Bottle-feed at your own risk??

[mommaU4]

I found this little bit of info in the October issue of Redbook magazine (under the "Your Life Now" section) and thought it was interesting.

Quote:
"Breast-feeding is the ideal method of feeding and nuturing infants."
You could soon find those words of bottles of baby formula if legislation propsed by Senator Tom Harkin (Democrat, Iowa) passes.
Sure the health benefits of breast-feeding for mother and child are undeniable, but is a law-mandated warning label going too far? Unquote

They talked to two experts, one a neonatologist and medical director of lactation services who said, "I think it's a great idea. Using formula is a risky behaviour. It's a life and death issue and a health care cost issue. Babies who are breast-fed have less asthma, obesity, and ear infections. Breast-feeding is not just a life-style choice, it's a medical issue. We as doctors have an obligation to give women this information."

And the other, a pediatrician and professor of nutritional sciences, who said, "While breast milk is more beneficial, formula is not in any way dangerous for an infant's health, and in many cases is the only option for families during the first year of life at some point in time. Personally, I would be strongly opposed to a "warning label"...and cannot believe this would pass."

I personally think it's a bit much. Don't most women already know that breast-feeding is the best choice if at all possible.

I have four kids. With the first two I tried to nurse and it didn't work out so I used formula.
With the last two, who were twins, I didn't even try, just went right for the formula.

I'd heard all the arguments for both sides and honestly even if there was such a "warning label" as they called it, it wouldn't have deterred me from using the formula, so is this label really neccessary?

Just wondering what others thought?

 

[Bob Slydell]

This was pretty heavily debated a few weeks ago:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1234861

 

[sha_lyn]

I'm very pro BF'ing but IMHO the warning is over the top.

 

[mommaU4]

This was pretty heavily debated a few weeks ago:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1234861

Ooooh, missed that. Looks like it happened while I was on vacation as some of the posts are from 9/25 thru 10/04, and I was gone during most of that time.
Darn, the things you miss while at WDW!!

Thanks for the link. I will check it out and see what everyone had to say.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I don't know about all of their beneficial claims. I breastfed both of my DS's until they were 3.5 months. One is as skinny as a rail and has had only had one ear infection his whole life and the other is "husky" and has had reoccuring ear infections for a year. They were just about ready to put tubes in his ears.

So why such a difference? They were nursed they same amount of time.

I agree, a warning label is abit much.

 

[chobie]

I agree that the "warning" is stupid. However, I do hope this does not turn into another "breastfeeding nazis" diatribe. Not all women who BF are zealots about it.

 

[Hedy]

I find it really freaking weird, then again, I find the social discourses surrounding breastfeeding fascinating as I was a neither-a preemie, I was bottlefed my mom's breast milk.

 

[Chloe'sMom]

I just got off the phone with a dear friend of mine who breastfed for 6 months. Her child is one her 9th ear infection, has had tubes put in her ears, has a virsus causing severe diaheria, and a yeast infection because of all the medication shes been on.

Every single can, bottle, container of formula I but says, "Breastmilk is best." Which I find to be a crock. Breastmilk is not best for everyone - if it was then there would be no use for formula. Yet the guilt harped on mothers who choose or not choose to use formula (some women cannot make enough milk to feed their children and therefore it is not a choice to use formula) is astounding. I can find book after book on breastfeeding - I found one book on bottle feeding.

The truth is what is best is what works best for the family and the infant.

~Amanda

 

[zalansky]

Good thing they warned us, I bottlefed both of my babies and I will be on the lookout for stupidity and such as they grow older.

My friend who BF'd both her kids until they were both about 6-8 months old both had multpile ear infections and were sick all the time. Mine were not sick at all the first year.

Debate away, but no one can convince me bottle feeding needs to be warned against.

 

[momof2inPA]

Is there anyone left in the country who doesn't know that breastfeeding is more healthy for babies? I think the warning is unnecessary.

 

[tiggersmom2]

The truth is what is best is what works best for the family and the infant.

Exactly! We as mothers should be encouraging each other to do whatever is best for our families.....not beating each other up over our choices.

 

[Beth76]

I can find book after book on breastfeeding - I found one book on bottle feeding.

Maybe it's not so perfect if there needs to be book after book on how to do it. Not to mention actual professional people to help teach you. The only thing I had to read about formula is how much to put in the water.

