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DO YOU THINK that the importance of breastfeeding is promoted enough in Ireland?
This week is National Breastfeeding Week, where the benefits of breastfeeding are highlighted. These include boosting the baby’s immune system; there are also some indications that it prevents breast cancer (more information here).
The government also aims to encourage businesses to support women who want to breastfeed, by extending provision for breastfeeding breaks at work.
So we’re asking: Do you think breastfeeding is promoted enough?
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If you can, do. If you can’t don’t beat yourself up about it. Most important thing is that your baby isn’t hungry
@Dave O Keeffe: or just pump, bottle feed and save a fortune!
@Dave O Keeffe: breasts in general need to be put out there. A more in your face approach would get my vote.
@Chicinho: if you make the milk. Don’t make women who can’t feel inadequate, it broke my heart I could only manage a month, and that was pure torture
@Dave O Keeffe: I didn’t breastfeed either of my now grown ‘kids’…zero bothered then nor now…do what suits you only.
@Etherman: Are you sexualising breastfeeding?
@Chris Martin: are you invited to many parties?
@Etherman: Yeah loads Im great fun but I draw the line at sexualising the feeding relationship between a mother and a child because its a weird thing to do and makes women who are breastfeeding very uncomfortable. Grow up.
It’s over-promoted.
Hospitals and Midwives making young mothers feel like failures because they cannot breastfeed is not healthy. I get they should promote it but the shaming that goes on for women who bottle feed is not healthy either. Has to be a driving factor in post natal depression. Making mothers feel like failures straight away is a terrible policy.
@Ciarán FitzGerald: I agree with you that it is over promoted because the support just isn’t there for women when they struggle with breastfeeding issues. There should be no shame if you can’t or don’t want to breastfed but the reality is that more women can’t breastfeed because of lack of support, not for any physical reason. More support for women who want to breastfeed would mean a higher success rate.
@Ciarán FitzGerald: not enough support and advise in hospitals available to women who breastfeed actually. On my second baby during his cluster feeding on the second night (which is to be expected by the way as it stimulates milk production) a midwife tried to take him from me to give him formula. I didn’t need formula I needed support and reassurance that I was doing ok. Never ever heard of breastfeeding being forced on a mother who chooses to formula feed but have heard plenty of sorry tales about formula being pushed on mothers who have chosen to breastfeed.
@Ciarán FitzGerald: Tried and failed on all of my three. I wasn’t given an option I was told if I was a good mother I’d do it for my baby, felt like such a failure, breastfeeding round the clock for weeks on end and my baby losing weight in the end I gave up and threw the towel in. Happened the same way on my second and third, I had maybe an hour supervision on all three to make sure I was doing it right and then just left to my own devices. One public health nurse even said I should have tried harder. People are different some find it easy and take to it like a duck to water others don’t, I felt shamed and humiliated by the very people who were ment to be promoting it, so I say do what feels right at the time and don’t apologise for your choices.
@Ciarán FitzGerald: Would entirely disagree. Breastfeeding is only pushed before the baby is out of the womb. Hospital staff are totally overworked and don’t have the time or resources to help women struggling to breastfeed. If a baby has lost too much weight, they can’t allow the mother to leave the hospital. Formula is pushed on mothers struggling to breast feed as lactation consultants are usually only available one day a week for a couple of hours. Formula fed mothers need less help and make a midwives job a little easier. It’s the sorry reality of an understaffed health system.
@Ciarán FitzGerald: According to all of these accounts, from a midwife’s perspective it’s a case of you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t promote breastfeeding. Different hospitals will have varying outlooks on the promotion of breastfeeding and similarly every mother has a different perspective as well as experience when trying to breastfeed. There’s no simple answer.
@Vox Pop: Exactly right – I have only seen it from one angle but now I’m shocked to hear accounts of formula being given where breastfeeding was wanted by mothers. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. There’s no simple answer. Time to start educating breastfeeding and child nutrition in schools – I had to learn everything from my wife, mother and MIL.
@Ciarán FitzGerald: I think where Ireland is really struggling is that many young mothers can’t call on their own mothers or sisters for advice and support. The current generation of mothers have been raised by the bottle boomers of the 80s. I have heard many stories of young mothers who have been put off breast feeding by their own mother’s disapproval…Phrases like ‘you were bottle fed and it didnt do you any harm’ and ‘That poor baby is starved..’ . The hospital and midwives can only offer a certain level of support, mothers need support groups of other mothers who have been through it to help them.
