17 May 2010
A recent statement by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, made last Thursday, where he stated that infant milk formula should be banned worldwide, has caused much consternation from mothers around the country.
Since 1995 the advertising of infant milk formula was banned in the UK and cut back elsewhere in the world due to an emphasis on the importance of breastfeeding in order to help reduce infant mortality.
Motsoaledi mentioned proposing the banning of infant milk formula at the World Health Assembly this week. He knew he would shock people with his proposed ban, but he claims formulas are "no different from skin lightening creams", which are banned in South Africa.
"We know that breastfeeding is by far the best - all around the world nothing can ever beat breastfeeding."
The World Health Organisation recommends that in most cases babies should be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months.
There is no doubt that breastfeeding for 6 months to 2 years is best, but my question for the Health Minister would be what happens after those first vital 6 months? What about mothers who are separated from their babies - through circumstances or needing to return to work, who struggle to breastfeed or who may be too ill to do so.
As a pro-breastfeeding mother I know the importance of breastfeeding for as long as possible, and how convenient it can be if one is able to breastfeed successfully - with breastmilk constantly on hand and no cost involved. But not all moms are that lucky.
Perhaps what should be done instead is a greater drive to promote the value of breastfeeding in South Africa, as opposed to removing a lifeline from woman who have little or no choice, yet still want the best for their baby. What do you think?
For the original story see: News24.com
A readers comment: News24.com: Breastfeeding a mom's choice
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Comments - 22 comments
Elsabe
I don't believe it should be banned, but it should not be advertised and so freely available. What we don need is more informed mothers regarding the establishment of breastfeeding and knowing where to seek help. Most moms can breastfeed, and with the correct support from hospital, family, friends, doctors , the workplace etc. it should not be such an issue. Maybe we should make breastfeeding the norm, ensure that your workplace gives you time to express for your baby, or maybe even better, allow babies in the workplace (employ one baby carer for the company that looks after the babies in a room provided) so that moms can breastfeed at work. It is a human rights issue.Velia
I think this is ridiculous. I have a little girl of 9 months. When she was born I had no Milk and after 2 days of her not getting any breast milk in the hospital I was forced to give her formula. Even after the doctors gave me egglanol to help make my milk more I would only get about 40ml's out a day. (20ml's from each breast) My child also refused to take to the breast after a while as she was not getting anything. What would have happened to my child if there had been no formula available to her. Would I have had to watch my child die. He is a stupid, ignorant man that knows nothing about this topic and he should focus on other matters.Flamelily
I have been saying for years that it is Not the best thing - it Used to be when we all ate Good Wholesome Food - But with all the additives in nearly every kind of food we eat now-a-days, I do not see how it could possibly be best! All that rubbish that goes into a lot of our food goes into the bloodstream which in turn gets absorbed into the breast milk - HOW can That be good for Your Baby?Madira
I think the minister is either ignorant or misinformed. I found breastfeeding difficult to start with and had to fill the gap with formula as my son went hungry at times from just breastfeeding. He wouldn't larch on my breast for long and would go hungry as a consequence. I now breastfeed him as much as possible but still feel the need to give him formula. And he's happy while on both, cries less too. Why pressurise women to do things in a certain way, different things work for different people.Motshabi
The minister is insesitive to those mothers who are unable to breastfeed eg: HIV infected mothers, what about them? If he is the health minister surely he knows that these women cannot breast feed? I just think that some of our ministers needs to go for humanity course as they are inhumane.bags wholesale
Ek dink koop sakke van 'n aanlyn winkel sakke is' n goeie idea.since ontwerper sakke is duur, en die tendens baie vinnig verander. Selfs baie online shopping rolprentsterre. n paar dae gelede het ek net weggooi my ou sak en het 'n nuwe one.I het nie veel tyd om te gaan huis tot huis. my sakke met die mode verander op hierdie manier. Dit bring my minder geld en minder tyd.Thembi
