Baby Friendly sets infant feeding guidelines for healthcare providers. It seems this ideological organisation won’t miss an opportunity to ramp up efforts to coerce women to breastfeed.

A thread on 'Baby Friendly' advice for hcps working with parents during the pandemic. 1/10 https://twitter.com/babyfriendly/status/1245752317896470528

Baby Friendly's central statement to hcps working with parents advocates openly coercive practices:
‘If mothers are considering stopping breastfeeding, it is worth having a sensitive conversation about the value of continuing during the Covid-19 outbreak.’ 2/10

So, to add to the unbalanced picture of breastfeeding's benefits for UK babies they're adding an unproven hypothesis about protection from Covid-19. With this comes more shaming and more pressure at a time that's even more stressful than the usual situation new parents face. 3/10

There are unrealistic expectations/suggestions: ‘If the mother is too unwell to breastfeed or express breastmilk, she may be supported to re-lactate once well enough. Consider using donor milk if available..’. How likely is re-lactation for all? How available is donor milk?4/10

Could we not support parents to accept and enjoy the reality they find themselves in at a difficult time?

This unrealistic approach is not new to those of us who have experienced Baby Friendly care, but it is perhaps especially concerning during our current situation... 5/10

When I had my baby I felt under great pressure to try to exclusively breastfeed in hospital despite excessive sleep deprivation & sleepy baby. Less than 24 hrs after initial discharge we were readmitted to hospital as she'd lost 13% birth weight, was dehydrated & jaundiced. 6/10

Her condition was picked up by weighing during a home visit on day 4. What happens to babies like her while check-ups are happening remotely? More than ever we need to question Baby Friendly's agenda of withholding supplementation & unwillingness to educate on complications. 7/10

Baby Friendly's statement also appears to fearmonger about the availability of formula. Manufacturers & retailers have reassured parents that the stock is available, which Baby Friendly acknowledge, but they can’t resist throwing in uncertainty to create anxiety in parents:
8/10

‘There were reports of parents being unable to purchase infant formula, but at time of writing this seems to be improving. We have been informed that retailers do have stock …However, we are unsure if...the current situation will change as the Covid-19 outbreak progresses.’ 9/10

Wouldn’t it be nice if infant feeding guidelines supported families rather than feeding methods?! Wouldn't it be great if infant feeding policy promoted compassion, autonomy & safety, and not just during a pandemic! Shame on Baby Friendly. Demand better for families! 10/10