@Rachel O’ Meara: Agreed. I got cracked nipples and severe pain, but the public health nurse kept insisting I don’t stop. Only when I got fever and couldn’t move my arm, my GP put me on antibiotics and told me to gently express and bottle feed for a week. I went back to bfeeding and did it for 6 more months, but it was despite the phn, not because of her.
@Karen Power: very, very true!
Of course not, nobody makes any money from that.
@WoodlandBard: Funnily enough, there is evidence to suggest it would save the HSE money in the long run as breastfed babies are less likely to need hospital treatment.
@Thunder Snowman: so their budget would be cut without tge returned business . No money to be made then.
@Thunder Snowman: where did you hear that? It’s just that kind of bullshit statement that makes new mothers feel inadequate. Since when do breastfed babies need less hospital treatment.
What matters is that mothers are supported in whatever choices they make
@@UK:
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSTRE6342ZG20100405
This study is based in America but the principal is the same.
My advice; do not let anybody pressure you into breastfeeding.But if you do decide to breastfeed,then have a box of formula in the house as a back up.
@Francis Mc Carthy: having a box of formula in the house just in case is terrible advice. If you are going to breastfed have the number of a good lactation consultant on hand. Read up on breastfeeding before birth. It’s not as natural as one would think and work and preparation is needed a box of formula on hand is not.
@Sos: Eh ? As a parent to five children,i believe thatIt’s excellent advice ; question for you;have you ever suffered with mastitis ?
@Francis Mc Carthy: yes I have. The medical advice is to breastfed through it.
@Sos:The best,free medical advice that she ended up getting,was to go and ditch the breast pump into the bin & take out the aptamil.
That child is now a healthy 17 yr old…
@Francis Mc Carthy: Draining the breast is the best way to treat mastitis, throwing out the breast pump would be a ridiculous move while stagnant milk makes the mastitis worse. The pain of that!
@AnneMarie Roche: Nope.The best way that treated the mastitis,was to take the medication that she was prescribed.The best treatment for her and for the babies well-being,was to dump the breast pump.
@Francis Mc Carthy: Practice has obviously evolved in the past 17yrs then. Definetly not current advise there.
@Francis Mc Carthy: the best solution to mastitis is to empty the breast regularly, by feeding if possible (as baby is much more effective than a pump) or pumping. Stopping feeding or pumping abruptly will actually lead to mastitis, and certainly make an ongoing case worse. Antibiotics are also needed to clear the infection. People receiving incorrect advice leads to so many women stopping bf unnecessarily, and unfortunately lots of that advice also comes from medical professionals who are not up-to-date on current breastfeeding research.
@Sos: agree with ur advice completely & as a mother of 4 who has had mastitis twice, blocked ducts more times than i recall, thrush, bites etc can only emphasise how important it is to surround urself with proper breastfeedimg support (unfortunately u still have search it out urself for most part, u will receive v little real support from hospitals or phn) – ciudiu, la leche league, (both excellent and largely voluntary with little or no cost to end user)private lactation consultants and family/friends who have breastfed. Breastfeeding may be a very natural process but it doesent necessarily come naturally or easy to every mum.
@Diana Walshe: absolutely Dana both groups provide excellent support and information.
It’s definitely promoted enough but the reality of how challenging it can be is not conveyed to women. Like childbirth, it’s painted as a magical experience, so when women find it difficult they feel they’re failing rather than going through the same painful and stressful scenario many women go through.
Amazing reduction in childhood illnesses with breastfeeding. I feel there are a lot of long term illnesses associated with not breast feeding and this will be proved in time.
Look at what is in breast milk versus formula:
https://themilkmeg.com/ingredients-in-breastmilk-versus-artificial-breastmilk-formula/#iLightboxgallery407/0
@Ranty McCrank: You feel? Well there’s the proof so.
@Ranty McCrank: Whilst I realise this is purely anecdotal my mother had 5 children, none of us were breastfed and we have all been as healthy as horses.
I don’t doubt breastfeeding has multiple benefits, especially if the very early months but that doesn’t mean not breastfeeding is detrimental to the child.
The pressure some of my friends have been put under to breastfeed, I’ll tell them to shove it up their ar$e if they spoke to me that way!
@Tricia G: Look its simple – breast milk is best but not every baby takes to it nor all mothers able to do it. If you can do it, great, if you can’t, no problem, there are alternatives to it. It’s not the end of the world!
@B9xiRspG: “if you can’t, no problem” – tell that to the people that make new mothers feel like failures for not managing it. Which was my point.
@Ranty McCrank: Completely untrue and not supported by evidence.
