Breastfeeding Babies.

[Georgiesmum]

What do you think of the idea of new mums in deprived areas being offered £200 in food shopping vouchers if they breastfeed their baby for six months? Surely this money could be better spent. What do you think?

[pusskin]

Silly idea, waste of money. if people want to beastfeed they will.
Nothing really beats mothers milk does it though, and I'd like to see more mothers feeding that way, but not told to do it though.

[FredPuli43]

Anne, are you perchance referring to what the mother of our two said: "You wouldn't believe how strong a baby's jaws are ! It is like having a mole wrench clamped on !" Or were you referring to signs of the presence of milk being available ?

[lozzer50]

who will check if tyhe people who receive the money are still breastfeeding! surely no incentive is needed for something so natural, and anyway its a womans right to choose

[mackfender]

This is about as sensible as paying a man to wear a condom.

[Ann]

Is this only for breast feeding in public areas? Who would know if it was carried out discreetly at home? Twaddle - not in favour at all, this is another scheme for certain mothers just to work the system, they could even pretend to breast feed their babies just to get the free vouchers! Who is funding this? The stores?

[888]

Silly idea all round. Put me down for quins to pay my gas bill.

[Mamyalynne]

Medical charities I believe.

[ummmm]

The test is simple...if you're still producing milk when your baby is 6 months old then there's a good chance you're brestfeeding.

I think it's a good idea.

[tamborine]

Where is this deprived area ?

[ummmm]

There are deprived areas in most towns and cities.

[tamborine]

Spose its DHSS mums wherever, rather than an area?

[StripeTheGremlin]

To pay off mothers who presumably defy nature (since this suggests that said mothers are not currently breastfeeding)? Such an outrageous exploitation and disrespect of choice.
While breast milk contains DHA which stimulates brain development thus it being a good thing there can be complications. Some infants just never latch on. Apparently this was the case with myself as an infant. As I was told for the first week or so of my life I even refused a bottle.
Such force is borderline slavery.

[ummmm]

imo...it's area.

[factor-fiction]

It's worth reading the actual story. It's simply a research project being carried out by the University of Sheffield and it's being funded by either (depending on which paper you read) medical charities or the Dept of health. It only covers 130 mums and the potential payments are up to £200 each. So it could cost up to £23000. The control systems do seem a bit weak, I agree, but maybe the researchers know what they are doing- or maybe they want to ensure a favourable result so they can get more funding for further trials

[ummmm]

Breast milk is free.....

[tamborine]

Encouraging/demanding babes be breast fed till 6mts could be detrimental to their health. Rickets was common in the past when babes were bfed longer.

[ummmm]

Seriosly?

[factor-fiction]

Typo- £26000. Must stop typing in the dark

[tamborine]

Not every mother's milk is as nutricious for 6mts.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickets

[ladybirder]

I heard on Radio4 yesterday that it will be your Health Visitor who will have to sign a form to say you are breast feeding your child and that you get the payments in stages, not all at once.