i think the health minister forgot that most of us are single parents we ahve to go to work and some can't afford a breast pupm so what will happen to us if they banned the formula milkIrritated
This is ridiculous!! What does he even know about breastfeeding? It is a choice whether you want to breastfeed or not. In my case I did not have a choice as I was re-admitted to hospital a week after my baby girl was born. Why is it that woman then have a choice to have an abortion - to actually kill their baby (and I believe that everyone is entitled to their own decisions, they have to live with it) - and that it is legal, yet I must be forced to breastfeed because the formula won't be available on the market. We all have choices. Why don't you take alcohol off the market - that would actually be doing something productive - as it doesnt have any health benefit for anyone. Wake up and focus on important issues like Aids and TB etc. And especially the water catastrophy in our country!!!!!!!!Joanne
Just when I thought the government cannot shock me more. If this came from a mom, I would probably be more open to it. But this comes from a man who have no idea what everyone's circumstances are. I am pro breastfeeding. I breastfed my baby for 4 months only. I struggled a lot before stopping & it was such a big relief. I wasn't sorry, because I know I've tried my best and was proud of myself because of it. Every mother should do what is best for her and her baby. Whether it is breastfeeding or bottle feeding. I have lots of respect for the mothers to breastfeed for more than 6 months. But it does not work for everyone. Before banning infant formula, the Health Minister should rather focus on other more serious issues. Rather try to motivate breastfeeding by forcing public businesses (like restaurants etc), to have a room available for moms to breastfeed privately (it is shocking how many restaurants, etc. do not even have a changing station); instituting longer maternity full paid maternity leave & free breastfeeding consultants at clinics and hospitals ALL over the country. Maybe then mothers will be able to breastfeed for longer & more easily. With enough support it IS possible. But don't try to force us into anything.Elna
Ek dink dit is bietjie radikaal om formule melk heeltemal van die mark af te haal. Ek is ook 'n voorstander van borsvoeding. My baba is nou 8 maande oud en ek borsvoed steeds. Dit is vir my baie gerieflik, gesond, goedkoop en vinnig. Daar is egter mammas wat nie kan borsvoed nie en dan is daar ook die wat nie 'n behoefte het om te borsvoed nie. Persoonlik dink ek dit is selfsugtig as jy kan borsvoed, maar net nie wil nie. Dit bly egter elke ma se eie keuse.Lizette
This will always be a controversial topic. What surprises me is that the Health Minister, a MAN, makes a statement like that. How ironic! I totally agree that 'breast is best' but with my first born I was admitted to hospital 10 days after her birth due to complications and couldn't breastfeed at all. With my second I made the conscious choice of not breastfeeding for personal reasons. My choices didn't mean I love my babies any less, or do not have their best interest at heart. Both my girls are 100% healthy (my youngest will be turning 2yrs next month). Breastfeeding is a choice, just like anything else in life. Every mother only has the best in mind for her baby! For me breast or bottle wasn't an issue - for another mother exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is her choice - but that is just it , it's a choice and why should we be dictated what to do? Shouldn't the same attention be given to other important, if not more important Health issues in our country and the World which is terribly neglected? Health Issues that can kill our babies? A Blessed day to everyone!Liezl Wilbers
I think banning infant milk is a bit harsh. Being a breastfeeding mom, who really struggled in the beginning, I know that with perseverance, and the right help, a lot more moms will be able to breastfeed who think they can not. Apparently studies have shown that only 2% of women really is unable to breastfeed. I do think they should consider making formula like medicine, that you should only be able to obtain it with a prescription, in order to promote breastfeeding.NickiD
Complete over-reaction! Yes, new moms DO need to be educated and nurses in hospitals need to be given the tools assist those new moms while they are still in hospital. But then, what about the moms who literally CAN'T breastfeed? What about the babies who are lactose intolerant?Charmaine van Jaarsveld