@Slim Shady: From WebMD “…Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor.
Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies. What’s more, the physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact all help your baby bond with you and feel secure. Breastfed infants are more likely to gain the right amount of weight as they grow rather than become overweight children. The AAP says breastfeeding also plays a role in the prevention of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It’s been thought to lower the risk of diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers as well, but more research is needed.”
“I feel” meaning I think many more benefits will be come across in time.
Our culture of breastfeeding was dumped in the 1960s when the men in white coats produced a science based product that was much more convenient. It turns out it wasnt but our culture changed.
The vast majority of infants and mothers can breastfeed – true failure is incredibly rare. It can take some time and anxiety can set in with premature transition to formula. There is no doubt breastfeeding is more time consuming but the benefits are huge. The pressure with both parents expected to work full time careers is a major challenge to breastfeeding also.
@Ranty McCrank: In independent studies over 90% of the medical advice on WebMD has been proven to be bogus, false and/or misleading. If you’re going to cite an internet source may I suggest you choose a good one.
@Boyne Sharky: Was going to say the same, in particular breastfeeding was linked to a higher IQ untill research showed that it wasn’t about breastfeeding at all, it was to do with the time spent interacting with the child.
@Boyne Sharky: You seem to be in extreme defensive denial. Everything that they state about breastfeeding is absolutely accurate and in the paediatric and immunology journals. Are you saying these benefits of breast feeding do not exist. The IQ may be an association rather than direct effect but its still there.
@Ranty McCrank: I wasn’t breast fed as a baby because I was premature & very sick and spent the first few weeks of life in hospital. I am healthy for the most part apart from an odd cold & there is nothing wrong with my brain. Go figure.
@Ranty McCrank: true failure!! Thanks 17 years later I still feel the guilt of only being able to breastfeed my child for a month, she was still 7 ounces under her birth weight. I have consoled myself with the fact I gave her the colostrum but no it seems I’m a true failure, lucky I only had the one to screw up. I do believe that if it is possible it is more natural, but all animals face problems
@Ranty McCrank: you are a prime example of what the majority of commentators here are talking about. Sanctimonious attitude.
Its probably promoted enough but its definitely not SUPPORTED enough!!!! Less money on glossy brochures abd more on proper lactation consultants full time on all maternity units and community groups and better training/funding for public health nurses.
It is massively overpromoted, but catastrophically undersupported. As a mother of three and someone who struggled with breastfeeding, all I can say is fed is best. My first was premature and wouldn’t feed from a bottle, let alone a breast, and I expressed for 10 weeks every 3 hours for 20 minutes, followed by trying to give the expressed milk to a baby that took an hour to take one feed… so massive sleep deprivation there. My second breastfed not a bother. My third fed but I had mastitis, a cyst that needed recurrent drainage and supply issues. I called several lactation consultants who were unavailable for a week and very expensive… I gave up…I cried with guilt every time the breast is best ads came on the radio…rapidly accessible support is what’s needed, not the guilt trip!
@Scally Mc Waggle: hit the nail on head mrs! Hope u are ok now and not feeling guilty cause sounds like u did ur level best
Actually the question is wrong really. It’s not about promotion so much as it is about SUPPORTED. I’d prefer to see 24/7 lactation consultants in hospital and for postnatal care. And actually enforce global codes on the promotion of formula (SMA sponsoring the Baby Fair for example)
I breastfed my 2.5 year old son for 7 months with 1 evening top up of formula as I wasn’t producing enough milk. He has been to the GP for chest infections repeatedly over the past 18 months and most likely has asthma as family members have it as well. He is also an extremely fussy eater. I thought breastfed babies are healthier and better eaters??? So I’m not convinced of the health benefits.
However, I am exclusively breastfeeding my 3 month old daughter so fingers crossed she doesn’t have the same issues.
Maybe I’m doing it for my benefit as it apparently reduces various cancers?? I don’t know.
@Taz SF: My sister formula fed her son and he’s constantly sick with asthma, allergies and chest infections.
@Thunder Snowman: We formula fed our daughter from birth due to complications and she hasn’t been sick a day in her life.
Neither our experience nor your sister’s are proof of anything.
@Taz SF: There’s also this thing called genetics that can cause these situations. As Will said, his case and yours are not proof of anything. There’s o many other variables that can cause this issues.
@Taz SF: Apologies for my first sentence, that came off unnecessarily rude. :)
@Will: That was my point.
Fed is best should be what is being pushed. Yes of course breastfeeding is a amazing way to feed your child and I have done it and plan on doing it again but mother’s shoul feel shamed if they can’t or simply don’t want too. Formula or breast feeding your child so they are happy & healthy is surely the best for baby and mother.
