Formula feeding parents only PLEASE: How do you feel about the governments new WIC commercials and billboards?

Question

I think they are offensive and unfair to people who are unable to provide breastmilk. I did for 5 months, but I know not everyone can. There is this commercial in my state that made my best friend cry who just gave birth and is unable to breastfeed despite vailiant attempts due to insufficient breast tissue. Her body will not produce milk in any viable, substantial quantity. Her son, however, is 1 month old and healthy as a horse on Similac. I am just at a loss of how these commercials go above and beyond to make breastmilk look to be the solution for world peace and Global harmony. I'm tired of seeing my friend cry. She's hormonal and since this appears to be the target audience, is the government simply trying to guilt people? It seems that way. I certainly don't think my child is destined to never suffer any malady just because she got my milk for 5 months. Preposterous, and wholly unsubstantiated. Putting mothers at eachother is not healthy, it's ridiculous. They need a better plan

Answer 1

Yes, these adds are so horrible. I have two children that I gave formula to ( My body just didn't produce any milk both times) They were both over eight pounds and hungry. I felt so bad the first time because of the lactation Nazi's in the hospital pushing me telling me it was the only thing good for my baby. I used to cry whenever I gave my son a bottle. If these commercials had been on air then i would have gone crazy. My daughter I fed her formula and did not feel guilty because that was how my body was with no milk. Both my children are healthy and smart(Thank you God!) I have had friends who have breastfed and their babies have had every illness under the sun. Tell your friend just to be happy and feed her baby and love him and cuddle him and all will be fine. As for the government shame on them for making women feel bad about being new mothers its probably because WIC doesn't want to pay for formula so they want to make women feel guilty.

Answer 2

First of all, I have not seen the commercials or billboards, so I really can't comment on that aspect of your question.

The best advice I got about being a mother, I got from my own. She told me to "do what you feel is right. You are the mom, and you know what is best for your baby. Everyone else will think they know the best, but they are not the mother of your baby."

I breast fed my daughter for the first three months of her life, and then switched to formula due to working and stuff. She was just fine on formula. Come to find out, it was better for her because I had to be put on iron pills due to being anemic. The extra iron caused my daughter to become severely constipated. When we switched her to formula, she became regular again, and it didn't hurt her to have a bm at all.

Everyone is individual, and what works for them works for them. Of course if you want to compare everything, breast feeding is the best. But if it is not chosen or isn't an option, then that is it. It won't hurt the child or the parents if it doesn't happen. Shame on anyone that thinks breast feeding is it or nothing. If that is the choice for you, fine. But don't force your thoughts or views on anyone else.

Tell your friend that she is a terrific mother, because the one thing that makes a mother a mother is LOVE! Not if you can feed your child from your breast or not. If she loves her baby more than anything, then she is doing everything right.

Write in and let your family services know about your feelings and views on the commercials and billboards. If I see any that offend me, I will do that.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I have not personally seen the commercials so I can't comment on the ads specifically but the formula vs. breastfeeding issue is not new. I'm a Registered Nurse and had ALL of the info. available to me on the benefits of breastfeeding. I also had breastfeeding issues even though I did everything right. Long story short, my baby began to lose more weight than normal b/c of my breastfeeding and her premature birth issues. I took her to the Dr. on a Friday and he told me to bring her back on Monday & if she'd lost anymore weight they were going to have to put her in the hospital and feed her through an NG tube. I immediately took her home, put her on formula and she gained weight. No way was I going to let my child go through that. I added what milk I could to her formula for the antibodies, but there are plenty of children who are fed formula only and turn out fine.

Answer 4

Yes the whole argument between breast milk and formula is so sickening. Breast milk is the best for baby but if you are unable to do it formula isn't so bad. Formula has come so far. It is really not so different anymore. Nobody should feel bad about how they feed their baby. Your concern should be on having a happy healthy baby no matter what you do to get them that way.

Answer 5

i agree with crystal she is right.