Skip to main content

Lockdown Musings : Where’s all the unbiased bottle feeding info?

I’ve decided to start a new “series” on my blog during this Lock-down.
How are you all doing with the Lock-down? 🔐 I’ve been doing some Home Learning with my boys (we have Fridays off thank goodness) and I’m prepping for our new arrival. One of the ways I’m doing this is by reading. I dusted off my “The Baby Book” by Dr Sears , re read “Gentle Parenting “ by Sarah Ockwell Smith (I wanted to remind myself about the 4th trimester) & I was looking for a book about bottle feeding (with special requirements). This proved harder to find.

As you know, I had a double mastectomy 9 months ago and prior to that, I breastfed my boys for 3 years each (through allergies, tongue ties & aversions) added to that I’m a trained Breastfeeding Peer Supporter. So I’m firmly on the breastfeeding train.

I wasn’t planning on having more babies (this isn’t a secret - check out the #lastbaby on LJ’s multiple photos on my Instagram profile) so the biggest blow to me wasn’t our surprise baby but the fact that she won’t be getting breastfed.

There’s no point dwelling on things you can’t change, however I have discovered something that irks me as a feminist.

There isn’t enough unbiased information about bottle feeding.

These are your choices:

1) The formula company website - only focuses on how to make the feed.
2) NHS Choices - same as above, light on info about responsive bottle feeding.
3) Breastfeeding Websites - same as above with a side of guilt. (Funny how I never noticed this before)

I needed a resource that would tell me what I needed to know without being derisive towards Breastfeeding. A source that would give me practicalities about the emotional side of this.

This weekend I found it in the book “Guilt free Bottlefeeding” by Madeline Morris.

She isn’t bashing breastfeeding but she’s also helping those of us who can’t be confident in the choice (or in my case predicament ) we have.

There needs to be more of this. I have come across so many triggering sources, that I feel sad that there’s just 1 safe resource I have come across.

We need more choices. I believe in the human right to choose.

As a responsive parent, I want more information about how to bottle feed in an attached way. The best i found was info about paced bottle-feeding - which is specific to breastfed infants.

I suppose like most things, I will figure things out with my baby. Although, there are somethings I want to try from the beginning.


  • skin to skin feeding
  • feeding limited to just me for a while then to just us parents until baby is 12-ish months
  • feeding on demand (i know we'll waste milk but it's important to me that she eats when shes hungry and stops when she's full)
  • Trying my best to be mindful whilst feeding her. I am totally guilty of scrolling Facebook or watching stuff whilst feeding the boys. 
These are what I've decided and we'll see how we go. 


Anyway, that’s what has been on my mind!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What to put in your Hospital Bag for a Mastectomy

I have scrawled across the internet , read lots of blogs and watched lots of videos. Most of which were of an American slant. I have come to the conclusion that the American hospital system is very different to our good old NHS. I asked lots of people who have been through this too. I also used information from the booklet entitled "Planned Admissions" which I was given when I went in for my Wide Excision back in March.  Putting all the above to use, here is what I have packed in my hospital bag . Most British hospitals do not have vast amount of space so you are advised to bring a soft bag not a suitcase. I chose my favourite Cath Kidston X Disney Peter Pan Tote. It's not a big bag either. George Post Surgery PJs (with internal drain management pockets. George Post Surgery Dressing Gown (also with Drain Management) My trusty bedroom boots Fleece Blanket Spare underwear Toiletry bag containing Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Deodorant, Face cream Naty Baby Eco Wipes...
Post a Comment
Read more

IRL: Crafty Catch Up 2017

Well what can I say? My first ever planner meet up was all I thought it would be! I had an absolute ball. I had wanted to come to the last one but being an islander meant it was just too far for me to consider however things changed when this date was announced. 22nd July was only a few days away from our wedding anniversary. We'd planned to spend it at Disneyland Paris so it made perfect sense to do the crafty catch up on the Saturday, and then continue on to France the following day. Serendipity. What I didn't account for was the mania that it would entail. Kids breaking off for summer Friday afternoon, finishing packing, cleaning the house etc , getting the 7am ferry, driving to Kent, etc on the Saturday. As I arrived, I saw the beautifully laid out Lydd Community Hall. In the hallway was the table plan, I was on table 3... I met great people! I was reminded that all kinds of people love crafts, I was inspired by their creativity Specifically the mummy/daugh...
3 comments
Read more

Letter to My Dear LJ - You are growing up!

My Dear LJ, Honey, you are growing up. It scares me to admit it but its true. There are signs everywhere pointing to the fact that you are no longer the chunky baby i used to sling everywhere. Last night I had to do a double take because lying next to me, you seemed longer. I thought it was your brother. My darling, your fierce demands to be independent have always been heard. Right from when I met you, you let me know that you will always march to the beat of your own drum. Everything in my parenting toolkit was blunt and useless, I had to learn different ways of parenting you. You my rainbow baby, refused to be molly cuddled. I wanted to keep you wrapped up and safe. But you longed to explore the world in your quiet but steadfast way.  You are doing it. I'm so proud of you. It's only preschool another voice in my head shouts. Your mother is and will always be a sentimental soul. This is the first step to you having a separate life i'm not part of.  I hope you ha...
2 comments
Read more