@Orela Krawczyk: Fed is essential, informed is best.
@Orela Krawczyk: fed is essential, breast is normal, and formula is there as a back up should it be needed.
It’s promoted but the support in the hospitals isn’t there or in the community . There’s no staff to help in the middle of the night when u are struggling . I breast feed 4 of my 5 , but it’s not easy to begin with . Overall it was a great experience . I found my own way through with the help of one good friend .
There is an enormous amount of misinformation surrounding this issue, if breastfeeding works for you then great, if bottle feeding works for you that’s great too. The important thing is that your baby is well nourished and doesn’t go hungry. Those purists who believe that breast is best, it may well be, however bottle is a very close second and browbeating women into believing they absolutely must breast feed, regardless of the costs is wrong and damaging.
I’ve witnessed my own wife, many years ago now, having guilt heaped upon her by well meaning midwives and told she had to breastfeed, what kind of mother wouldn’t? It was only when our son lost weight and our GP intervened with some sage advice that she realised, too little of the best is harmful. And I never knew that babies get thirsty, a simple drink of cooled boiled water, need I say more?
When you look at the list of things people deny themselves during pregnancy now any help with the immune system is welcome. No coffee, No soft Cheese, No soft Eggs FFS.. Maybe it wasn’t advertised as much back in the day but I don’t remember so many sick kids or allergies then.
Actually the question is wrong really. It’s not about promotion so much as it is about SUPPORTED. I’d prefer to see 24/7 lactation consultants in hospital and for postnatal care. And actually enforce global codes on the promotion of formula (SMA sponsoring the Baby Fair for example).
No definitely not promoted enough, the benefits for mother and baby are amazing, although the lack of help and support is very bad, I thought I was starving my 1st child, I had no clue what I was doing or what was normal, this time around with massive support I’m still feeding almost 2 years later, my advice to pregnant women who want to breastfed is read as much as possible on what’s normal breastfeeding behaviour, cluster feeding, how to know baby’s getting enough milk (plenty of wet and dirty nappies and weight gain) and as much skin to skin as possible, also connect online or in groups with other breastfeeding mother for go to advice when needed.
Its over promoted. I breastfed my children. There was so much support and encouragement from phns, midwives, the hospital, support groups etc.
The issue and difficulty lies with the fact that most women have to go back to work after 6 months. It is difficult to have time in work to pump, to store the milk, commute etc. I breastfed while working full time for a year and it was tough going, (i wouldnt do it again!) i was lucky to have a supportive employer and facilities. Couldnt do that in a previous employment.
@Blah blah: I hear ya, very difficult to keep the supply up once you return to work but I have to disagree on over promotion. If breast feeding went from biological norm to just the normal way to feed a baby maybe employers will be forced to support their breastfeeding employees.
@Blah blah: in Italy you get time off for feeding; and double the time if twins, to allow for mothers to continue after returning to work, seems like an excellent system
Actually the question is wrong really. It’s not about promotion so much as it is about SUPPORTED. I’d prefer to see 24-7 lactation consultants in hospital and for postnatal care. And actually enforce global codes on the promotion of formula (SMA sponsoring the Baby Fair for example)
Support really seems to be key. Support for mothers who would like to or try to breastfeed from supportive midwives who in turn are supported by patient-centred training. Society itself needs to be supportive. For example, restaurant owners and staff should not ask a mother to go to a separate room or part of a restaurant if she needs to breastfeed.
@John O’Keeffe: absolutely, but it’s actually against the law for anyone to ask a mother to stop feeding her child or attempt to move her to another place to feed.
@Joanne McLaughlin: true. However, it can often be what isn’t said. The looks you get or tut tutting. I experienced it with my wife when she was feeding.
@John O’Keeffe: Yea I get what you are saying, and it can be very off putting for a new mum who’s already stressed out.
20-40% breastfeeding in Ireland. Should be 100%. That’s what tits are for.
@Me Ould Flour: gee – you are such a new age man.
@Earth Traveller: That’s what tits are for. Evolution has developed them to feed the young. That’s what all mammals do except humanity.
@Me Ould Flour: yeah infant mortality rate before formula feeding came in is something you should look at. (I am taking about statistics from Ireland UK before anyone jumps down my neck) Fed baby is best baby. It’s a mother’s choice what they choose to do that is best for both Mum and baby.
