New Government sponsored commericals regarding feeding babies

[binny]

I hadnt seen these commercials until this morning on the Today show but I have to tell you I wasnt happy.


To me it was just adding fuel to the breastfeeding VS bottle feeding debate.

Yes we know what the studies say, but some women are unable to bf and many who just choose to bottlefeed. Why do people have to make these moms or ANY new mom who is doing her best feel guilty? Do we really another thing to divide the camps?


New moms need support and acceptance and they need to know that if they are doing the best they can then its OK. They dont need these shock ads to try to make them feel guilted into doing something they cant or arent willing to do.

grrrrr, this really irritated me today!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I think the commercials are trying to change the minds of women who want to use a bottle and let them know the benefits to BF, which include significant health benefits.

And for those who are unable to BF - there are milk banks where one can still get milk for your baby and do what is best. My cousin donates her milk to one of these banks, for use is mothers whose milk did not come in or who otherwise cannot BF. So even if you cannot BF, you still have the option of giving your child the benefits of BF

Some moms get the safest car, the best car seat, why would anyone not want to provide their babies with the best start on life they can?

 

[mytwotinks]

I guess I don't see the problem. What is wrong with trying to convince women to do what is best for their baby? The facts are there. I would never question a woman about why she chose to bottle feed, but I would encourage her before the baby was born to nurse.

 

[SandraVB79]

OP, we have the same thing going on over here (although it aren't government commercials, there have been many articles in magazines + comments on those)

They want to stimulate women to bf? Great. But don't put guilt on all the mothers that choose not to.

 

[binny]

My issue with it is that it depicts pregnant women doing things like riding a mechanical bull, a log rolling and other things and inferring that bottle feeding is just as bad as doing something that harmful to your child. I guess I should have linked to the commercial.

Sorry I dont want to give my baby milk donated by someone else. I think its great if someone does but I just wouldnt be comfortable with that at all.
I was one of those who could not BF not matter what we tried ( and believe me, we tried! LLL and everything, it wasnt going to happen) I dont think women who cant should be made to feel guilty for not being able to. Formula has made great strides in recent years and there are enough things to stress about when youre a new mom. I dont think the govt should be trying to make new moms feel worse by telling them they are hurting their child by not BFing.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I'm very tired of my TV telling me what kind of person it thinks I should be. Ug.

But I wish more doctors would tell people who ask about bottles what their kids will be missing out on. I think most people who bottle feed are just clueless. They don't know what they're doing, because nobody told them. There might be a few who know and choose to do bottles anyway, but I think most just don't know.

I asked my doctor and he told me that while breast is better, bottle was fine and perfectly healthy! He NEVER told me! So, I went ahead and bottle-fed.

MOMS-TO-BE: do your homework. Find out exactly what your baby will be missing out on health-wise before you refuse them their breast milk.


ETA: OF COURSE, if you can't, you can't. And you shouldn't feel guilty if you did everything you could for your baby. That's all you can do!

I would never, ever give any baby of mine breast milk from some unidentified source. Yikes! You have no idea what you could be giving the child. It could be WORSE than formula.

 

[ceiligh1]

As a new mom this hits home with me. It seems to me that alot of judgement goes on about other mothers. I know I felt it when I first had my son. I tried everything to bf exclusively. I went the LLL route and withheld formula but my son was not getting enough. I was not able to take the medication to increase lactation so that was out. One consultant told me to decrease formula and see if that helped so I did and then another called me at home and told me to increase it. So frustrating and confusing. We drew the line at making my son go to physical therapy in hopes of increasing the strength of his suck. I guess what I am trying to say is that there is a lot of judgement out there about how you raise your kids, no matter what the subject.

We would feed my DS on 1 and a half hour cycles. I would feed him for 30 pump for 30 and then I had a whole 30 min. to wait until the next feeding. THis went on for months. I hated bf, my son would scream and kick the entire time and I would cry. We couldnt even leave the house because people would just stare when we were out and I was bf him.
I looked into donated milk but it was something like $3 for 6oz. We could not afford it. Finally at the 6 month mark of bf with supplmentation i decided for new years not ot pump anymore. It was the best decision for us. I finally was able to enjoy the time with my son bfing him. 2 months later when he stopped I was glad to have had at least one time where I enjoyed feeding him. NOw that my son is on formula I know how much he drinks, he just needed a little more than I could make.

