Comments on: Formula Fed America – The Documentary

By: Rita

Rita — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:14:41 +0000

It makes me think of those futuristic movies/cartoons where a whole meal is contained in a pill: you have your Salisbury steak pill, your mashed potatoes pill, and your apple pie pill. Seems pretty unappetizing. Why would I pop a pill when I could have the real thing? That’s the way I feel about breastfeeding and formula.

By: Rana

Rana — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:52:57 +0000

My mom breastfed my sister and I. I breast fed my twins until they were 2 years old. I was bound and determined to do this. My mom would take me to LLL meetings and I had great support from family and friends. I do remember getting container after container of formula in the mail and thinking what am I going to do with this. My kids are 6 now and my son asks me is there still milk in there. I say no you drank it all up, he still likes me to hold him close to the breast. It’s a comfort for him and me. My sister is due to have her first baby next month and I’m going to do everything I can to help make her breast feeding with her baby a success. I’m looking forward to seeing how this documentary plays out.
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By: Linda Fulkerson

Linda Fulkerson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:26:53 +0000

My kids are both in college now and I breast-fed both of them. Two of my most disappointing parenting moments came when I had to stop nursing. With my daughter, I had to go on an unaccompanied deployment for 10 weeks when she was 5 1/2-months old (I was in the USMC at the time). I was devastated.

When my son was born I determined to nurse as long as possible. At 3 months, I went back on BC pills and my milk totally stopped. The doctor had told me I “might” notice about a 20 percent reduction in milk production but it just quit. I tried so hard to get it back but it wouldn’t and I was so disappointed. And no one really knew what to do to help (medical personnel).

Gratefully my kids turned out healthy but I missed out on the bonding experience that we’d enjoyed those first few months.

I remember being encouraged to BF while in the hospital — Tripler AMC in Honolulu but neither of my two step-daughters nursed their kids. Out of five grands, two have severe food allergies & one is autistic. The whole formula thing has me wondering about that . . .
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By: Abbie

Abbie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:59:26 +0000

I grew up in a home where extended breastfeeding was the norm. I watched my mom nurse both my little brothers for years, and all the animals on the farm nursed as well. To me, there was never a question that I’d breastfeed my baby. Since becoming pregnant, I’m actually learning how many people formula feed and how many people say breastfeeding is difficult. I truly had no idea! I wasn’t planning to take a breastfeeding class, but now I’m thinking I might after learning about all the problems people face. I really just thought it was normal! So that’s what your children probably believe, too, which is really wonderful!
Abbie´s last blog ..Huge Disappointment

By: Amber

Amber — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:05:13 +0000

I am looking forward to seeing this documentary when it is finished. Although I am Canadian, it’s not much better here. We still have a long way to go if we want a truly breastfeeding-friendly culture. And that’s not going to happen if doctors are handing out free formula samples, you know?
Amber´s last blog ..Beautiful Thusnelda

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:09:55 +0000

NicoleLJ- was that exclusively nursing or nursing at all? I hear what you are saying, and it’s a valid complaint. But 36% breastfeeding (exclusive or at all really) is better than our stats in the US, and although it could be better, it’s nothing to sneeze at either. Consider that included in those numbers are women who need medication that isn’t safe while nursing, women who work outside the home, young moms who are still in school, it would even include roughly 4% of women who truly can not nurse (since 99% are trying in the hospital- that number must include most of the 5% that is for a few rare reasons unable to nurse).

By: Jamie Ervin

Jamie Ervin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:03:57 +0000

That huge formula industry is exactly why so many new Moms aren’t breastfeeding… even as a fully breastfeeding mama, I was given “BreastFeeding Support” diaper bags at the hospital which including formula samples and coupons… I received countless samples and coupons in the mail. Once again, big money is making decisions for us.

I’m excited for this documentary! We need to figure out why Moms aren’t breastfeeding and how to increase real support (not bottle feeding back up support) for new Moms.

Being the stubborn person I am… those in my family who gave me grief about breastfeeding helped reinforce my dedication to it! I wasn’t about to give up when they were expecting me (and pushing me) to!

For those of us who’ve experienced the joys and pleasures (and sometimes pain/problems) of the breastfeeding relationship there is nothing that compares to that period of time… I miss the days of holding my babies close… of nourishing their little bodies… and knowing that I was strong and could provide everything this little one needed. A bottle just can’t do that!
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