4 ms·

Highly immoral - they still advertise formula as preferable to breast feeding in many parts of the world. I wouldn't trust any advice from them. Have been avoi

Highly immoral - they still advertise formula as preferable to breast feeding in many parts of the world. I wouldn't trust any advice from them. Have been avoiding all Nestle group products for over 20 years.

schwartzworld 8y ago
Formula can be preferable to breastfeeding. The benefits of breastmilk are real, but typically overstated. If you have the time, the energy (and the milk-production!) then, sure, you should breastfeed. But if the decision isn't right for you, you shouldn't feel bad about giving your babies formula. The most important thing is making sure the baby is fed. Obviously, the Nestle story is disgusting, but that doesn't mean a mom can't supplement with a little formula while she waits for her milk to come in, or in order to avoid pumping in the bathroom at work, or to let dad take over a feeding or two so she can sleep. The messaging given to new moms makes it sound like milk is magic health juice and formula is one step above rat poison, but this isn't the case.
- DoreenMichele 8y ago
  The most important thing is making sure the baby is fed. 20 million times this. I had one child who breastfed more than a year. He has health issues and that did him a lot of good. My other child breastfed full-time only ten days, then once a day until he was six weeks old for the immune support it provides. He is lactose intolerant and every few weeks I temporarily put him on a bean based formula, IIRC, to clear up his diarrhea. Doctors were zero help with this issue. I just figured out what worked on my own and only later realized he was lactose intolerant. My sister successfully breastfed in part because of my pragmatic "do what works for the baby and ignore everything else" approach. I successfully resolved my own issue with a blocked milk duct because of a passage in a Heinlein book. Showing the nurse my nipple and explaining how painful it was accomplished absolutely nothing while making me feel humiliated.
  - iforgotpassword 8y ago
    Huh, I never knew you could be lactose intolerant to your mother's milk. My sister was lactose intolerant but that only manifested when my mom tried switching to formula at 10 months. My sister was gasy, had diarrhea, spent the whole night crying but seemed fine during the day. Doctor just told my mom she needs some time to adapt. After weeks of sleepless nights, just holding my crying sister all night, she went to a different doctor. She was an elderly woman, old school, and immediately diagnosed her properly. At that point my sister has lost quite some weight and all the milk messed up her intestinal villi, so even after my mom switched to soy milk my sister couldn't really digest anything for another week or two, so basically lost some more weight and kept crying. One of the worst episodes of raising kids she says.
- NeedMoreTea 8y ago
  Sure. If you are unable, or supplementing that's one thing, I think few would take issue with that, nor should they. There's lots of valid reasons as you mention, and some get no choice but to use formulas. I'm not sure the benefits are that overstated - least not from my somewhat hazy memory of what came with the UK new mum packs and NHS info. As for Nestle? Repeated reports of breaking agreements, in developing countries where breast feeding and income is low and water untreated. I would say that's quite another thing. Boycott started in the 60s or 70s, and Nestle still haven't figured out how to act ethically in the poorer parts of the globe. I see little reason to want to give them money yet - despite depriving myself of Kit Kats. :)

schwartzworld 8y ago

Formula can be preferable to breastfeeding. The benefits of breastmilk are real, but typically overstated. If you have the time, the energy (and the milk-production!) then, sure, you should breastfeed. But if the decision isn't right for you, you shouldn't feel bad about giving your babies formula. The most important thing is making sure the baby is fed. Obviously, the Nestle story is disgusting, but that doesn't mean a mom can't supplement with a little formula while she waits for her milk to come in, or in order to avoid pumping in the bathroom at work, or to let dad take over a feeding or two so she can sleep. The messaging given to new moms makes it sound like milk is magic health juice and formula is one step above rat poison, but this isn't the case.

DoreenMichele 8y ago
The most important thing is making sure the baby is fed. 20 million times this. I had one child who breastfed more than a year. He has health issues and that did him a lot of good. My other child breastfed full-time only ten days, then once a day until he was six weeks old for the immune support it provides. He is lactose intolerant and every few weeks I temporarily put him on a bean based formula, IIRC, to clear up his diarrhea. Doctors were zero help with this issue. I just figured out what worked on my own and only later realized he was lactose intolerant. My sister successfully breastfed in part because of my pragmatic "do what works for the baby and ignore everything else" approach. I successfully resolved my own issue with a blocked milk duct because of a passage in a Heinlein book. Showing the nurse my nipple and explaining how painful it was accomplished absolutely nothing while making me feel humiliated.
- iforgotpassword 8y ago
  Huh, I never knew you could be lactose intolerant to your mother's milk. My sister was lactose intolerant but that only manifested when my mom tried switching to formula at 10 months. My sister was gasy, had diarrhea, spent the whole night crying but seemed fine during the day. Doctor just told my mom she needs some time to adapt. After weeks of sleepless nights, just holding my crying sister all night, she went to a different doctor. She was an elderly woman, old school, and immediately diagnosed her properly. At that point my sister has lost quite some weight and all the milk messed up her intestinal villi, so even after my mom switched to soy milk my sister couldn't really digest anything for another week or two, so basically lost some more weight and kept crying. One of the worst episodes of raising kids she says.
NeedMoreTea 8y ago
Sure. If you are unable, or supplementing that's one thing, I think few would take issue with that, nor should they. There's lots of valid reasons as you mention, and some get no choice but to use formulas. I'm not sure the benefits are that overstated - least not from my somewhat hazy memory of what came with the UK new mum packs and NHS info. As for Nestle? Repeated reports of breaking agreements, in developing countries where breast feeding and income is low and water untreated. I would say that's quite another thing. Boycott started in the 60s or 70s, and Nestle still haven't figured out how to act ethically in the poorer parts of the globe. I see little reason to want to give them money yet - despite depriving myself of Kit Kats. :)