During a twitter conversation I had, a point was made that the ‘risks’ of formula feeding is not widely available to most women before they make the choice to formula feed. While I feel every women should be given the right to choose what is best for them and their family regarding how they choose to feed their children, I also feel that information should be available about both breastfeeding and formula.
First I want to state that I do not feel any one should be judged because of the choice they made for their children. As women and Mothers we tend to carry guilt around over our decisions and choices and the last thing we should do is judge each other.
Here is a link to a great article: Outcomes of Breastfeeding Vs. Formula Feeding written by Ginna Wall, MN, IBCLC for those of you interested in reading the differences between the two.
*Edited to add: I think finding information on the benefits of breastfeeding is well known – you can find the links in my Link section. Harder to find now is positive information on formula. Here are some links to articles that demystify some of the over-claims for breastfeeding benefits:Breastfeeding Claims Overblow
Positive Health Contributions of Infant Formula
Breastfeeding Does Not Make Babies Smarter
Safety of BPA: FDA Reaffirms Safety
Safety of BPA: Health Canada Reaffirms Safety
Breastfeeding Does Not Reduce Risk for Obesity
When I was a young(er) mom the only people I encountered who were ‘pro breast feeders’ were not only that but also ‘anti formula feeders’. I found this to be totally detrimental to myself because when I made the informed decision to give my 1st child formula after 6 weeks of breastfeeding I felt like I had let my child down when the nurses gave that sighed ‘OH’ when I told I was giving my child formula. I am sure I could have continued nursing, nothing was physically stopping me (emotionally, yes) however I was SO not willing to seek further support because of the “down my throat” approach of our local breastfeeding support I received.
Growing up (4yrs later) and becoming more confident in MY choices I have been breastfeeding my 3rd child for a year now. I am studying to become and IBCLC and vow to be there for the MOTHER, to provide support and not just push my own belief and agenda. I do believe wholeheartedly in the benefits of breastfeeding and wish there was more support and education out there for women and families, but I will not be one of those women who I encountered when I was a new mother.
I am Pro Breast feeding NOT Anti formula – and I believe there is a HUGE difference!
I don’t know why we mothers always do this – it always has to be one way or the other and we find it difficult to see the benefits and reasons behind the other choice. Stay at home or working mother? Breast feed or Bottle feed? No one should be ashamed of their informed choices or what they have chosen for their families. No one lives in our shoes and no one has the right to judge our choices.
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I actually just saw that little convo on Twitter between you and Radical Lactivist and started following you because of it. You really made some excellent points and I want to commend you for that.
As someone who had medical reasons behind my switch to formula, people often tell me that it is "different" in my case because I "had no choice". That bothers me on a fundamental level, because the same people will tell you that formula shouldn't BE a choice, due to the "risks". Well, there are risks in everything we do as parents – vaccinating or not, circumcision or not, feeding organic or not (or gluten-free or dairy-free or what have you) – on both sides of ALL these issues are valid arguments. Breastfeeding is no different.
One problem with all of this is that like anything, some studies will show one thing and others will show the polar opposite. It's difficult to get a cut-and-dry answer about anything having to do with parenting, due to the inherent flaws in studying small children. Parenting philosophy tends to go in waves, and whatever the "trend" is at the time, there is always research to back it up (on that note, even the article you linked to is written by a IBLC, who is most likely biased towards breastfeeding in no small way – not that she will skew her research on purpose, but a lot of these studies are up for interpretation). Parents need to inform themselves, but it's not always easy… and we have to remember that tomorrow, what was considered bad could be good, and vice versa. All we can do is try our best to make an informed decision on what is best for OUR families, weigh the pros and cons, and live our lives.
Thanks for putting this out there. I've said it before, but people like you who understand that supporting breastfeeding does not have to mean condemning formula feeding are what is REALLY going to change the perception of breastfeeding in our culture.
Fearless
Thank you so much for your comment and your support.
I can understand your problem with the 'no choice' statement as I feel the same way. Parenting is all about choices – everyday there is some choice that has to be made and all we can do is weigh the options and choose what is right for OUR family.
People have been using 'scare tactics' forever to force people in to believing what they believe and I think that is exactly what is going on with the "Anti Formula Movement". As you said, research results can be interpreted in different ways – same is done for pro breast feeders and anti formula feeders. All about who is looking at the numbers and the results.
