Chinese buying up all the baby milk !

I'm a "lazy" breast feeder as well. The sheer paraphenalia f bottles intimidated me. I always imagined I would end up not sterilising enough. As for the breast feeding mafia. I don't think it's any such thing. I think it is women trying to convince other women that they shouldn't be brainwashed by the amount of publicity they get from milk manufacturers, which is big business, and that most can do something, which is natural and which has kept the human race going for a long time before baby milk was invented. Of course there are women who can't. But there isn't enough support for women who want to, so there is no mafia.

Absolutely SueDonim! I liked breastfeeding because I'm basically lazy If it suits you to do it, and you find it doable, it's the easiest way to feed a baby. Always on tap and no faffing about with sterilizers etc and no cost for bottles, formula etc. I persevered through cracked bleeding nipples until they toughened up, but that was my choice and certainly didn't entitle me to any halos. I've never met a mum who wasn't doing the best they can for their baby. ( I do realise a tiny percentage of women don't put their baby first, I've just never met one)

Actually, formula feeding isn't at all convenient. You've got to pay for the milk, buy bottles and some method of sterilising them. Then there's the faff of making up feeds. These days they recommend each bottle is made fresh for each feed, no making up the day's worth in the morning. I doubt rising at 2am to make a bottle is convenient for most people.

In fact, when asked, most women who give up breastfeeding say they wish they could have continued for longer. My own dd persisted for three difficult months but despite much help from the NHS and paying a not inconsiderable amount to a private counsellor she had to face the fact her baby wasn't thriving on breast milk alone. She had never considered the possibility of not being able to breastfeed and it came as a dreadful shock to her.

So, please, let's have less judging of women who are trying to do their best.

I agree not I'm agree

I'm agree with all the others here who have commented about "breastfeeding mafia" there are a whole gamut of reasons why some women don't breastfeed, baby not thriving, infection. etc.

"After a chat with GP mums might decide to continue breastfeeding instead, it's too convenient to pick it up in a shop after a sleepless night and sore nipples, but why risk a child's life time health and longevity.

And to think some people think that the "muffia" are some sort of cliched stereotype, no they haven't gone away, as sanctimonious, preachy and judgemental as ever!

Yes, the 'breastfeeding mafia' can be very cruel and judgemental.

My first baby was born by emergency section after a traumatic labour, and my milk did not come in at all. I was told that this was because at times of trauma the body closes down a step at a time, and milk production would be one of the first things to stop, as it wasn't essential to my survival.

Anyway, I bottle fed, and my baby was/is just fine, and very heathy. At an NCT party when he was about 3 months old, and I was still very hormonal, I overheard the teacher saying to another friend that if her baby died of SIDS, at least she would know that she had done her best by breastfeeding. I was devastated, and still haven't forgiven her, even though I now accept that it was thoughtless rather than deliberately nasty.

Everyone there knew about my circumstances, but they were so wedded to the notion of 'breast is best' that they didn't stop to think, and nobody said a word.

Just had to comment here because I cannot stand the breast feeding mafia. When it comes to babies "fed is best" whether that's by breast, ng tube, or formula from a bottle. No woman should have to justify her choice ( if indeed that's what it is) to anybody. I breastfed all 4 of mine for varying lengths of time. The one who was breastfed the shortest time is in fact the healthiest!
Glad your DD has managed to get some gillybob.

You're welcome.

growstuff thank you ??

Wish there were a "like" button GrannyGravy because I dislike them too and I suspect most people dislike being told what to do by their GP.

In any case, I don't see why people should be forced to breast feed as a result of a baby milk shortage. It's quite difficult to get a baby to accept the breast after he/she has got used to a bottle.

Hetty58 not all mothers can breast feed, my daughter is having her second child and due to partial mastectomies of both breasts she is unable.

I really dislike the “breast feeding mafia” who make many mothers feel guilty and as if they are failures due to bottle feeding.

This was all news to me, so I'm grateful to gillybob for the OP, which sparked my curiosity. It would appear that people from South East Asia have been buying foreign formula milk for years. Just speculation, but maybe the drop in the pound makes it worthwhile buying from the UK rather than Australia, New Zealand or an EU country.

Maybe they haven't suddenly started buying UK formula milk, but (as Matt Hancock said in December 2028) the government really has started stockpiling it. Maybe families with babies have started stockpiling it themselves.

Well, y'know, Chinese, dragon etc.

And what "lair" is this then? Gransnet?

Maybe try mumsnet?

Seems a bit odd that a load of people from "Korean, Malaya, people from Singapore and from Hong Kong", would suddenly start buying up bucketfuls of baby formula.

Give the Boots assistant a bit of credit for some commonsense.

Sounds to me as though you're being moralistic by telling mothers what's best for their babies.

Mothers have a choice and if they want to feed their babies formula milk at whatever age, that's up to them and they should be confident that there's a good supply of baby milk in the shops.

Growstuff, I'm not being moralistic, just practical. After a chat with a GP, mums might decide to continue breast feeding instead. It's just too convenient to pick it up in a shop (and tempting after a sleepless night, sore nipples etc.) but why risk a child's lifetime health and longevity?

trisher . Into the lair! I agree.

gillybob

Trisher I've sent you a halloumi-related PM.

To all those who think the remarks made by the Boots woman aren't racist can I explain why they are In Newcastle we not only have Chinese residents who live here (and have done for generations) and are actually British, we also have South Koreans, Malaysians, people from Singapore and from Hong Kong who are working or studying here. All of these people may be of Chinese descent but are not Chinese. Therefore it is impossible to identify beyond doubt the country of origin of the buyers by their physical appearance and to do so is racist.

My bestest baby girl got her “bot bot” tonight so all is well in my world . Thank you to those who understood .

It seems there's more behind this story than Chinese buying up Western baby milk.

Even the Brexit-supporting Sun was reporting stockpiling in December 2018.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/7880542/brexit-baby-milk-shortage-fears/

So what will our standard be out of the EU, will we be importing from China.

Sorry Gillybob, I only read the first 3 pages and no mention was made. I seemed to be all about people taking a profit so I just jumped in. And no its not right but you can't blame mothers in other countries wanting the best for their children.