lack of information

Nikki there are so many problems you could have with FF and so many serious problems that could follow if you got it wrong!

There's the sterilising, the type of water (tap of boiled), the temperature of the water, the position you hold the baby, the amount to use (you'd be surprised at the amount I've seen people put in a newborn's bottle "to help him sleep" or "but he's a hungry baby") and then there's the adding stuff to the bottle like cereal etc which was "fine" when our Mum's did it , which stage to get (i.e. not the toddler one for your newborn just because it's on special - have seen this too ) what to do about constipation, allergic reactions...

And there's plenty more issues I'm sure. This is all really important information that parents need to know or else they risk making their baby really sick.

Sorry if this sounds like ranting, but this is something I feel quite strongly about

nikkiwhyte wrote: I suppose you could ring formula companies for advice but a) they probably wouldn't have a clue and b) have a vested interest in you staying with their product.

Even that's not a given There is so much legislation and red tape surrounding what they are allowed to tell you and when, that even the formula companies are running scared.

I totally agree with the antenatal depression thing, I like to think that I am fairly intelligent, and given the nature of my job, fairly well educated on such things, but I didn't even know there was such a thing as antenatal depression until the gremlins were 8 months old and my psychiatrist said I most likely had had it pretty bad. Had I known what it was and gotten help earlier I might not have lost so much precious time with them in those first few months.

As Debs said tho it's not just FFing that there's a lack of info on. When Michaela was little she needed to be constantly held and was nearly always attached to my breast or screaming. I'd try and put her down and sneak off for a quick shower and a couple of minutes in DH would interrupt me becuase she was inconsolable. She only slept in 90 minute lots day and night and I was a mess. I literally spent my first month crying because I couldn't understand what I was doing so wrong. It wasn't PND just the complete and utter feeling of failure.

I spoke to a midwife and 3 plunket nurses about Michaela and they all smiled and nodded and made sympathetic comments gave me the impression that they thought I was just complaining because I was a new mum and didn't know what to expect. In the end we did what we had to do to get by, we co-slept (mostly with my nipples exposed so she could cluster feed), she lived during the day attached to me in the front pack or I'd take her for huge walks in the pram - anything to settle her and keep her quiet.

Recently I stayed with my sister who's son (4mo) is exactly like Michaela was - he's been diagnosed with Silent Reflux. *light bulb moment* I'm guessing Michaela went undiagnosed because noone listened to me. My sisters eldest son was the same and she also suspects he had undiagnosed Silent Reflux.

I have a friend whose 2 week old is acting just like Michaela was (her toddler as a baby was a dream so this one's come as a shock) I've told her to go and bug a doctor until she gets an answer and my advice to all mums whether it's your 1st or 5th, if the behaviour doesn't seem right talk to someone until they listen and don't get fobbed off like I was.

Edited by MrsMojo

i think they so need the old karitane hospitals to help you young mums out with feeding problems. sleeping problems, mothercraft units where mum could stay with their babies, as well as a general ward where babies who were staying without their mums would come to sort out their feeding and sleeping issues and a toddlers ward for toddlers who wernt sleeping and eating and a prem unit

Two Blondinis wrote: When we were going through the early stages of C's constipation and were refused tests, scans etc I often found myself saying "will you just humour me and do it anyway, even if you do think I'm just a paranoid Mum"

And this is why I Southern Cross. You can get whatever you want if you're willing to pay...

I agree there is such a lack of help and support i remember my mid wife saying "i don't do babies" when i asked her for help with sleeping, feeding e.t.c. She said she was only there for me and my recovery.! She said ask my plunket nurse how could i when she didn't hand me over until 6 weeks after the birth.!!! It's in those early weeks where i needed help and guidance.

Just like Emma the family centre was fanastic without them who know what we would have done.The nurses were great .

Bring back the mother craft units and the longer stays in hospital.

Two Blondinis wrote: Nikki there are so many problems you could have with FF and so many serious problems that could follow if you got it wrong!

I know about all the problems relating to the mixing etc of formula but I what I was meaning is when people who actually have a brain (i.e. you!) still claim to 'not have information' (Not to say that it is wrong, just that I have been enlightened since!!!) That's where I was confused... and then that is why I only mentioned a couple of examples.

I don't hold out hope of the people who don't know how to mix formula properly getting it right even if there IS a whole host of information shoved under their noses, which is disturbing.

ETA - Not to say that I'd give up on them!!

Edited by nikkiwhyte