Formula for Disaster Part 1

[gOtHiCxAnGeLxox]

If they're so poor then why would they bother spending what little money they have on formula? Hm? Because, in my mind, breastfeeding tends to be a lot cheaper...

[tigoes]

@gOtHiCxAnGeLxox Do you really think breastfeeding is better for baby health when you take in account all the chemicals we all adsorb everyday?

[gOtHiCxAnGeLxox]

@tigoes - Yep. Still healthier.

[mahxien]

@tigoes yes, definitely better than formula. 

[Justinian1979]

wikileaks cable: US lobbied vs breastfeeding in the philippines Deputy Chief of Mission Paul Jones, said the embassy's economic counselor met with Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Alex Padilla December 12, 2005 to convince the government to meet with pharmaceutical companies first before signing the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs) of the Milk Code into law.

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[hasikelee]

Um, they have 8 kids because they formula feed! That jump starts their cycles and dries up the milk...which means they can have sex and pregnant almost instantly...the average for a non-breastfeeding woman is 3 months after birth!

Formula does more than kill babies due to being watered down or infected...it also causes artificial birth rates and family distress!

[breyshannon]

Ummm, no. I have a friend with 8 kids. She has been breastfeeding for 17 years. Spaces them well, but not population control.

[AlisiLivaLiva]

@hasikelee get your facts right, women can exclusively breastfeed and get pregnant!

[charitymae15]

nice video. very informative. sana may mga nakitang penalties for those who violates the milk code. Dapat strict ang govt in implementing this program

[elisabettamalvagna]

Great doc. Information, information, information, To change the world.

[vaccineshurtbabies]

Thailand also has low breastfeeding rates, mostly because women in the workforce need to get back to work withing days or weeks of giving birth. Children's health made worse by vaccinating them.

[vaccineshurtbabies]

The Phillipines is overpopulated because it is a Catholic country, yet living costs are relatively high, while work is difficult to come by and badly paid. Even qualified teachers seek work in places like Thailand, to get better pay. It seems a survival mechanism that people who live on the poverty line are prolific breeders.

[islandmamma]

who made this doc?

[oneloved1]

WHO in 2002: "Infants who are not breastfed, for whatever reason, should receive special attention from the health and social welfare system since they constitute a risk group."

[oneloved1]

WHO: "Only under exceptional circumstances can a mothers milk be considered unsuitable for her infant. For those few health situations where infants cannot, or should not, be breastfed, the choice of the best alternative expressed breast milk from an infants own mother, breast milk from a healthy wet-nurse or a human-milk bank, or a breast-milk substitute fed with a cup, which is a safer method than a feeding bottle and teat depends on individual circumstances."

[oneloved1]

WHO in 2002: "To achieve optimal growth, development and health, infants should be EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFED FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF LIFE. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for UP TO TWO YEARS of age or beyond."

[oneloved1]

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in their official 2001 statement regarding Infant And Young Child Nutrition: "Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers." Part 1

[sephoramoon]

Hate to sound like a cold hearted bitch. But what are these people doing having 8 kids average each? I know they cannot afford birth control. Can they not abstain? I have done so in the past myself when my birth control method was not available or whatever. I don't understand why poor peopl around the world cannot see the value of sacrificing an orgasm or two so that they don't create a life that will only suffer and often die? Seems very selfish to me.

[osumaralbujar]

A better policy for both, rich and poor, is -in any case- counter advertising about the beneficts of bf. But my indignation is because of the policies of the WHO. They are extremly wrong in my view, despite the fact that I am in concordance with you in the main goal that we have to reach.

[debn31]

AHhh, well at least we have the same main goal!

That is a good start, don't you think?

What it is specifically that you don't like about WHO's policies (just curious).

[osumaralbujar]

lol you´re right...

about your question: the restrictions in comercialization and advertising that it promotes (with succeed)... I saw more problems about these policies than the ones that I already mention, but the discussion will be to long for a "youtube conversation"... I did an academic article about it (taken information of peru, where 50% of the population is poor), but is in Spanish.

[vaccineshurtbabies]

"What it is specifically that you don't like about WHO's policies?"

"The unofficial policy of the WHO and almost all of these organisations (promoting vaccines) is one of murder and of genocide."

