Why are mum's been told to put baby on bottle after a few months?

Sydney - posted on 02/01/2011

First of all i would like to start off by saying that I am still breast feeding my 3.5 month old daughter... but just because a mother does not want to breast feed does not mean they are lazy. As you said some just do not have the milk to supply their child with their demands, but if a mother chooses not to breast feed that does not mean they are a bad mother! I just think it is horrible how society has made us women feel that if we do not want to breast feed we are doing a great disservice to their children.
If you are not wanting to breast feed your child, but are still doing everything to give your child the best start, there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes its just to much even for a mother who is at home all day with their children.
That being said more power to those women who can breast feed for 12 to 24 months, but those who decide not to do so should not be frowned upon for their decision.

Lisa-Marie - posted on 05/25/2010

Australia is so different from other countries!! No one I know has ever been told to put their baby on formula for any reason - formula is just something on the shelf at the supermarket that is never spoken about. Where other counties breastfeeding mummies seem to get picked on for breastfeeding here it seems to be the opposite - I have been asked more times in public by strangers then I could count why it is that I am not breastfeeding!!
I think it is a good thing as I am a huge supporter of breastfeeding if you can but for little old me who is in the small percentage of women who can't it can be as upsetting I guess - as always being pressured to give up breastfeeding.
I really hope that the other countries can change though cause of cause it would be better to have well informed medical professionals giving correct advise!!

Celeste - posted on 05/24/2010

That is awesome, Kathy! I was lucky to find a very pro breastfeeding doctor, which was recommended to me by an IBCLC. They are out there, you just have to know who to ask..

Kathy - posted on 05/24/2010

We're pretty lucky here in Australia - our medical profession has pretty up-to-date information and they work closely with lactation consultants and organisations such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

Celeste - posted on 05/24/2010

I'm assuming that you're not from the US, but here in the states, many medical professionals have little education about breastfeeding and breastfed babies.

There is also so much misinformation about breastfeeding (Your baby is eating every 2 hours? You MUST not have any milk! You're only pumping 2 oz? You MUST not have any milk! and so on and so forth). Add that to the fact that the doctors themselves have little information on breastfeeding, that can be a recipe for sabotage of breastfeeding.

BTW, the WHO states 2 years or beyond :)

Kathy - posted on 05/23/2010

I feel a rant coming on, but I'm so scared of making formula-feeding mums feel guilty!

Elissa - posted on 05/23/2010

There are some major misunderstandings that the formula companies are happy to put about and health professionals dont bother updating their knowledge. Many advocate supplementing after some time or swapping entirely because formula milk has more vitamins - for the same reason the UK Dept of Health recommend b/fing mothers and babies take multivitamins. This ignores the fact that the vitamins in formula are not bio-available. Only 4% of iron is usable for example compared to 50 - 75% in breast milk.

Also the increased appetite associated with the 4 month growth spurt is often mistaken for the baby needing more than breast milk and being put on formula and/or solids instead of just being fed more. Health professionals who advocate this are not only out of date but should be considered negligent for not maintaining their knowledge base

Minnie - posted on 05/22/2010

Because since the advent and commercialization of infant formula in western countries the vast majority of people are misinformed about the normal course of breastfeeding.