@Anastasia Ryan: research the ingredients of formula milk and breast milk. Obviously breast is best. That’s all I’m saying. Yes I agree that it’s a mum’s choice but too many choose the man made rubbish.
Ok. I’m completely lost here… not having the necessary organs. But, what is the issue? It is my understanding that pretty much every other mammal can feed their young, without any training or support. This is a genuine question btw… not trolling?
@George Salter: I don’t know the exact numbers here but you can bet that the survival rates of wild mammals are significantly lower that human infant survival rates. Feeding sometimes doesn’t work out for other animals too and in the wild those little animals will not survive. You often hear of farmers bottle feeding livestock that won’t suckle etc, so I’d imagine that feeding issues are not unique to humans.
@George Salter: it’s a good question and more people should ask it, we are now into I’d say about 5 generations of Irish women not breastfeeding thier children. Other mammals watch and learn… monkey see monkey do so to speak, there has been no massive hijacking of this natural process by diary INC as there has been for humans, the truth is if you have never seen someone breastfeed in your social circle and asked and learned and shared the experience, you are unlikely to be able to replicate it. If you get me? It’s late here and I’m texting this with a baby on my breast. It’s so very sad that we allowed this interruption to happen. I can tell you this that once you get the hang of breastfeeding it’s amazing, but it can be difficult and excruciatingly sore for a lot of women, through support from my mam, le leache league and Extended breastfeeders groups I was shown and supported and learned. We need to get back to providing community know how.
Free the nip!
Maybe motherhood need to be promoted more. What a paranoia.
When I was in the rotunda just after having my little girl I assumed it would come naturally to me. I had my heart set on breastfeeding. When she latched on the nurse would check and go right she’s latched on and leave!!! I was like ehhhh how long do i do this for? How will I know she’s had enough. I really wish there was someone there to talk me through just the first few feeds til I got the hang of it. I lasted 5 weeks. I miss it so much.
@Ruth Pender: Lack of support is very common, I didn’t have any support on my 1st 2 children and was constantly being told they were hungry and to give them a bottle when really it was normal breastfeeding behaviour, I had great online and partner support with my last child and am still feeding almost 2 years later, I’m sorry you had such a hard time, it was not your fault x
As a first time Mam, I was determined to breastfeed for at least the first 2 months… I lasted 2 days in the Rotunda. Baby wouldn’t latch on & it was SO stressful. Midwives were brilliant & never once made me feel inadequate for putting my baby on formula. She’s 14 months old now & is thriving…eating everything, especially veggies & fruit so if breast feeding doesn’t work for you, don’t feel bad, your baby will still be absolutely perfect! X
This debate is a tired one.
Always pitting those who do against those who don’t.
Support/ promote blah blah blah.
Breastfeeding is better for everyone. That is a scientific fact. Many women can’t breastfeed and many babies have issues that make it difficult. But the numbers don’t stack up in Ireland. Women sipmple choose not to, offering every excuse under the sun. It would be better if they just said, no I don’t want to. Then we could have a real debate about why that is. Having said that, we are now into multiple generations of bottlefeedun as the norm in Ireland. We have lost the knowhow of breastfeeding. Our mammalian ability to feed our young is now lost to us as, thanks to shaming of our breasts and big Diary, we don’t observe each other doing it, what knowledge and support was once passed down/along from community now comes from a lactation consultant At a fee. There should be no debate it should be the norm. And we should get back to supporting each other and sharing or experiences.
Would have thought this is where the Mammy comes in but scant mention of the foremost authority in these comments, which is kinda weird no?
@Denis McClean: well unfortunately most Mammy’s of the current generation of mothers trying to breastfeed didn’t actually breastfeed themselves… hence the need for more professional support for new mothers!
@Scally Mc Waggle: So it would appear, which makes promoting the art a totally academic exercise while cementing our dependence on the milk of other species.
@Denis McClean: well an academic exercise in supporting new mums is a start, even if it isn’t ideal. This country has embraced bottle feeding for almost 80 years, with many factors at play… the formula companies promoted bottle feeding and it was seen as a sign of wealth and sophistication back then, I personally feel the Catholic Church also played a role in our bottle feeding culture as it meant women didn’t have to ‘expose’ themselves. Women often don’t have the support of their mothers due to the old fashioned attitude of “well I bottle fed you and it didn’t do you any harm”. So let’s embrace whatever support is out there, aim to get more support for women, and maybe the next generation of mum’s will have their more family and community support.
Love all the men having such strong beliefs on the importance of breast feeding…love to see them being torn apart during childbirth …struggling with mastitis etc…then l will take their opinion …lm pro choice …
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