"Proud Formula Feeder"?
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| 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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Hey, I didn't know we had another "full term nurser" amidst us! ;-D
My oldest weaned less than a year ago, at age 6. The younger is pretty much weaned and is 4...
Fio
"OK but whose choice is it? It obviously is the mom's, in reality, but what do you think the baby would choose?"
Same argument the anti-abortionists make....
Of course, as parents, many choices have to be made where the child has little or no say. Should parents have to consult their children in all matters? Doesn't that take away all authority as parents? I know it's an extreme comparison, but I would hate to see bfing be dictated in the same way many people want to dictate other matters that should be a woman's choice, IMO.
Do you take anything, such as fenugreek? How do you supplement? With a bottle? At the beginning or the end of the feeding? Or at the breast with a supplementer? There may still be ways of getting you back on track. It may actually become easier as she eats more solid foods though, since her needs for milk will diminish (ie it won't matter if you're not "100% responsible" for her calorie intake).
Fio
Gee I hope my SIL gets that far! :-) I haven't talked to her personally in a few weeks...I kind of hesitate to call, you know? Me the "militant" BFer who she may think is secretly laughing my a@@ off at her problems (I'm NOT believe me...). She has my number and I said to call if she needed more guidance, but I gave her all the info I could at the time, plus a breastpump, gastric tube for supplementing, nipple shield (which I strongly advised she only use if he WOULDN'T take the breast nude, since he *is* 3 mos old and might not know what to do with a breast, but with a silicone feel in his mouth it MIGHT just make the difference...) and hope she makes a good go of it...
Fio
Have you confirmed that these 2 "LC's" were both IBCLC's? There is a difference..."anyone" can basically call themself an LC. I am one, if you want. ;-) I'm a BF volunteer, but I'm basically a latation consultant. I consult with people about lactation. But I am not (yet...hopefully one day!) an INTERNATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED LC. :-)
Fio
LOL, I like that term.
I never set out to nurse Kate for so long. I was planning to make it to a year because the older three were switched to formula at 5, 2 and 5 months. By the time one year rolled around, Kate was still happily nursing and I loved how simple it was, so I kept going. I didn't wean her until she was 5 because there was always a reason not to! Winter wasn't a good time because the older germ vectors, I mean kids, brought home everything. We moved, so that wasn't a good time. My oldest left home for a while and she was close to him, so that was tough...and not a good time. And then her dad and I split up and that definitely wasn't a good time.
By the time she was 4, she was only nursing before bedtime, but the child was so attached to her "nursies" that she would fall asleep fine at her dad's for 4-5 nights in a row, then come stay with me and go right back to nursing before bedtime.
It was funny having weaning conversations with her. She swore up and down that she would quit when she turned 5, but her birthday came and went and she still wasn't ready to quit. We finally quit abruptly when I started taking an antifungal med. It probably wouldn't have really hurt her, but it was a convenient excuse for me to tell her the nursies were broken.
SO is kind of freaked about the possibility that I'll nurse Will that long, so we don't discuss it. I told him that I'm committed to 2 years and after that we'll see. Realistically, I'll let Will decide because I figure SO will get on board with extended breastfeeding just like he did with homebirth!
It's not for everyone, but it was such a special experience for me that I would not hesitate to do it again.
RPS
The only ppl to EVER say negative stuff to me about nursing have been the IL's. Particularily my FIL and BIL. That is kind of sad BUT also in another way, it is just their way of kidding...no matter how cruel. *eyeroll*
The only time I have ever "asconded" a mom was to congratulate a mom for BFing. Sometimes I go up and do that. But I don't ever go up and just start berating a FFing mom, of course.
Fio
Yeah. I think part of it is...when someone looks at you nursing that "great big kid", that's all they see. When YOU look at the "little tiny baby" on your lap (all the while going "how did he get so big?!") you see your newborn. They don't change much from day to day, and from week to week. Probably your SO will realize THAT eventually...that if it was ok for him to nurse yesterday and today, why not tomorrow? :-)
It would be weird for me to nurse my now almost-7yo. She hasn't nursed in about 9 mos. She's grown. She has lost another tooth. She's had a haircut that makes her look older. But a year ago, it wasn't weird. In fact, I felt bittersweet that her nursing days were obviously drawing to a close.
Fio
I don't know about insurance covering it. That may vary. Some hospitals do have IBCLC's...lots have nurses who claim to be LC's but who know very little. Be very choosy. ;-)
I have a friend who is an IBCLC. It is 65$ for a visit with her. If it is say a latch-on issue that requires a second or even 3rd visit to resolve the SAME issue, they are free. If there is another issue that comes about (say thrush instead of said latch issue) then she re-charges. MOST moms do NOT need to see an IBCLC a dozen times in their life. If they have major problems to begin with, maybe 1-3 visits. If they have other major problems later on, maybe 1-2 visits. In most cases it is far less to see an IBCLC 3 times and buy a double electric pump than it is to formula feed for a year. Lots of moms don't need to see an IBCLC but I would recommend trying to FIND one nearby (call up to ask prices...they can't charge you for that!) in case help IS needed along the way.
ETA: not all moms need a double electric pump either. If you work and pump, maybe, but not if you SAH usually.
Fio
Edited 1/4/2007 12:34 pm ET by macbump
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