Nestle milk (after 101 T***o's boycott topic)

[circlecross]

After reading the posts about Nestle and their evilness with formula milk and developing countries, I was reminded of when I had just given birth, and I asked the mat nurse "is it normal for him to be sleeping so much? Shouldn't he had woken for a feed by now?" (in hindsight it was the longest he slept for the first year, I sholdn't have worried!) She asked me what I meant and I said "he hasn't woken for a feed yet, and I'm worried he will be hungry". She then said "would you like to give him a bottle?"

This was in London. I said "No, I want to breastfeed him, I am asking about his amount of sleep, not to give him a bottle" and I stuck to my guns (he woke up 10 mins later, demanding to be fed and has been demanding ever since!). A friend of mine, also in London had the same kind of scenario, but was feeling more vulnerable than I having been carved to the knees and half of London'd finest halfway up her torso, so said "yes if you think I should" whammo, bottle shoved in, baby quiet (gagged) and happy staff, baby and sort of happy, but feeling inadequate, mummy.

Formula milk is seen as a saviour in some circles - whether it is an old-fashioned viewpoint or not I don't know, but there is an aggression behind peddling it in some maternity wards which does make you wonder about commission???

Susan

[Tigerhair]

I had it the other way, wanted to breast feed, but baby 2 months prem and 2 and a half hour c-section I felt like poo. Tried for three days every couple of hours with the evil pump to get the boobies moving, but no show, so I gave up. The nurses thought I was pure evil. But it was right for me.

[madanna]

I did bfeed both my monkies - and loved it - it was something only I could do and a damn good excuse to sit down for half an hour.

I completely respect each individuals right to choose but the funniest reason I have ever heard and cannot understand at all is my SIL - who chose not to breastfeed her son as she quote 'Couldnt bear him that close' uhhhhh right and being inside you obviously wasnt closer then?

Sorry probably a bit bitchy but I never did work that one out!

My hosptial for the record are fantastically boob promoting - infact she was made to feel uncomfortable for bottling it.

As I said - I live and let live but have to confess i'm a boob feeder all the way...

Anna x
Another boycott nestle member

[Bigsis]

I had a similar thing with my baby. I had an emergency c-section in the middle of the night (after 12 hrs labour). I breastfed straight away as I'd asked but then when they tried to get Sam to sleep he wouldn't settle. They asked if he should be given a bottle. I was disappointed but agreed as it was my brand new little baby and I didn't want anything bad to happen to him!
In hindsight, I should have breastfed some more as a half hour obviously wasn't enough for a nearly 10lb baby! I think the midwives just wanted some peace and quiet.

[red]

thats a real shame - when I had my son they were very pro-breast, and I BF my son even tho he was in SCBU, and even tho he was tube fed at first, it was still my milk that was used, until he got the hang of things himself, so even though he was a bit poorly at first, and things were difficult - we still did BF

I believe people should make their own choices - live and let live etc., but I am glad the midwives supported my decision without a hint of trying to push bottles.

red

[PurpleDragon]

The ward I was in for my first two had six women in, and on both occasions, I was the only one breastfeeding. Raised eyebrows from other Mums and from some of the nurses.

The weirdest GAH moment for me was when another mother said that she didn't want to breastfeed because it was "well, a bit rude, really, when they're sexual, aren't they - for your husband". Um, actually, no love, they're made for your baby - you husband just benefits too.

[funkypixie]

The hospital I was at weren't even allowed to discuss bottlefeeding in the antenatal classes. I *tried* to breastfeed both of mine but not enormously successfully - 4 weeks for 1 and 6 days for the other. My milk never really came in and no 2 had real issues latching on (interestingly he had trouble bottle feeding until he was about 9 months old for the same reason).

I do believe in choice and giving information about both feeding methods - encouraging bf but not implying guilt and unfit-motherhood if you don't. It may not be pc to say so but there are advantages and disadvantages in both feeding methods.

Each to their own.

Anna x

[circlecross]

I hope y'all didn't think I was being anti-bottle - I understand there are a million reasons for each of us to choose to do things for our children a certain way, I am in no position to lecture anyone, just that the thread on 101 was going a certain way, so i thought i'd start a topic in this forum. Anyway, I did BF, and I donated milk to the special baby care unit which I feel prouder about in hindsight, as it didn't seem that much of an effort at the time! But dh did want to get in on the act, so I did rig up the milking machine and decant into bottles so he could feed the imp. Just meant I had to be Ermentrude as I was rather prolific, so we had a freezer full of the stuff!

Obviously there is the breast is best movement, and I enjoyed, and miss BF-ing my little guy (there is another on the way - hopefully I will be able to bf this one) but it wasn't all plain sailing, and I hate it when they say "if it hurts you're not doing it right" bollocks - the best advice i had was from a midwife who said "it will hurt - but if you count to ten and it still hurts, then you need to start again. If it has stopped hurting then it's OK" and SHE was right!

Susan

[PurpleDragon]

I have three children.

The first one - coulnd't wean him. Little so'n'so was planning on taking my boobs to university I think.

Second one - had to go on the bottle. Lactose intolerant, starting with my home produced stuff.

Third one - managed to b/f and decided at 10 months she wanted a bottle. Refused the breast.

Three different kids, but the point was - we went with what was right with the child at the time. A well fed baby is what is important, not how you get the food in.

On the same score, I do think that if you can, you should. The benefits are enormous in normal circumstances. But we don't all live under normal circumstances, so ...

[2steps]

with my son I was never asked what I wanted and he was bottle fed by hospital staff who then told me I couldn't now breastfeed him I was 17 and had none to ask for help

My daughter was born at home and I had made it very clear from the start I wanted to breastfeed. I never had any problems and fed her for just over a year when she decided all this sitting still wasn't for her she had a milk intolerance but it just meant I couldn't eat dairy products which I'm not agreat fan of anyway. I wasn't offered any help or advice during my pregancy or after but read up myself and knew how to latch the baby on.....

planning a home birth and breastfeeding for baby number 3 too.

everybody has to make the decision that is best for them and their baby but in my experince there isn't enough help or advice avaliable to women and they default to bottle feeding as it's most common which I think is a real shame

[Milims]

My son was born almost 7 weeks early and after a short cuddle he was whisked away to SCBU. I didn't see him for another 4 hours - by which time I was distraught - I didn't know what was happening to him, or where he was - anything! Finally I was taken up to see him and I discovered that he had been given a bottle - out of necessity. Bizzarrely they told me that because he was prem he hadn't developed his sucking reflex properly. So he was tube fed for a couple of days - my milk hadn't come in so he had to have formula, but I was determined to try breast feeding. It took a while for us both but it was the most amazing feeling when we managed - there's nothing quite like it!!
Thing is tho - I went from AA cup to Pammy Anderson in a very short time - ouch- and could probably have fed all the babies in Northumberland with what I produced! If I even heard a baby cry I had to go and change my top!! (Not good if you are in the middle of a supermarket!! )
When the time came for me to stop BF - I had to go back to work - I was really sad - I missed it terribly - but then within 5 months I was pregnant again At least I still had the buckets and yard rope!!
My daughter was born at full term and took to BF like a suckler calf. This time it was she who decided enough was enough and literally spat me out!!
I have to say that for me BF has been a wonderful experience - I still get the tug in the armpit 11 years later when I hear a baby cry!!
But like you say - to each according to their need.
Helen and Chris (next to me, making comments about fire hydrants, and giggling at some of the comments I haven't put on here!!)