I’m Telling You, It IS Your Choice!

As often happens when we tweet about infant feeding policy, one of our members recently received a dismissive reply. The commenter argued that ‘no one can stop a mum giving their baby formula’ and said this was all just a matter of ‘parental choice’.

But in the current context, is how we feed our babies a straightforward choice? And is it fair to say that mums are free to give their babies formula? We felt that a thread was needed! We have turned it into a blog here.

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Tongue-tie Surgery: Solving Breastfeeding Problems or Wounding Newborns Unnecessarily?

A surgical procedure (frenotomy) to correct tongue-tie in newborns is presented to many new parents as the solution to breastfeeding problems, but is it? The long awaited results of a trial of tongue-tie surgery, the FROSTIEE trial, were quietly published last year with little fanfare. We discuss the findings here. But first, let’s recap.

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What We Told the Birth Trauma Inquiry

Earlier this year, we submitted to the Birth Trauma Inquiry. The inquiry published its report this month.

We focused on the role of exclusive breastfeeding promotion in our members’ distressing, even traumatic, experiences. We shared experiences around three areas: postnatal care and rooming-in; inhumane breastfeeding advice; and avoidable infant complications.

We highlighted a lack of evidence that exclusive breastfeeding promotion practices and the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative are safe or tolerated by patients. We questioned why they have been allowed to dictate the care of vulnerable patients and foster a culture of total disregard for women’s postnatal needs. This is what we wrote:

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Women’s Feelings Are Not The Problem – The Policy Is!

This paper, ‘Perceived pressure to breastfeed negatively impacts postpartum mental health outcomes over time’, was sent to me by someone I love and respect. They thought that as a clinical psychologist, I would be impressed by it. Having discussed with them why I see this as yet another another example of psychology gaslighting women, I thought I’d share my thoughts here too.

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How Long Before Infant Feeding Research Has to Conclude that Fed is Best? (The RCT Edition)

We all know that breastfeeding is supposed to have a gazillion health benefits and will save the world from certain disaster. So, it is perplexing that recent trials looking at the effect of interventions to increase exclusive breastfeeding in Uganda and Guinea-Bissau found not only an increase in exclusive breastfeeding, but also an increase in severe growth stunting and wasting.

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Breastmilk is Sufficient…But Babies Might Become Dehydrated

‘Exclusive breastfeeding is endorsed for the initial six months in newborns. It is sufficient for every nutritional need…such that there is no need to give anything above breastfeeding.’

So begins a study looking at dehydration in breastfed newborns.

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Prejudice Masquerading as Science and the Mothers (and Grandmother) Fighting Back

A government-funded research team recently investigated whether the packaging of formula milk complies with certain regulations. They undertook the task of inspecting every single formula product on the UK market. Boring, yes, but bear with us, because what transpires is a lesson in absurdity.

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Five Ways UK Infant Feeding Policy Poses Risks to Maternal Mental Health

Another year, another Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week and another opportunity to point out, once again, that UK infant feeding policies pose serious risks to maternal mental health.

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Preventing Newborn Hospital Admissions for Jaundice and Feeding Complications: a Formula

The government recently announced an inquiry into prevention in health. The Health and Social Care Committee asked for submissions from organisations and individuals to highlight issues the government should be looking at. We submitted a proposal for how to reverse the alarming rise in newborn admissions to hospital for jaundice and other feeding complications in the early days of life. This is what we wrote:

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