ETA: and I know people (mothers) who have gotten sick from breastfeeding. Don't know anyone who has gotten sick from bottle feeding.

 

[chobie]

I just got off the phone with a dear friend of mine who breastfed for 6 months. Her child is one her 9th ear infection, has had tubes put in her ears, has a virsus causing severe diaheria, and a yeast infection because of all the medication shes been on.

Every single can, bottle, container of formula I but says, "Breastmilk is best." Which I find to be a crock. Breastmilk is not best for everyone - if it was then there would be no use for formula. Yet the guilt harped on mothers who choose or not choose to use formula (some women cannot make enough milk to feed their children and therefore it is not a choice to use formula) is astounding. I can find book after book on breastfeeding - I found one book on bottle feeding.

The truth is what is best is what works best for the family and the infant.

~Amanda

Those of us who chose to breastfeed also have to put up with a lot of crap. While we are appluaded in the hospital for doing it, as soon as we step foot outside in the real world we are heaped with looks of disgust if feeding our babies in public,constantly being asked "are you still doing THAT?", have MIL's and other relatives complaining we are keeping the baby from them, have people accuse us of depriving the Dads from bonding, and are faced with a society that though gives lip service to how wonderful BF is, really views it as some creepy thing to do. And God forbid you should BF past the one year b-day...

The kudos I got in the hospital and reading a few books here and there, did not counteract all the negativity I recieved otherwise for doing "that."

 

[mickeyboat]

Those of us who chose to breastfeed also have to put up with a lot of crap. While we are appluaded in the hospital for doing it, as soon as we step foot outside in the real world we are heaped with looks of disgust if feeding our babies in public,constantly being asked "are you still doing THAT?", have MIL's and other relatives complaining we are keeping the baby from them, have people accuse us of depriving the Dads from bonding, and are faced with a society that though gives lip service to how wonderful BF is, really views it as some creepy thing to do. And God forbid you should BF past the one year b-day...

The kudos I got in the hospital and reading a few books here and there, did not counteract all the negativity I recieved otherwise for doing "that."

I never felt any negativity, except when I was trying to work full time and pump in the conference room. That really stunk!

Denae

Amanda!

 

[chobie]

I never felt any negativity, except when I was trying to work full time and pump in the conference room. That really stunk!

Denae

Amanda!

I had a family that thought it was weird and got many a nasty glare in public even though I always was discreet. Plus you should see some of the trollish remarks that are made on threads here that are supportivve of BF. We are called nazis and worse.

 

[momof2inPA]

I had a family that thought it was weird and got many a nasty glare in public even though I always was discreet. Plus you should see some of the trollish remarks that are made on threads here that are supportivve of BF. We are called nazis and worse.

My FIL was scared to death when the babies needed to nurse, and my SIL would herd her pre-teen boys out of the room so quickly. Strangely, the boys themselves didn't seem to pay any attention to it if their mom wasn't around.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for breastfeeding in the presence of male relatives now, but DH and I thought the whole situation was hilarious.

I don't know why it's insulting to bottle feeding moms to state factually that some components of breast milk cannot be replicated artificially to be added to formula. If you know that fact and decide to bottle feed, anyway, who cares? Not my kid.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

nevermind

 

[chobie]

My FIL was scared to death when the babies needed to nurse, and my SIL would herd her pre-teen boys out of the room so quickly. Strangely, the boys themselves didn't seem to pay any attention to it if their mom wasn't around.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for breastfeeding in the presence of male relatives now, but DH and I thought the whole situation was hilarious.

I don't know why it's insulting to bottle feeding moms to state factually that some components of breast milk cannot be replicated artificially to be added to formula. If you know that fact and decide to bottle feed, anyway, who cares? Not my kid.

Its not as if we BF moms have rose petals strewn in our path as we walk by with our infants at our busoms. It's not easy being a parent whatever decisions you make.

 

[Christine]

Jenn Lynn,

Why did you delete your post. I happened to read it before you deleted and it was very good! This coming from a bottle-feeding mom!! Very good points. I think you should put it back.

 

[YourMajesty]

I had a family that thought it was weird and got many a nasty glare in public even though I always was discreet. Plus you should see some of the trollish remarks that are made on threads here that are supportivve of BF. We are called nazis and worse.

Yes, I noticed the comments. I did both but my education is in nutrition. I think we are just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to breastmilk. As for laws...they are being passed everywhere and this particular one will probably be passed too. It's a long process to undo but it's moving along.