[SaraI07]

Originally Posted by twinzplus3

Individuals do not a statistic make.

You can't look at two samples and prove your point, statistically speaking. You have no idea how much worse your husband could've been had he not been breastfed or how much healthier you all could've been had you been breastfed. You have to have a sample of at least 30 people to make a valid statistical statement.

Also, breastmilk is not made up of the stuff you eat. That's just not how it works. I would really encourage you to at least do some reading on breastfeeding if you plan to have more children if nothing else than to clear up your misconceptions.

All that I really meant to say was that I don't think breastfeeding is all that it's cracked up to be. I don't believe that it is significantly more beneficial than formula if you don't have a well balanced diet. Everything that you take into your body is passed to your infant through your breastmilk. The good the bad and the ugly. It is naive to think that your body only takes the good and nothing else.
So NO I do not think there should be a label on formula to make mothers who choose not to breastfeed feel guilty.

[pattiewrites]

Originally Posted by SaraI07

All that I really meant to say was that I don't think breastfeeding is all that it's cracked up to be. I don't believe that it is significantly more beneficial than formula if you don't have a well balanced diet. .

Not even the formula companies believe this.

[twinzplus3]

Oh Sarah. . .I understood exactly what you were saying. But scientifically speaking, that's just not correct information. It's not like if you eat a donut. . .you're passing all that sugar and calories onto your baby. . .that's just not how it works. That's not how breastmilk is made. Even malnourished mothers in developing countries are encouraged to breastfeed to give the best possible chance for their babies' survival.

A moderate increase in breastfeeding over the world, would decrease infant mortality significantly.
Breastmilk has anti-bacterial properties (none of which can be replicated in formula) such that you can use it to treat skin infections, and boosts immunity.
They also estimate that several million dollars would be saved a year in hospitalizations of infants if more mothers were breastfeeding.

Like Pattie said, not even formula companies believe that there's not much difference which is why they try to make formula like breastmilk. They are striving for the ideal which is breastmilk.

Like I said, I would really encourage you to do some good reading on breastfeeding and breastmilk if you plan on having more children. It's fairly amazing stuff and formula doesn't even come close.

[mcmama]

And the whole process of breastfeeding is amazing too.

Sure miss burning those extra calories!

[twinzplus3]

Oh btw, I said this earlier but this is a long thread. I don't think that formula cans should necessarily contain warning labels either. What I would rather see happen is legislation passed making hospitals more bf friendly, insurance companies paying for lactation consultants services and other support services, and government programs like WIC offering more breastfeeding support.

[JeanLynn81]

All that I really meant to say was that I don't think breastfeeding is all that it's cracked up to be. I don't believe that it is significantly more beneficial than formula if you don't have a well balanced diet. Everything that you take into your body is passed to your infant through your breastmilk. The good the bad and the ugly. It is naive to think that your body only takes the good and nothing else.

If a mother is breastfeeding, the child gets what they need regardless. It is the mother who will suffer if she has an unbalanced diet. I don't breastfeed but this I know.

Now if a mom was smoking cigarettes, or doing drugs, or a heavy drinker-then, yes, those bad things will get passed to the baby. This is an instance where its better to formula feed.

So many moms are so very ill-informed about bf'ing. If I had known all I know today back when I had my dd, I would have fought harder to make it work.

[twinzplus3]

Originally Posted by JeanLynn81

So many moms are so very ill-informed about bf'ing. If I had known all I know today back when I had my dd, I would have fought harder to make it work.

I think this is true for the majority of moms. I have talked to numerous moms who felt like they would've tried harder if they knew.