"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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Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker



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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2001
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 2:07pm

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I'd like to "third" that...you, Amalie, Cathie, Fio, Jeanine, and (I know there are more but my brain is friiiiied today!) all the rest have taught me more about my body, birthing, and breastfeeding, than I learned in all the health-based classes in high school and any courses I took afterward. I continue to learn new things by coming here, and I wish others would get past any personality issues (real or imagined) and just read what's written.


In addition I just wanted to mention to tlflag (since I'm so warm & fuzzy today) that I think you are a great addition to this board. Your posts are always thought-provoking and sincere.


slipping back into lurkdom...busy month at work :0)

Mary



Mom to Kevin 11/4/03



You can hate me, but do it because you know me, not because I’m a member of a group. Anyways, people aren’t grapes --- you can’t weigh them in a bunch, but I guess it’s easier than dealing with people as individuals. There, I’ve solved the riddle of prejudice: it saves time.



Rita Mae Brown, US author and social activist

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-19-2006
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 2:26pm

i'm having a hard time keeping up with this debate (only read up to 200) so if someone already made this distinction, sorry!

the difference is that alot of the time vag birth can be risky for some babes and moms, or carry unknown outcomes whereas bfing is rarely risky, and formula feeding always is and the risks are known ahead of time.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2003
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 2:44pm

"I think you got it *almost* right. I think people sincerely want the same level of acceptance of a woman's choice to have interventions during childbirth to apply to feeding choices as well."

Since we need more posts in this thread, I would like to point out that this isn't likely to happen! Which one do you think more directly affects the baby and has MORE negative outcomes for the baby? Now I am no fan of elective inductions/c-sec/drug use during birth. I had 2 epi's myself, but I am not defensive about. I think it's great to hear about others unmed experiences, it's definitely the right way to go. It's just not the same to compare interventions to ffing. FFing mostly affects the *baby* (not the mom) in a negative way. Ffing is long term, drugs are short term (when no repercussions are noted in the immediate period following).

What is the number one thing to do to ensure a healthy baby in the first year of life? Breastfeed! Not, "have an unmed birth". Though an unmed birth can be the first step and in some cases be a big step toward that end.

If anything, having interventions will be looked upon the same as ffing. I do not see it swinging the other way, where we are back to 'do what you want it doesn't matter'.

Debbie

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2003
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 2:50pm

I was trying make the point, that if you don't have immediate problems, then basically, no harm done. That is why I think that using interventions during birth have not reached the level of 'pressure' we see to bf. (I don't really think there is pressure to bf LOL, or if there is then it is not working) This is all in response to this:

"We know there are risks to pain relief during childbirth just as we know there are risks to ffing. Why is one set of risks acceptable but the other is not? Why is the mother's comfort such a huge concern on the one hand and not on the other? I don't understand why we think it's perfectly ok for the vast majority of women to take risks during childbirth, but when it comes to feeding methods we think no one should unless *absolutely, positively* necessary. Why is bfing "standard" but unmedicated, vaginal births are seen as "too difficult" for most?"

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-psbfvbottle&msg=2831.684

Pretty much, it is worse for the baby to be ffed, that be subject to interventions during birth.
Debbie

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2005
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 3:07pm

I am off for a while and I cannot keep up...I just skimmed 50 posts...

OK, OK, to answer a question way back when about why I was induced. I had a slight leak for two days. My doctor was not the best in his field and was called many names by former patients including myself. I went in on Wednesday the 3rd of August and said I had some leaking. He called it discharge and said he would induce me the next day. He was then too busy and I was put to the side. At 10:00 pm on the 4th I went to the hospital and said I think I have a real leak. He checked and said yes I did and I was induced at 3 am on August 5th, over 24 hours from the first leaking to begin. At least next time I will know what a leak is and she was born at 7:51 in the morning, 9 minutes before my doctor would have gone off duty. Kylie said, you put me aside but I still inist you are there when I am born! I told you she is stubborn!

As for pain medications, I think it ironic that first world nations now want to go back and have childbirth naturally including more home births then before and 3rd world conutries want to go towards what they consider first world standards such as epis and formula. Personally, I agree that formula feeding is not something I want to do again, but epis, I will. I went 2 hours, could not take a bath as it impeded the ability to hear a heart beat (wireless heart beat monitoring machine) and I do not do relax well. I am highly high strung and I have spent my life trying to relax! LOL! I hate when someone says to me, oh just relax. Makes me want to tear their head off...OK, not literally, only when my husband says it to tell you the truth but still, if I could, I would have a long time ago.

Plus, I have to say with a 4 hour birth the first time, I might not get my wish because the next one, if trends continue could end up just popping that baby out in no time. My biological mother had my sister in 1 and a half hours!

She was 38 weeks for those who want to know, and 7 pounds although I had gestational diabetes so if I had made it to 40 weeks, I would have had a 9 pounder!

And according to this board, I have done it all wrong...and God Bless her, she is doing just fine...! More her then me!

Spud...







Lilypie




iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2003
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 3:11pm

Those health classes in grade and high school were the biggest joke there ever was, knew that then and it's just been reconfirmed throughout the years. And I agree that tlflag has been a great addition to this board. It's so nice and refreshing to have someone articulate to argue with and who isn't afraid to challenge and make you think. Thanks so much for sticking around and best wishes for your new little bundle to be!

-jeanine

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2003
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 3:14pm

Yeah, I know. And you're pretty much right, I just couldn't help pointing out that there are cases where the risks aren't quite so immediate or short lived. Besides, how else are we gonna get to 1,000 if we don't chase down a few more rabbit holes? ;-) How's your new little sweetie doing?

-jeanine

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2003
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 3:18pm

My midwives had no problems listening to the heartbeat underwater with the handheld Doppler. And I highly doubt that she would have put on 2 lbs in the 2-3 weeks she would have had had you gone to term, babies don't gain weight that fast in utero. Besides, fat squishes, it's the head circumference that can cause troubles.

-jeanine

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2006
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 3:20pm

“”That's been my experience, too. (in WI and IL) People act like I'm trying to be "superwoman" or some kind of martyr by breastfeeding/unmedicated birth. The moment the topic of breastfeeding or unmed birth comes up, women immediately start talking about how they would never do *THAT*, and all the reasons it would never "work" for them. No pressure to BF here!””


Lori
**Navy Wife to Eddie since Dec 2002**

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2005
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 3:21pm

>>>Yeah, I know. And you're pretty much right, I just couldn't help pointing out that there are cases where the risks aren't quite so immediate or short lived. Besides, how else are we gonna get to 1,000 if we don't chase down a few more rabbit holes? ;-) How's your new little sweetie doing?>>>

I do admire the ladies convictions here when it comes to child care. I did not have quite the same confidence when Kylie was born as I do now. I was mostly just scared. I often tell Kylie before putting her to bed that the first born bears the brunt of an inexperienced Mum and that I seem to learn things about one stage when she is already two ahead! Sometimes I think that is why first borns tend to be the responsible ones, because they often as ahead of Mum and have had to live through a lot of her errors to be fair!

Spud...first born myself!







Lilypie




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