a gazillion miles away. But most tired, exhausted, fed up with breastfeeding new moms will just hear "like breastmilk" kwim?

[angelachristin]

Exactly. WHen my brother and his gf had my nephew, I remember he called me and told me they were using Nestle good start, because it was "the same as breastmilk" their advertising is disgusting.

[llamalluv]

Originally Posted by DahliaRW

What bothers me even more about those ads is when they say things similiar to "our formula has xxx, like the ones found in breastmilk" trying to make it sound like their formula is "just like" breastmilk for the most part. When obviously it's a gazillion miles away. But most tired, exhausted, fed up with breastfeeding new moms will just hear "like breastmilk" kwim?

Which reminds me....my husband and I recently started taking chewable multi-vitamins (my doctor said I should, and DH just did it to comply with Weight Watcher's "rules" and to copy me )

The package says it contains Choline. DH says, "What's 'Choline'?" I point to the label where it says that it's a substance found in breast milk. He looks at me and says, "Well, you could just breastfeed the kids, couldn't you?"

A year ago, he thought breastfeeding was something you did for "four or five months"

These vitamins are designed for kids 4 and up. I love it when a company accidentally legitimizes extended breastfeeding.

[sarah0404]

"Breastmilk is best - ask your doctor"

Isn't this a disclaimer, so if something goes wrong with your babe that could have been prevented by breastfeeding they can say "well we did tell you breastfeeding was best" ???

In the UK packs of formula all have the same sort of warning (in teensy writing). This is one from a pack of Aptimil formula:

Breastfeeding is best for babies. Milupa Aptamil First is intended to replace breastmilk when mothers cannot or choose not to breastfeed. It is recommended that First be used only on the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor, public health nurse, dietitian, pharmacist or other professional responsible for maternal and child care. When bottlefeeding, do not allow prolonged or frequent contact of milk feeds with your baby's teeth as this increases the risk of tooth decay. Ask your Health Professional or Dentist for advice. Make sure your baby's teeth are cleaned after the last feed at night.

I don't think doctors here know an awful lot about breastfeeding (like when I had thrush and the dr said he'd never heard of anyone having thrush on their nipples before and prescribed me a poxy moisturising cream ) but at least they don't get anything out of recommending formula. They're not allowed to give out samples or recommed any particular brands.