I wish that breastfeeding wasn’t such a “hot” topic.
I wish that formula feeding wasn’t so common place and normal that people assume that the way a formula fed baby behaves is the way babies should behave. So that long deep sleeps in very small babies were not expected, instead of the hourly feeds, short naps and light sleep that is actually normal baby behaviour. That people knew that vomiting was not normal, that baby poo shouldn’t stink to high heaven and that reflux isn’t to be expected. There’s a big difference between posseting now and then, and regularly chucking back large amounts of milk.
I wish people didn’t think that breastfeeding was the “Gold Standard”, but understood that it is simply the biological norm. What babies are meant to do, what boobs are for, and what gives our babies the things they need to grow up the way they were meant to. Physically, immunologically and emotionally.
I wish people didn’t think it was fair game to pass comment on the health of breastfed babies. Or to take the piss out of breastfeeding mothers. Imagine if a breastfeeding mother passed comment on the health of a non-breastfed baby, or belittled a woman who didn’t breastfeed? That people realised that childhood illnesses are just that, a part of normal, everyday childhood, that all babies and children get colds, and coughs and chicken pox, and that breastfeeding is not a Magical Forcefield which stops your baby ever getting ill, but what it actually does is makes your child able to resist a lot of infections, and means they can fight off the ones they do get. All babies and children get sick, the more contact they have with others the more likely they are to get sick, so a breastfed baby in a nursery will still catch infections, where as a formula fed baby that stays at home won’t be in contact with those infections, and that’s why they seem to get sick less often, not because breastfeeding makes no difference. I wish I didn’t have to defend the fact that I breastfeed. Ever. To anyone.
I wish people understood that advertising works. That formula manufacturers invented “Follow-On” formula to get through a loophole in the advertising laws, because all they care about is profit, how much of their product they can sell. That most of the “special” ingredients in artificial milks are not proven, not necessary and not there to improve the health of babies, but to make one formula seem “closer to breast-milk” than all the others. That artificial baby milks are not sterile, and subject to fewer and less rigid tests and standards than over-the-counter cold medications.
I wish people understood that the risks that go with not breastfeeding are rarely instantly obvious, but can creep up and effect our health when we are 10, 20, or 30, or 40, or 50. Babies rarely drop dead from being formula fed (although it does happen in some cases, from contamination like in China, or from allergic reactions or gastroenteritis) but that it is, all the same, a large scale public health issue that needs to be viewed seriously, not as a life style choice or as a fashion statement.
I wish breastfeeding was normal.
Any Old Cow – Shopping Bag 
Mummy Milk Rocks – Shopping Bag 
Care Instructions – Shopping Bag 
“Any old Cow” Short Sleeved T 6-12 months 
“Any old Cow” Short Sleeved T 3-6 months 
Totally agree
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Lovinjg this
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This is SUPERB – and has just summed up all the thoughts whizzing around in my head. Really clear and really well put. Thank you!
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I could absolutely have written that!
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Every time I see a ff mum defending her lifestyle choice, every time someone days “but lots of women CAN’T”, every time I hear Breast is best, every time I hear a bf mum defend HER choice and say how HARD it was, how every mother should be that committed… I think these thoughts. Sometimes bf advocates are their own worst enemy. Sigh.
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I would just like to give the person who wrote this a big hug cos they’ve obviously encountered more than their fair share of problems.
Breastfeeding should be and is the norm in so many places it’s just a shame that “cultured” society has labelled it gross.
Things would be different if it could be proved that diseases like cancer or behavourial problems like ADHD were linked to not receiving the many, varied and not fully understood nutrients that are found in breastmilk. All of which every child on this planet could receive for free if people just put their stereotypes to one side and helped each other.
Unfortunately these are never going to be advertised every hour in the ad breaks of your favourite soaps but we know what will…!
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How very true, and perfectly stated. It’s a conversation I’ve had many a time when I’ve been asked “How long do you plan to do that for?” or “You’re not still breastfeeding him are you?” or any of the other inane crap we have to endure. I wish I wasn’t put on a pedestal and applauded by half of the health visitors at the clinic and held in suspicious regard by the other half who probably think I’m either a)lying and he’s formula fed or b)an unwashed hippy. The latter isn’t helped by the fact I was wearing him till a few weeks ago….
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Preach it sis! I had mastitus a total of twelve times with my 2 babies but that didn’t stop me feeding them until they were each a year old. Breastfeeding your baby is lovely when things settle down – it is normal and natural and it would be great if more mothers could get to a place where they can enjoy it too (and save a lot of money in the process!). When I consider the natural world, I am amazed at how it all fits and works together so well (although I know that some people are not so lucky!).
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I’ve been exclusively pumping for almost 6 months now. Most people are really supportive, but act surprised that I plan on pumping milk for my son until he’s a year. Yes it’s a hassle to pump all the time, but he’s worth it.
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Breast feeding should be seen as normal and I absolutely agree with the fact that a big deal should not be made of it. As a mother who has been unable to breast feed though I am fed up with being made to feel inadequate by over enthusiastic advocates of breast is best. There is room for both formula and breast in life depending on circumstances…
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although i totally agree with everything this lady has said cos nobody should be put down for doing the most natural thing a mother caan do, i was unable to breast feed as my milk never came in no matter what i tried so i had to use formula and i was given lots of negative comments being told i wasn’t doing what was best for my baby when actuall i was doing everything i could do. Breast is best no doubt about it but don’t make the mums who are unable to feel bad becausee of it.
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Brill article.
I did have to take a deep breath and not get riled at first as I’m the mother of an exclusively breastfed baby with reflux who is constantly covered in sick and know that its nowt to do with being bottle fed. I was reliably informed by my doctor that bf babies weren’t sick in the same way as bottle fed babies, until my bub projectile vomited down her front – LOL.
I’ll forgive that as the rest of the article was so good!!
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Phil,
My second baby had reflux too, it all went away when I took dairy out of my diet. The cows milk proteins that were present in my milk were what was making her reflux, and this is what causes a lot of formula fed babies to vomit and reflux as much as they do as well. I’m not saying breastfed babies never vomit, but in general they vomit far less that artificially fed babies, but there are exceptions to every rule!
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