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Mums & Dads
You are looking at: Home : News & Gossip : Mums & Dads

Australian doctor wants baby formula banned

It should only be available on prescription in a bid to encourage breastfeeding, says Dr. Jennifer James

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Posted: 23 September 2010
by Kyrsty Hazell
Australian doctor wants baby formula on prescription only
Australian doctor wants baby formula on prescription only

Whether you think ‘breast is best’ or formula feeding is better for you is a personal decision. However, Australian doctor Jennifer James believes that mums shouldn’t have the choice and wants baby formula banned from supermarkets, reports ABC News.

The doctor has caused outrage amongst mums after stating that by making baby formula being available on prescription only, it will encourage mums who are having problems breastfeeding to seek professional help.

“Artificial formulas have to meet food safety standards, but they are at best basic nutrition. They don’t provide anywhere near what a mother’s own breast milk can provide,” Dr. Jennifer James has said.

However, despite the angry backlash at her comments, Dr Jennifer believes that having baby formula on prescription only would benefit mums rather than judge their decision. “The woman can go through her breastfeeding problems and set up a plan of action to help her achieve her goal or successfully breastfeeding her baby,” says the pro-breastfeeding doctor.

Do you think Dr Jennifer James’ comments are out of line or do you agree? Let us know below!


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So what do you think?

manxmum
Definitely out of line. Who does she think she is??

What happened to personal choice?

My little boy was not breast fed and it wasn't for the want of trying and it wasn't my fault and i don't feel guilty about putting him on formula even though my midwives really tried to make me feel guilty they would rather have put him on a drip.

He is now a happy healthy five year old full of energy and enjoying school. i know mothers who have breast fed and there children are no healthier then my little one.

Leave us non breastfeeding mums alone Dr James.
About 2 years ago
Teresa Maxwell

I agree Karel, I tried to breastfeed my daughter after she was born and there was a whole day when she didn't feed and I had midwives visiting all day.  So I gave had to give her formula.

We didn't realise that having been born by ventouse that her head hurt to breastfeed so formula was the only option.  I was lucky that after a couple of weeks she could breastfeed and I had been expressing but without formula we would have struggled.

I know of other mums who couldn't breastfeed for many reasons so people should be allowed the choice and not be judged by petty doctors!

About 2 years ago
Katrina Dial
THANK YOU, Dr James, for being so brave as to say what needs to be said, but too few people have the guts to do, for fear of not being PC!!! I applaud you, and agree, wholeheartedly. For all the mother's out there who "just couldn't" breastfeed, I ask you: what if there was no such thing as formula? Would your baby starve?? No! You'd have found a way to make breastfeeding work.
At what point did we, as "civilized" people, choose to ignore the basic fact that we are MAMMALS??? Our babies don't know that this is the 21st century, and parenting is all about "convenience", our babies are baby mammals, and are born hardwired to, and expecting to, breastfeed! It's what breasts are THERE FOR, people!! And just think about what kind of a positive impact would increased breastfeeding have on the local, state, country and even worldwide economies if rates were increased? Less government funding on NICU stays, post-partum bleeding, post-partum depression, fewer childhood illnesses, diabetes, breast and reproductive cancers, etc, etc, ETC!!!
For those who stand up in indignation and say "I just couldn't and who are you to judge, don't try to make me feel guilty" I say the lady doth protest too much! If you're feeling guilty, it's probably because you know you didn't do the best thing by your baby. Stop worrying so much about YOUR right to personal choice and think about your BABY'S right to the PERFECT nutrition, OPTIMAL neural development and some good, old-fashioned skin-to-skin love!
So YOU GO, Dr James, and don't ever think that there's not plenty of folks standing right behind you!!
About 2 years ago
audrey1234

KAtrina - before I say any more I will tell you that I have 4 children, the first one I breastfed for 8 months, stopping when I was already pregnant with the second, the second one, I breastfed fed for 13 months, stopping when I was 2 months pregnant as I wanted the unborn baby on both occasions to get the nutrition, the third one I breastfed for 2 years and 3 months (that should please you) and the fourth one I breastfed for 10 months. 

Now, when I stopped breastfeeding, especially the first one at 8 months, would you not agree that she should have had formula, as she was young, and I wanted the unborn baby to get all the goodness from my body, so she had to be taken off?

What about the babies whose mother dies during or shorthly after childbirth?  Should they be left to die of starvation as other mammals in the wild are?  I really don't think so!

And do you actually have any children yourself?  Did you breastfeed them?  For how long?  I hope you breastfed for over 2 years, for each child, other wise go and breed more, give birth without pain relief (as a MAMMAL in the wild would do) get no stitches or aftercare, in fact, have your baby in a field, since you're in touch with nature.

All the best.

About 2 years ago
mumsie4
Yes, intersted to see how many babies this doctor has breastfed and for how long- most mums feel bad enough if they can't breastfeed (for whatever reason) without people like this heaping on the pressure! About 2 years ago
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