Breastfeeding Media Blitz

Jul 23, 2009 by cafebebemama

There is a flurry of media coverage in the UK this week on Breastfeeding and it’s a very hot topic in the blogging world as well- see my friend OMG, We’re Pregnant for several posts on the matter.  I’ve hesitated on writing on this topic.  I have wanted to (I touched on it a bit in my post Baby Love- Finding Our Way at OMG, We’re Pregnant) but I’ve been a bit afraid of backlash as well.  This month’s Mother and Baby magazine has a special “Breastfeeding Issue” with the UK’s first breastfeeding model.  The other day on BBC Radio 2′s Jeremy Vine show, there was another heated debate about the topic.  There was a story related on the show about a woman who inquired to a shop assistant at Boot’s (the major pharmacy store in the UK) as to why she didn’t receive loyalty points nor could she redeem them for FORMULA.  The shop assistant apparently told the woman that they weren’t allowed for formula and that she should be breastfeeding anyway.  The poor customer was devastated by this woman’s comments as she had had medical issues and difficulties which made breastfeeding impossible.  As if she hadn’t felt horrible enough about the situation, then to have a shop assistant telling her off for NOT breastfeeding is deplorable. 

 Perhaps I should back up a step or two?  When I was pregnant, I thoroughly expected to breastfeed successfully.  Everyone does it, why shouldn’t I be able to?  I skimmed over the Bottle Feeding sections in all my pregnancy books and didn’t even consider buying bottles, formula or a steriliser.  Why would I need those?  We were going to get it right!  Because BREAST IS BEST and all.  Well, guess what?  We didn’t get it right.  Little Miss could not latch on to save her life.  I was poked, prodded, abused, shoved, tweaked and twiddled by midwife after midwife and lactation consultant after lactation consultant.  Nothing doing.  Little Miss stressed and screamed and I tried and tried and cried and cried in those first days in hospital.  Never mind that the environment was less than conducive to successful breastfeeding.  I broke down on our second night and got “permission” from one of the midwives to feed my baby some formula as she had not eaten anything since being born 2 days prior.  I felt that I needed permission to do what was best for my baby- FEED HER!!!  I was a failure!  Or so I thought.  Everything is about pushing BREASTFEEDING.  You MUST do it and if you don’t, you’re selfish and not capable.  This is how I felt…this is not everyone’s experience by any means.  Once Little Miss finally got some food in her, she was happy and slept.  Which meant that I got a wee bit of rest as well.  Isn’t that what’s best?  My husband had to scour the shelves of Boot’s for formula, bottles, sterilisers and cleaners on his own (and did a fabulous job) and my Little Miss has never had problem ONE being on formula.  She’s healthier than some babies I know who were exclusively breastfed.  She put on just the right amount of weight and has excelled in all areas of development. 

Where my problem is, is this pressure put on expectant and new mums and the general message that if you can’t manage to breastfeed, you are a failure.  Where’s the support and education out there for mums who choose to OR have to bottle feed?  According to studies in the UK, there is a high percentage of mums who are preparing formula incorrectly for their child.  I wonder why?  It’s hardly touched on in any of the Mummy Manuals or Pre Natal Classes.  Shouldn’t bottle feeding be given just a bit of respect out there as well?  Mothers should not be walking around with their heads held in shame for the fact that they couldn’t breastfeed their child.  It’s time to fight back!

 I wish I could have breastfed!  Life would have been somewhat simpler and I would have felt that amazing feeling of being able to do what nature intended.  But not doing it has never affected my bond with my daughter and I am very proud of what she’s accomplished in her 13 months.  If we have another baby, I do not think that I will attempt to breastfeed.  I had such a negative experience the first time and I don’t know that I want to put my future child or myself through that again.  I respect every mother’s right to do what’s best for them and applaud those who do succeed at breastfeeding.  However, I would really appreciate it if the media would take a minute and realise that there are a lot of us out there who couldn’t breastfeed and it’s about time that they started being positive about that group and giving us the support and education that WE need and deserve.  I shall now climb down off the soapbox and await your comments…be kind…everyone is entitled to their opinion, after all!