Breastfeeding/Formula Unbiased Info..

Does anyone have any good sites or books or any resources that gives totally neutral information on both methods without a slant towards breastfeeding. I would like to be educated on both sides so I can make an informed decision based on the facts, and positive experiences with both methods.

Re: Breastfeeding/Formula Unbiased Info..

I don't have any sites with info...just wanted to add that I noticed today on my formula packaging that it says "Experts agree, breastfeeding is best", which I think is kinda funny to put on a FORMULA package. Way to make me feel guilty lol

I am pumping so the baby is receiving both breast milk and formula. I just don't make enough milk

Re: Breastfeeding/Formula Unbiased Info..

Re: Breastfeeding/Formula Unbiased Info..

I was going to post the same question. I am thinking about trying bf but I really don't know much about it and that makes me more nervous about it. I would like to read up on it so I can make an educated decision. I don't want to just FF bc I don't know anything about BF. But I also don't want to read a book that's going to make me feel guiilty if I do decide to FF!

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I didn't get to choose because of hormonal problems or what -- the docs still don't know why I never produced milk despite trying my hardest. Every package of formula I opened and read that "breast is best" line on the box the first few months of DD's life, I bawled my eyes out believing I was a failure as a human who didn't deserve to be a mom.

DD THRIVED on formula and is super heathly, never an infection, two major colds in her 1 1/2 years, and she's a brilliant, happy baby. I hope that means I didn't fail.

It's really tough. I don't know if there is anywhere to read articles that don't slant, but the French are anti-bf (in general) and you can read articles against it that way, but they are mostly about why mothers shouldn't be slaves to their children and that breasts should be sexual so it's not very helpful.

The bottom line is that whether you control the decision or not about bf or ff, your baby will be fine no matter which you do. Formula is so healthy now with modern science. Heck, it has been around since our parents were little and mine are in their mid 60s now so it must not be that bad for a start in life!

You can try both or try to bf if you choose, but don't let yourself feel like a miserable failure if you change your mind or physically can't. I think about the first 6 weeks of DD's life with a lot of sadness over feeding issues and the fear associated with her weight loss when I tried desperately to ebf and the lack of sleep over trying to pump essentially trying to get blood from a stone for hours a day between feelings to try to create a supply, using the sns which is so hard. Just love and enjoy your baby, no matter how the feeding goes. Please.

I only tell my story sometimes so others won't go through what I did. Good luck with whatever happens, choice or not.

Message edited 5/26/2012 8:43:17 AM.

Re: Breastfeeding/Formula Unbiased Info..

Re: Breastfeeding/Formula Unbiased Info..

Here's a list of ingredients of both Breastmilk and Formula. This is as "unbiased" as it gets. The raw truth is that breast milk is better and it's not a bias against formula...Just straight facts. Some moms (~1-3%) truly can't BF and for them, another mother's milk is recommended first, then formula.

Here's the list of ingredients.

Re: Breastfeeding/Formula Unbiased Info..

(SOURCE: These two lists were developed by Cecily Heslett, Sherri Hedberg and Haley Rumble as a student project for the Breastfeeding Course for Health Care Providers at Douglas College in New Westminster, BC, Canada in 2007. You can view the full pdf poster students created here. Note that we are still discovering new 'ingredients' in human milk each year. The science of lactation is relatively new and there is still a significant amount that we do not understand, and have not yet solved. It is very possible that the ingredient list for human milk is three times this length, with special factors we may not unfold for years to come.)

I'm curious....how are these stats unbiased if the source was done by a bunch of students for project done particularly for a breastfeeding course at a college???....not trying to flame or cause drama but if these students were doing a project specifically for a breastfeeding course their slant for their project would of course be leaning towards finding research to prove what they were learning about which of course in a breastfeeding course, would be breastfeeding

eta the SOURCE info i took above in ( ) is from Grill's link

Message edited 5/26/2012 11:49:24 AM.

Re: Breastfeeding/Formula Unbiased Info..

and just to add my opinion....

I didn't bf for my own personal choices and opinions and never once did I feel that ff was inferior and you should not feel that way either no matter how many people try to make you feel that way....you will find many will....just remember the decision you make is yours and yours alone stand by it

as for unbiased material, you won't really find much because everyone has an agenda no matter what.....so read up on both and make as much of an educated decision as you can make and be proud of it!

good luck!

Re: Breastfeeding/Formula Unbiased Info..

thanks everyone!!!!

Re: Breastfeeding/Formula Unbiased Info..

What about the World Health Organization or the American Academy of Pediatrics?

eta: I can't think of many other sources of info that's not truly biased - most people are trying to sell you something.

Message edited 5/26/2012 4:43:24 PM.