Met my hele hart wou ek borsvoed, gelukkig met my seuntjie het dinge goed gegaan en ek kon. Dit is die wonderlikste gevoel. Hy is tans 8 en half maande oud en ek borsvoed nogsteeds. Hy het nog nooit nodig gehad om 1 bottel blikmelk te drink nie. Borsvoed bo, as jy kan!!Zoe Whitley
This minister needs to be replaced with a more intelligent human being, The miniter is obviously not THINKING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES. AS A MOTHER THIS IRRITATES ME!Lelani Badenhorst
What an interesting subject..... I'm am 100% sure that every single mother in the world knows that breast feeding is best for there child. My question I would like to ask Mr Aaron Motsoaledi..... What do you do when you have been through the most tramatic birth giving experience where your baby is prematurely born like mine at 32 weeks. I did my best to express milk every 3 hours and take it to the hospital for his feeds, but as his demand became more I just could not keep up with it. It was impossible to let him suck on me as he was connected to ventilators and what else....I went see my gynae and tried every remedy, suggestion, prescribe medicine everything I could get my hands on to make my milk more but nothing would help. After 3 weeks of sleepness nights (without a baby) and no sign that my milk production would increase I decided to stop trying as it was hopeless and that my baby was already getting more formula milk than the breast milk I could give him. The stressful situation was just to much for the milk production. I really do hope that Mr Aaron think this through properly, because it seems that he did not do any homework on this at all.Juanne
I don't think they should ban infant formula. What if the mother don't have breast milk during her pregnancy and after the birth? Or what if the mother's breast milk aren't feeding the child enough? Nobody can force someone to do something they don't want to. I say they should leave it like it is. With my first child I couldn't breastfeed because my milk wasn't enough for her and with my second and third son I didn't have any breast milk? So my question are what was I supposed to do? I can't let my little baby starve to death. Just leave it like it is.Moomie
This is just ridiculous! Maybe they should look at giving breastfeeding mothers support in the workplace instead of "banning" formula! There is no legislation protecting breastfeeding mothers in the workplace. You are allowed to have smoke breaks but no "milk" breaks!Lizelle Rademeyer
Ons het 'n vreeslike lang gesprek hieroor gehad in een van die Mom2Mom forum se groepe. Ek's 'n groot voorstaander van borsvoeding. Nie een van my 2 het ooit 'n bottel formule melk gehad nie. Ek sou ook graag wou he dat meer mammas borsvoed, maar om formule melk te verban is nie die antwoord nie Die probleem is dat ons regering nie bereid is om hulle hande in hulle sakke te steek om te verseker dat mammas die nodige hulp, ondersteuning en nodige inligting het om wel suksesvol te borsvoed nie. As hulle meer daadwerklik wil op tree kan hulle eerder verseker dat kraam verlof langer is en dat die UIF voldoende is om seker te maak ma's kan dit bekostig om tuis te bly. Meeste ma's kan nie bekostig om langer as 6 weke tuis te bly nie en hoe op aarde is jy veronderstel om te borsvoed as jy voltyds moet werk nie? Daar is bloot ook net nie die nodige in plek om mamma's wat wel wil borsvoed te help om dit suksesvol te doen. Meeste privaat hospitale en -klinieke bied nie eers behoorlike ondersteuning nie, ek wil eerder nie eers weet wat by die staatshospitale aan gaan nie.celeste
This is CRAZY, what would you give a baby that cant latch and drink from its mother. Or what would happen if the mom never got milk or if the milk dried up for some unknown reason? People should think things through before making stupid suggestions. And as far as i know, HIV infected woman can not breast feed their babies. My eldest son, now 2, was unable to drink from my breast although me second now 4 months latched immediatly and we never had any problems. Babies are different and we should always have to option to choose wat is best for us(the mothers) and the babies.Kelly-Marié
I can not believe that a "man" wants to ban formula milk. I have 3 kids and all of them at some stage had to start on formula milk. And I have very healthy children. There is nothing wrong with formula milk. I believe if children have both breast and formula milk it's best of both world's. What next will they ban vitamin pill's or vitamin syrups and say we have to eat vegetables and fruit.Niki viljoen
Formula can't just be banned, there are a lot of moms that would like to breastfeed, but it just don't work for them - not because they are unedicated - the milk just didn't come, even after a week. On the other side Formula is so expensive, a lot of families cant buy that can of milk. So cater for both worlds.