Long post to say. There is a lot of pressure especially on a new mom about this issue, we tried everything. But I am sure that some readers will say that I was ignorant and not a good mother for not doing things in their personal version of the right way. I am trying to deal with the guilt of bottle feeding my son. Why try to add another layer of guilt, pressure and labeling to the issue?

 

[bevtoy]

OP, we have the same thing going on over here (although it aren't government commercials, there have been many articles in magazines + comments on those)

They want to stimulate women to bf? Great. But don't put guilt on all the mothers that choose not to.

Very well said, but I bet the real (hidden agenda) is that they hope to save big money on formula for those who get wick or other government programs.

IMHO you should do whats best for you and it should be a ........CHOICE....not a guilt trip.

 

[tiff211]

Very well said, but I bet the real (hidden agenda) is that they hope to save big money on formula for those who get wick or other government programs.

IMHO you should do whats best for you and it should be a ........CHOICE....not a guilt trip.

Here, here! ITA!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The actual percentage of those who really can't BF is very small. Nothing wrong with putting out the truth that BF is possible--even if you pump it into a bottle, it would be better than formula.

No need to get your panties in a bunch over the promotion of BF. And to say that it is to discourage money spent by WIC. Are you serious? I hadn't realized that the only ones who formula-fed were those on social assistance programs. Talk about a generalized statement!

What next--the promotion of healthy eating is to discourage food stamp purchases of Cheetos?

 

[disykat]

I haven't seen the commercial, but as a mother who felt terrible about not being able to breast feed and who, 13 years later, STILL experiences guilt over HARMING my child in the process of trying desperately to breastfeed - I don't think the negatives can possibly be helpful. If anything, I think work needs to be done to alleviate the pressure to breast feed at all costs.

I also would never give my child breastmilk from a stranger. SHeesh! It's bad enough I almost killed him. Unless I could guarentee what was in the diet, etc. of the donor, I wouldn't risk it. In my case, I would worry about the donor eating peanut products.

I certainly agree that encouraging mothers to breastfeed is a good thing. I do think it makes a lot more sense than providing WIC formula to people who simply don't want to bother breastfeeding. I agree it is usually best for the baby. I have no problems with commercials emphasising the BENIFITS of breastfeeding.

However, more work needs to be done in supporting mothers who have babies that are failing to thrive on breastmilk. My experience with LLL was very negative and I would never recomend them as a resource. Fortunately I worked with lactation specialists who knew when it was time to say uncle and do what is best for the child.

 

[beckmrk04]

I'm very tired of all the judgement on new mothers- especially by other mothers. To breast or bottle feed. To work or not to work. Daycare or no daycare. The list is endless.


No- bottle feeding isn't the perfect choice. Hey- we don't live in a perfect world. But- there are plenty of bottle fed kids in America who are just fine. I think breast feeding should be encouraged as a first choice- because its benefits HAVE been proven, but if it just won't work for someone- then encourage them to make the next decision and NOT FEEL GUILTY about it.

We need to support mothers, not constantly make them feel inadequate and guilty.

I'm not pregnant yet- we're trying to concieve our first child. And I have already had my preconception check-up, at which time my doctor told me I had to go off of my migraine-prevention medicine while trying and while pregnant- but, she also said that IF I have to go back onit once my baby is born, she DOES NOT want me to feel guilty about bottle feeding instead of breast feeding!!!

So- my message, I guess, is DO WHAT YOU CAN DO. Try breast feeding, if you can. But some people may have to take medicines (and thus not be able to breast feed) OR some people simply may have so many problems trying to breast feed that it was better for them and their child to switch to formula. No sense in adding stress to what can already be a very stressful time in someone's life.