Dr A Kalokerinos MD, Australia

[debn31]

I will however, agree that it is the poorest who suffer the most. At least most in NA who choose to bottlefeed have access to clean water and health care. That is another reason it saddens me to see some of these mothers in the Philippines choose to bottlefeed (and no, I'm NOT commenting on the mommies that HAVE to, let's clear that up).

And, I think that they have less power in general, and don't think that companies don't take advantage of that.

[osumaralbujar]

giving you more details... in one of my reserches I interviewed a manager of a formula producer (a big one) and he was, in fact, happy about the prohibition... And the economics and law theory predicts that result... "why?": is common sense: if you are a previously stablished producer, the ideal World (almost the dream of a firm) is that your competitors were not abble to advertice their products...

[debn31]

I see your point, but I don't know if you understand mine. It's not the ADVERTISING perse that I have trouble with. It's the fact that these formula companies undermine breastfeeding, making mothers (and fathers) think that formula is just as good as breast milk and it's not. Anyone who argues that fact is ignoring cold hard facts. Did you know that formula is not the recommended choice by the WHO, and not even the SECOND choice? No, it's #4 on the list. YES, in fourth place.

[debn31]

So, if there was a stronger punishment on advertising for those who took advantage of less educated parents (I never said a total ban, and actually, I don't even think I even mentioned a ban at all - you brought that up)...then yes, it WOULD benefit the babies, because more would be breastfed. THat's the bottom line.

[debn31]

And finally, I would NEVER support the banning of all formula. I do understand that some people NEED to feed their babies formula, and on top of that, some choose to. I don't agree with it but it's their baby and their rights. What really angers me is the companies taking advantage of less educated parents, and in the end, the babies pay for it, sometimes with their lives.

[osumaralbujar]

I agree with you on that. But maybe you´re missing out that almost always the less educated people is also the poorest: so they naturally will choose the "free alternative" (i.e. breastfeeding). And, thus, if they do the opposite, maybe they have (in my experience do have) a powerfull reason to do so.

[debn31]

I agree, of course they are! The rich are usually more educated, better fed etc.

And, you totally hit the nail on the head. The free alternative IS the even the best alternative. ANd that's what makes me sooo sad! These women could be putting the money they put into formula, into buying food for themselves, and then nursing the babe.

[debn31]

Also,this is not an attack on bottle feeding mothers. I might not agree with the choice, and it makes me sad for the baby,but it's the mom's to make, and I will always defend that.

But, it's not the mom I have the problem with. It's the companies who blatantly disregard the law (whether it's banned or not, they find MANY ways to get around that) - and push formula on families that not only don't need it but can't afford it. All for profit. Makes me sick!

[osumaralbujar]

The ban is the curren norm for almost all countries: the documental shows an exception.

Breastfeeding is the BEST choice and is also free, I dont challenge that. Do you really think that a rational person will choose the SECOND or less choice if he had the chance to choose the FIRST? Stop thinking that poor people is stupid. If they don´t feed with breast his childs is because they can´t.

Deception in ads is prescribed, so the point is a commonplace used as an excuse by regulators.

[debn31]

Who said stupid? I said less educated, there's a vast difference.

And, if you look at the facts, only 2-4% actually physically CANNOT breastfeed.

Yes, some have to go to work and cannot bf because of that too.

And sometimes it IS a choice (at least in North America) - where people can breastfeed but CHOOSE not to.

[osumaralbujar]

rich people is not our problem, they have sufficient information, despite advertisment. is not important for they if you ban or not.. the problem is the poorest people. If you agree in that SOME people don´t have the chance to bf, so why make the alternatives unaviable? (taking at account that I previously say that, if they have the chance, they will bf because it´s FREEEEEE (poor people usually value that).

[debn31]

And actually - I will disagree with you...on the fact that those well off have sufficient info. Actually, even in North AMerica, there is much misunderstanding and misconceptions regarding breastfeeding. And that's not even getting into the very odd socially held views by some that breastfeeding is "wrong" or "gross". It's sexualized here in North America, sadly.

[osumaralbujar]

Ok, I agree in that. But my point was other, excuse me if I say it wrong: Rich people will bootle feeding his babies despite the bans. Why? because they are not affected with the rise in prices product of the bans (not at the level of poor people at least) and they have information ABOUT FORMULAS for alternatives sources. So, WHO regulation is intented to discourage poor people for bf, not rich one. And, I argue that this regulation has a paradoxical effect in poor people.