The "Anti Formula" people disguising themselves as "Pro Breastfeeders" is doing the opposite of what they want – it turned me away from going to seek more help for breastfeeding because I didn't want to encounter another Anti Formula person. I fear that women and mothers think of IBCLC members as Anti-formula which is a shame.
Thank you again for your support and for sharing your perspective!
Hi Devan,
Thanks for bringing this dialogue to the attention to many readers. I agree with you 100% that there is a huge difference between being pro-breastfeeding (which I am) and anti-formula feeding. There tends to be a hostility with the later that can be intimidating and off-putting to those who are on the fence and most in need of support.
One thing that those of us striving for change have to remember is that change does not happen over night and being overtly radical can actually alienate rather than support and assist those groups in which we wish to see the biggest changes.
On another note I wanted to say congratulations on going for you IBCLC! The last time we talked you were still thinking about it – I am so glad you decided to go for it. You are going to do so well and be such an asset to the community!
There is such a fine line between what is and isn't anti-formula feeding.
I agree completely with the FFF about the link being likely biased.
Brooke
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
This posting for the article goes back to a twitter conversation i was having ystrdy with (in my opinion) an Anti Formula agenda disguised as a pro breast feeder. One of her main arguments was that I was uninformed about the 'dangers' of formula because it is hard for women to find information regarding the 'safety' of formula. That article posting was in response to that conversation – there is a LOT of information regarding the 'dangers' of formula – that one was particularly in depth. I agree it is likely bias as any study would be regarding formula and breastfeeding as there is far too much that can be interpreted.
The difference between Pro Bfing and Anti FF is those who are Anti FF feel that formula is evil and should be banned or available only be prescription. I certainly do not feel that is the case! Formula saved my relationship with my first child and it saves countless lives every day.
New studies are coming out now (i will edit post and add them) that are showing that there is little evidence that BFing reduces risk of SIDS, that it does not decrease risk for heart disease for the mom and that the benefits that we all hear about breastfeeding over bottle feeding are over blown.
Society tends to always go one extreme or the other. Before it used to be all for formula and women who breastfed were looked down on – now it has switched and FF are felt 'looked down on'. Stay at home moms used to be the norm – now most women work and stay at home moms are 'looked down on' for not having a 'career'. Circumcision used to be the norm and now it has switched. All are such personal decisions and i guarantee no family made their decision lightly. We are all doing what is best for our family and our situation and people really need to stop shoving their agenda down our throats.
Thank you again for taking the time to comment – i appreciate your input
I think also from a personal level, there is a difference between being personally pro-BF and anti-formula vs. judging others. When I had my LO I didn't expect to feel as strongly about BF as I did, but we ended up exclusively BFing despite some allergy-related difficulties. I feel strongly that it is the right thing for us, both on a medical and emotional level, but that doesn't mean that it is right for everyone, and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to criticize other mommies for making their own choices and following their hearts.
Some of the advantages of EBF are no doubt overstated…as are the dangers of formula. However, I also am not crazy about having formula pushed on mothers any more than BFing. When my daughter was in the NICu I had to fight to get them to not give her formula, which as she ended up having allergies would have been bad for her.
*shrug* It is amazing how difficult being a first time mommy is, and how badly nurses in the hospital can act- I had nurses who criticized my supply (pre Nicu) and then others who acted extremely put-out that we insisted on EBF. A disheartening experience, but I'm proud that we got through it and I have a beautiful, healthy EBF daughter. That being said, children are amazing miracles no matter how they are fed!!!
-Sea
Sea
Congrats on EBFing your daughter -it's a great accomplishment. My 3rd child was EBF for 9 months before we starting giving her table food too. She also has a casein allergy so on top of being gluten free (ive got celiac disease) i gave up all casein in order to continue breast feeding.
I have never had that experience of "forcing formula nurses". I delivered my 3 children in a hospital that was "Pro Breastfeeding/Anti Formula" (with nurses who were no help with problem breastfeeding but that is a whole different rant) – it is their policy that if the mother wishes to use formula that is their wish, but you have to bring your own and the baby rooms in (other the the NICu) and is never gone from the parents so I never had to worry about formula being given to my child in that setting. I thank you for sharing your experience of a hospital with a different policy with me.
It really is hard being a first time mom, so much contradicting information out there, many people pushing their agenda and it can be very difficult to sort out the two. Breastfeeding may be the ideal way to feed your child, but it is not the only way – formula is a safe and a good substitute – used for whatever personal reason.
Thank you for your comment!