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oh - that picture was above the story & I did't see it at first. That bottle baby is tiny (bf one could be small too - don't know how old). that is sad
That is a sad picture, but it seems that people want to use a picture like that to argue that bottle feeding is unsafe and dangerous.
I don't understand why the twin that was bottle fed died? A child can easily be bottle fed and survive. I am guessing the water that the formula was mixed with was unsafe and the baby died from that? One of the main problems is that she was told (I am guessing by a medical professional) that she could only breastfeed one child. Even if that were true, she could have been encouraged to alternate breastfeedings and bottle feedings between both children, rather than to favor one child for breastfeeding, especially as she watched one thrive and gain, while the other one didn't. There seems to be so many problems with this situation. Bottle feeding by itself doesn't seem to be the main problem.
Location: You did what you knew how to do, and when you knew better, you did better. ~ Maya Angelou
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Quote:
Originally posted by Charity That is a sad picture, but it seems that people want to use a picture like that to argue that bottle feeding is unsafe and dangerous.
I don't understand why the twin that was bottle fed died? A child can easily be bottle fed and survive. I am guessing the water that the formula was mixed with was unsafe and the baby died from that? One of the main problems is that she was told (I am guessing by a medical professional) that she could only breastfeed one child. Even if that were true, she could have been encouraged to alternate breastfeedings and bottle feedings between both children, rather than to favor one child for breastfeeding, especially as she watched one thrive and gain, while the other one didn't. There seems to be so many problems with this situation. Bottle feeding by itself doesn't seem to be the main problem.
My co-worker is posting right now - she has two very smart, happy, healthy, athletic bottle-fed kids. Here is what she says:
The article based on the boycott is based on the fact that in the third world countries there is not the same standard of living as we have here. They do not have clean water nor the means to provide formula. They get hooked on a product (formula), yet the water is contaminated, there isn't enough formula because there isn't enough money to buy formula for their baby....hence they wind up with 2-3 thousand babies dying per DAY.
These companies lure women into bottle-feeding when these woman clearly can not afford to do so. They do not have WIC in these countries. So, the family spends up to 50% of their income trying to feed their babies.
So, yes, in third world countries, bottle feeding is dangerous. Very dangerous.
My 2 kids are very healthy and they were raised on formula - but I had ENOUGH formula and clean water to mix it with.
The story I heard about that photo was that the bottlefed baby was a girl and the breastfed baby was a boy I can't remember where I read that.
As to the poster who wondred how bottlefeeding could kill the baby. There are many statistics that back up infant mortality in relation to bottlefeeding vs. breastfeeding. Have you read "Milk Money Madness" it would be a good start on this and the Nestle Boycott.
Immunities in breast milk and contamination of water and 'skimping' on the formula to be able to feed their baby formula at all are things that contribute.
Kimberlee
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Mommy to five little earthlings and a baby in heaven.
It reminds me of an account I read in, I think it was either the More With Less Cookbook, or Living More With Less, about a Mennonite aid worker who visited a family in Bangladesh and saw a few healthy looking children in the family and one child who was a waif, white as a ghost and on the verge of death. WHen she inquired of another aid worker what was the matter with this child, the woman told her that the family didn't have enough money for food, and that was the child they had chosen to starve.
I think we just can't begin to imagine the heartache that is going on in the world when we don't see it. I wish more of these stories were told.
Originally posted by JustAmina! My co-worker is posting right now - she has two very smart, happy, healthy, athletic bottle-fed kids. Here is what she says:
The article based on the boycott is based on the fact that in the third world countries there is not the same standard of living as we have here. They do not have clean water nor the means to provide formula. They get hooked on a product (formula), yet the water is contaminated, there isn't enough formula because there isn't enough money to buy formula for their baby....hence they wind up with 2-3 thousand babies dying per DAY.
These companies lure women into bottle-feeding when these woman clearly can not afford to do so. They do not have WIC in these countries. So, the family spends up to 50% of their income trying to feed their babies.
So, yes, in third world countries, bottle feeding is dangerous. Very dangerous.
My 2 kids are very healthy and they were raised on formula - but I had ENOUGH formula and clean water to mix it with.
-Marie (Amina's co-worker)
It seems though, that there is this desire to save people from themselves and to save them from the consequences that come from not educating yourself before making choices. It seems there is this push to boycott a product, that seems bad because some people doin't know how to use it, and don't desire to make sure they are using it correctly. Formula in the hands of an educated/intelligent person is perfectly fine.
This type of argument could be made for so many other products. Like baby walkers being dangerous, when the walker itself wasn't dangerous, it was the parents who thought they could stop supervising their moveable child once they placed them in it, that were dangerous. One could say that we should boycott vegetarinism lifestyles because some people do them wrong and put their children's health at risk. Or boycotting all diet programs because there are so many people who decide to do a diet program and then don't do it correctly and put their health at risk. One could say that ANY over the counter or prescription medication shouldn't be marketed, because what if parents use it incorrectly? What if they only give half of a pill to make it last longer because they can't afford to buy more, and the child dies because they needed the full does of medication to get better? What if the parent isn't fully aware of how much to give and the child dies because the parent gives too little or too much?
I'm really not trying to pick one side over another. The picture is indeed sad, and it is indeed sad that babies are dying. But it seems they are dying because parents aren't educating themselves on a product they plan to use to give their baby. Sure they don't live in America and don't have our education level, but why are parents choosing to use a product to feed their baby without making sure they know how to read the directions and follow them, and making sure they can financially keep doing so as the baby ages? There may very well be tons of parents like that here in America who are daily putting their kid's lives at risk for making choices without any common sense behind those choices. But if we keep saving them from their own lack of interest in being educated about what they give their child, we are setting up a lifestyle of them never desiring to be educated. We are telling them, it's okay to not be educated about products, because we'll do all the work and only give you products that can't be used incorrectly. And if it is used incorrectly we won't blame the parent who used it wrong, we'll blame the manufacturers and marketers of that product.