[islandmamma]

horrible world.

[islandmamma]

what happens is that dirty water is used in unsanitary bottles and in order to make the formula stretch only a scarce ampount is added resulting in mal nutrition. Breast milk is superior and abundant and free. If we wern't meant to breastfeed we wouldn't have breasts.

[osumaralbujar]

Sometimes the mother have no choice rather than feet the infant with substitudes like baby formulas (i. e. they work long hours). If you put a ban on advertising, the price of this product rise (the economic literature state that), and the mothers must give their children less adecuated products. If you prohibit an alternative, you are also making this people more poor. Do not take the information as a ultime truth, think about it. (Who will benefict with an increase in the price?).

[debn31]

Who will benefit? Ummm, all the babies that have breastmilk instead of formula because their mothers were not tricked into thinking formula is as good as or better than breastmilk.

All the babies that don't die from bacteria infested water that's used to mix the formula.

The babies, that's whom!

[osumaralbujar]

If you knew anything about the "theory of capture" in economics you will figuret out that the beneficiaries of a prohibition that restrict´s the competition are the firms, not the baby´s. I am a researcher of this topics, rather than a formula producer nor an advertiser... but a dogma is always a dogma, and anything that I could say would make you think...

[debn31]

Also - I never take anything as the "ultimate truth". I do much research, reading and thinking. Because I am educated on the benefits of breast milk and the dangers of formula, I chose to nurse both my sons into their toddler years.

We are so out of touch with our bodies and what is *really* important these days. Unfortunately, money is more important to some people than babies lives and wellbeing.

[debn31]

Oh my gosh, this video almost makes me cry. Breastfeeding would not only save them the money they don't have - but their children could thrive.

The formula companies that push these mothers into thinking it's best make me seethe with anger!

[communitywork]

Since most of our women share the role of being a provider in the family, they tend to wean their babies early from breastfeeding and turn to the bottle. This is not surprising considering Filipinas make do with only 8 weeks of paid maternity leave-one of the shortest in the world compared to 35 weeks in Canada, 52 weeks in the United Kingdom, and a whopping 64 weeks in Sweden. Our Asian counterparts also fare better with 12 weeks in Singapore, 14 weeks in Japan and 24 weeks in Vietnam

[communitywork]

After winning only a partial victory in the Supreme Court, the Department of Health is turning to Congress to advance its campaign to promote breastfeeding as a better alternative to infant formula. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the DOH will no longer seek a reconsideration of the Supreme Court decision nullifying three of the 56 provisions of the National Milk Code's revised implementing rules and regulations (RIRR).

[communitywork]

MANILA, -- The Supreme Court on Oct. 8 lifted a ban on the advertising of powdered baby milk. The ban, which is included in the government's 1986 "Milk Code," took effect last year, affecting an industry worth millions of dollars. The WHO and the UNICEF supported the ban, but the milk companies' Pharmaceutical and Health Care Association of the Philippines had challenged its legality in court. UNICEF spokesman in Manila, Dale Rutstein, said his organization was disappointed by the decision.

[communitywork]

Community health workers need to be trained on the provisions of the Milk Code before they influence mothers into wasting their money on infant formula.

[xtianroland]

thanks for posting this vid...i have a 2 week old baby and he's taking nestogen...now i will force my wife to breastfeed him....

[catalystmom2be]

Why not ask her to watch the video. If it impacted you that much, it may impact her the same way. Forcing her to breast feed may cause resentment, and it might make it harder for her to breast feed if she really wants to.

[VailAZ]

How sickening.

[sassberry]

The formula for disaster videos prove that manufacturers unethically market their products to the detriment of public health and are indirectly responsible for suffering and deaths of thousands of infants daily. Why hasn't the formula v human milk situation become a human/equal rights issue? I know which start in life I'd prefer-certainly not one that is a constant ongoing experiment and lines the pockets of greedy formula and pharmaceutical companies.

[birthecology]

Thank you for sharing this video!

[mikebradyuk]

Baby Milk Action has a campaign of solidarity with the Philippines as they fight to defend their baby food marketing regulations. Search for us - it isn't possible to post the link here.