 

[bellacam]

And for those who are unable to BF - there are milk banks where one can still get milk for your baby and do what is best. My cousin donates her milk to one of these banks, for use is mothers whose milk did not come in or who otherwise cannot BF. So even if you cannot BF, you still have the option of giving your child the benefits of

That is a great thing you cousin does. Even though she donates her milk, as do many others, most of it is supplied to hospitals for their neo natal units. What is available for sale is usually very expensive from recognized breast milk banks. There are less expensive private sales but there is no way to know whos milk you are really getting. So even though the option is out there, for most people it is not a viable one.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Honestly, I just think it's the government trying to reach out to those women who are getting baby formula from WIC and other government programs. BF is definitely cheaper and would cost the government less money. Can't say that I blame them!

 

[Beth76]

Oh please. I breastfed my two children for a combined total of about 8 weeks. And they were always supplemented with formula. They are two of the healthiest children I know. I stopped breastfeeding because I didn't like it. Formula was easier for me. I don't feel guilty about it. And as I said before they both turned out just fine.

 

[beckmrk04]

Honestly, I just think it's the government trying to reach out to those women who are getting baby formula from WIC and other government programs. BF is definitely cheaper and would cost the government less money. Can't say that I blame them!

Yeah, but if that were so- they could stop allowing formula as a WIC purchase. Or, make all WIC moms see the commercial, and not pipe them into every home in America and make everyone esle (that isn't on WIC) feel bad.

 

[jgmklmhem]

The commercials you descibe do sound over the top but I don't think more responsible comercials touting breastfeeding would be a bad idea. I mean everywhere you go in the pregnancy to the birth to the pediatricians office have ads, free samples, free bags etc. Heck even at Disney the Baby stations are sponsered by a formula company. Yes most somewhere say breast is best, but the product placement of the formula is enormous. My wife is currently pregnant with our third and we were just in the OB's office today so saw all the gear. Some counter- attack on the promotional front by someone who isn't out to sell something (the govt) seems like a a very good idea.

 

[laura001]

I too am quite upset about these commercials!

I breastfed my first DD for about a week and just could not get my head around it (and I am a nurse). I never really wanted to BF but was more or less pushed into it. I almost needed sedatives to be able to do it, crazy I know, but I just couldn't get myself to do it. Does that make me a bad Mom ???????? Certainly not!

Mother's, especially first time Mom's have enough to deal with, never mind someone making them feel like they aren't doing what they should be doing for their child.

I did not BF my second or third child at all and basically told my physician that I understood what he was saying, but that it was my choice and I would not discuss it any further. He accepted that and it was never a problem, but when someone else heard that I wasn't going to BF, wow, some of the looks

To this day I do not feel that I harmed any of my children, and they are healthy and happy and I enjoyed every minute with them when they were young without having the anxiety of being pushed into BF.

 

[ducklite]

My sister researched the effects of formula vs. breast milk for her doctoral dissertation.

Bottom line, there were differences in various cognitive abilities and physiologies between the two favoring the breast fed child--up to the age of one. After 12 months the bottle fed children almost immediately caught up to, and sometimes exceeded their breastfed peers in EVERY SINGLE ASPECT.

Pieces of this and additional peer reviewed research have been published in the Lancet, Time Magazine, the NE Journal of Medicine, and the British Medical Journal.

Anne

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The commercials you descibe do sound over the top but I don't think more responsible comercials touting breastfeeding would be a bad idea. I mean everywhere you go in the pregnancy to the birth to the pediatricians office have ads, free samples, free bags etc. Heck even at Disney the Baby stations are sponsered by a formula company. Yes most somewhere say breast is best, but the product placement of the formula is enormous. My wife is currently pregnant with our third and we were just in the OB's office today so saw all the gear. Some counter- attack on the promotional front by someone who isn't out to sell something (the govt) seems like a a very good idea.

Excellent point!!!

Also I think (in my case)--the nurses in the hospital were too quick to suggest formula due to an issue when in the end (About a month or so later)--it was determined that it wasn't the BF that was causing the problem!

So why is it okay to push formula via product placement---but when someone does a PSA for BF---it's bad and makes you feel like a bad mom and that isn't okay?

Just change the channel just like I dump my formula coupons and samples in the garbage.