I don't think you are understanding the whole issue. Read Milk, Money, and Madness and it would make more sense. It goes far beyond people not educating themselves. They CAN'T educate themselves. It is not America. Nestle sends people into the hospitals dressed as NURSES and these people tell these woman that breastfeeding is bad, formula is healthy, this is what all american's give thier babies blah blah blah. Give them some free formula. Once a baby is on the bottle and they realize how much formula is costing them or how thier baby isn't thriving, it is too late. It is disgusting!! This is just one example of thier nasty nestle tactics.
I fully support the boycott. There is no way I am giving my money to a company that makes a profit off the death of children. No way.
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Allison
mama to Ara, Simone, and Zarin
These companies lure women into bottle-feeding when these woman clearly can not afford to do so. They do not have WIC in these countries. So, the family spends up to 50% of their income trying to feed their babies.
This exact same argument could be used in this country. These same companies luring women into using artificial baby milk, are also doing the same unethical luring here in this country, even in your little community. Most persons would be appalled at the amount of pull formula companies have on maternity floors. Those complimentary "gift" bags are not gifts for the new parents given out of the goodness of the corporations loving, tender hearts. They are marketing ploys, tools used to lure young mothers away from breastfeeding- in favor of baby getting a "Good Start" on their formula. Good Start? Not nearly.
Yes, and when the sabotage suceeds, many of these mothers are "blessed" to have WIC to fall back on... let the govt.(meaning taxpayers) pay for it right? Formula makers make out quite well in this endeavor...our govt (meaning taxpayers) gives billion$$$ to the Formula makers for providing this less than adequate baby food, to a population of infants usually at a socio-economic disadvantage to begin with. Also, WIC is only supposed to supply up to 3/4 of the baby's food supply for the month. In many cases this leads desperate parents to water down artificial baby milk to make it last longer. Leading to a whole host of health problems for an infant who is already at a disadvantage due to being formula fed.
These companies are not the compassionate, caring, baby-loving, gentle-giants they would have people believe...with all the freebies and coupons and special magazines. They are simply a corporate enterprise with only one motive...$$$$.
Also, before assuming that formula in this country is "perfectly safe", seek out a pediatric gastroenterologist. An honest one will tell you if it weren't for formula, most would be picking a more lucrative specialty.
Formula was originally intended to keep alive infants who were not able to breastfeed, a very small minority. It has sadly turned into global greed, in the 3rd world and, believe it or not, your hometown.
All this, and more is avoided by giving an infant her birthright of warm, clean, safe breastmilk.
Originally posted by arasmama They CAN'T educate themselves. It is not America. Nestle sends people into the hospitals dressed as NURSES and these people tell these woman that breastfeeding is bad, formula is healthy, this is what all american's give thier babies blah blah blah. Give them some free formula. Once a baby is on the bottle and they realize how much formula is costing them or how thier baby isn't thriving, it is too late. It is disgusting!! This is just one example of thier nasty nestle tactics.
I fully support the boycott. There is no way I am giving my money to a company that makes a profit off the death of children. No way.
Was going to respond to you, Charity, but Arasmom made my point. Specificly what I quoted. In addition, by the time they run out of free formula, there own breastmilk has dried up.
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Originally posted by arasmama I don't think you are understanding the whole issue. Read Milk, Money, and Madness and it would make more sense. It goes far beyond people not educating themselves. They CAN'T educate themselves. It is not America. Nestle sends people into the hospitals dressed as NURSES and these people tell these woman that breastfeeding is bad, formula is healthy, this is what all american's give thier babies blah blah blah. Give them some free formula. Once a baby is on the bottle and they realize how much formula is costing them or how thier baby isn't thriving, it is too late. It is disgusting!! This is just one example of thier nasty nestle tactics.
I fully support the boycott. There is no way I am giving my money to a company that makes a profit off the death of children. No way.
Originally posted by meemee These companies are not the compassionate, caring, baby-loving, gentle-giants they would have people believe...with all the freebies and coupons and special magazines. They are simply a corporate enterprise with only one motive...$$$$.
I don't look at companies and think they are compassionate or caring based on their products. Most companies, unfortunately are out for the $$$$. That's usually why companies are started. It'd be nice if ethics were taken into consideration nowadays within companies, but more often than not they aren't. There is probably plenty of unethical stuff going on within companies we think are completely ethical.
I still say we are responsible for our choices, and if I choose to feed my baby formula because someone gave me a gift bag in the hospital, then I had better be ready to deal with the consequences for that choice (financially, and health-wise). I mean, if someon handed out illegal drugs in gift bags at the hospital, that doesn't mean I am going to start using them. As a parent it's our job to closely inspect things and make wise choices for our families and children. Just because a relative gives me a crib and a book on CIO, doesn't mean I am going to choose that route.
The best solution, is to educate people. Educate them on how to seek out information, educate them on how to read and follow instructions, educate them on how to financially forsee future costs based on present day purchases, educate them on breastfeeding and why it is a better choice. Educate them on how their decisions have consequences, some being good and some being bad. Teach people how to make better decisions.
And if formula companies are purposely dressing as medical prefessionals and giving out incorrect medical advice about breastfeeding to people in other countries, then the media needs to get involved and our government needs to be notified. And then again, the public needs to be aware of those people, and be on the look-out. Maybe more hospital security, meaning if they are not hospital paid staff, they don't beloing, especially strangers dressed as nurses.
I am soooo upset about this photo
So, so sad. 
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