"Proud Formula Feeder"?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
"Proud Formula Feeder"?
1054
Thu, 12-14-2006 - 8:27pm

In my playgroup, I've noticed some members have a blinkie I haven't seen before: "Proud Formula Feeder". In the past, I've seen the "Formula Feeding Mom" and "It's formula, not rat poison", but this new one struck me as odd. I can understand simply stating that you formula feed or saying that formula isn't rat poison (because it isn't), but I've been trying to figure out just why someone would be "proud" to FF.

While I don't think that women should necessarily feel guilty about not BF, I don't get what about FF there is to be proud about. Most (or maybe even all) of the women with said blinkie acknowledge that breastmilk is better, so why would they be proud to feed their babies something they know is substandard, even if they couldn't BF and FF was their only choice? What do you ladies think? Is/should there be such a thing as FF pride?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2006
Wed, 12-20-2006 - 4:40pm

This is where I went off-course.

Avatar for mrsmichael6300
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 12-20-2006 - 5:19pm

>>Well for one thing, telling them they are harming their child simply by the way they are feeding that child. An outsider can judge quickly, but they really don't know *why* that particular woman chose to ff.<<

This is debate, the crux of which is fact. It is a fact that every baby not fed human breastmilk is harmed in some way (if you don't believe that, you'll have to do more research -- ff babies lack proper gut flora and their guts do not close; their immune systems are not properly formed, either, and this is just the beginning. And I know you're about to tell me that you're healthy, and your family is healthy, and that if your gut were damaged in some way you'd know it, and that you're hardly ever sick, but I'm still going to tell you that w/o breastmilk the gut is not properly formed and you can't change that). There is no need to question *why* the baby was not bf -- it is aboslutely, 100% irrelevent to the discussion. Not breastfeeding leads to some degree of harm, however minute. That is not a judgement. That is a fact. It is not commentary on parenting skills, or condemnation.

You like to uphold choice, to defend a woman's right to make decisions that affect "her body." But how can a woman truly make a choice if she does not have accurate, true, and full information prior to weighing her options? How it is really a choice if she doesn't know the risks of ff'ing, if all she "knows" is that she was ff, and so was her family, and they're all "just fine"? How is she really making a choice if a trusted healthcare professional provides her with faulty information which leads to ff'ing? I believe that all consent must be truly informed, and the only way to achieve that is by providing all facts. Pamdering to women by minimizing the risks, or glossing over them, or pretending they don't exist in an effort to waylay guilt, is unethical to say the least, and insulting to say the most.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 12-20-2006 - 6:12pm

"Well for one thing, telling them they are harming their child simply by the way they are feeding that child. An outsider can judge quickly, but they really don't know *why* that particular woman chose to ff."


I would agree, if someone said that to someone else.

Cathie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 12-20-2006 - 6:19pm

"Plus, as the arguement goes on, we do find those that do think formula is the morally wrong choice and that is why people put up their blinkie, because they had to make a choice and that choice might not have been an easy one! Some may of done it on a whim but some of us had to make that difficult choice!"


I can appreciate someone having to make the difficult choice to go against what they thought was best.

Cathie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 12-20-2006 - 6:30pm

"Nothing productive can from unsolicited advice (ie criticism)!!!!"


If you were to lay the unsolicited pressure to breastfeed next to the unsolicited pressure to FORMULA feed, the formula pressure would win by miles.

Cathie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 12-20-2006 - 6:39pm
Have you seen an IBCLC?

Cathie

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2006
Wed, 12-20-2006 - 6:53pm

I kind of wrote off LC's after the two I dealt with at the hospital (one told me my latch was good even though it was horribly painful and I was bleeding; the second solved my pain/bleeding problem by handing me a nipple shield as she cruised

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 12-20-2006 - 7:40pm

If you want to continue breastfeeding, know that a buisiness trip can negatively impact that.


I went on a business trip for 5 days when DS was 6 mo.

Cathie

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2003
Wed, 12-20-2006 - 7:59pm

<<"I don't think it's ticking anyone off. It certainly doesn't tick me off. To each their own. :-)"

I think it does get to people, especially since there are over 200 posts here, most of which are from bfers. :)>>

You haven't been around very long. We're very cruel to dead horses here.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2003
Wed, 12-20-2006 - 8:04pm

<< I may have decided to bf the child I am expecting, but that doesn't mean I can't see the other side as well. I don't like seeing women "bash" other women for any reason.>>

This is a debate board. This is a board people come to when they want to take a side. I can't speak for everyone, but I myself have never once "bashed" a family member or friend for breastfeeding. We can all see the other side, but being middle of the road hardly makes for fun debate.

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