Do you ever wonder?

Question

First off I want to say I am not intending to offend anyone. Why some(not all) breastfeeding mothers "bash" mothers who don't breastfeed. I did not breastfeed but I don't need to be bashed because that was my choice. I understand that everyone has their own opinion but to say I am a bad mother because I didn't not breastfeed is uncalled for. Does anyone else who formula feed feel the same way.

I just wanted to say thank you for all the responses so far and I also understand that breastfeeding mothers get just as much critisim as none breastfeeding.

Answer 1

I cried, and cried because my daughter couldn't latch properly, so I had to go to bottle feeding her, i Hated when people would ask me if I was breast feeding, when I would answer, I could see a look on their face, which made me feel the need to explain why I wasn't. looking back on that I wish I would have told those people it is rude to ask, and that it is none of their business

Answer 2

I struggled to breasfeed with my first child, but just thought it was natural and normal to be confronted with challenges. Within a few months my baby and I were a team and she breastfed until she was almost a year. About a year ago, my best friend and I had our second babies about 4 months apart. I breastfed easily and she struggled for months with latching issues and breast pain. She went to her doctor, a lactation consultant, even friends, trying to make it happen. She finally decided to switch to formula when the baby was a couple months old. Seeing her go through this changed my opinions on formula feeding. I was brought up in a family that believed that breastfeeding was the only way. But she tried...hard!
My biggest baby issue was my C-Section. My 1st baby was large and in a frank breach position so I ended up having a C-Section. I was glad because I knew that it was the better choice for me and the baby. That's where I caught alot of criticism.
Mom's are rough on each other. Everyone has there own set of circumstances. Babies are a blessing. What I always remember is this...when my baby is 15, and trying out for the swim team, noone is going to ask her if she was delivered naturally, if she was walking at a year old, or if she was bottle or breastfed. It's all just so silly, isn't it?

Answer 3

I am on the other side of this. I was a young mother (19) and I got dirty looks when I breastfed in public (in my car in a parking lot, on a bench outside of a store, and I was always covered up.) I have been told that only bottles should be allowed in public and so on .I have also stated that breastfeeding was my choice because it was best for my baby and had people who didnt breastfeed automatically get defensive. I do not like that I cannot support my decision without people who do not breastfeed thinking that I am attacking them.

Answer 4

Yes I understand how you feel. I wanted to breast feed badly but you know sometimes it just doesn't work out. And that's what happend in my case. I plan on trying with my second too! I think everyone gets bashed for one reason or another when it comes to children. It's just riduclous and if the children are happy,healthy and well taken care of who cares! My son is not any different just because he is formula fed. It does make me feel bad already because I feel like I missed out on something, so no I don't need other people making it worse!

And it just makes me think that if I'm ever able to be sucessful at breastfeeding one day that I'll have to prepare myself for how other people will react to it in public because I never realized it was like that until I heard all of the comments on yahoo answers from breastfeeding moms. Just can't understand it!

Answer 5

Oh I definately feel you on that one. I understand they say that nothing is better than breast milk for babies, but that sometimes put alot of stress on the mother as well. I tried it for a month, and I had to stop. It's hard enough after giving birth dealing with losing the weight and all of the other emotional things you are going through, when you breast feed, you have to give up alot. No caffeine, no gasy foods, no this no that. Understandable it is for your child, but if I can't have all of the things that I love, I am not going to be a happy person, which in turn means a not so happy baby. Babies sense a persons feelings and emotions. I would much rather be happy and have my child happy. If formula wasn't good for children, it wouldn't be out there on the market for them as an alternative.

Answer 6

I breastfed all my babies but do not look down on people that don't because there are all kinds of reasons why people don't or can't and who am I to tell what to do with their child. It is just my personal choice.

In the same respect as your question I have been bashed for choosing to breastfeed for several different reasons. But it is just like other arguments(ex. whether to immunize or not) people are going to do it. Best advice just ignore it because what is good for me is not good for the next family. And quite frankly who cares what others think.

Answer 7

Oh Yeah!!! I'm so sick of having to explain my situation to try and justify to people way I was unable to breastfeed... it's none of their business.

When I had to give up breastfeeding, my doctor said to me, "Formula fed babies still go to Harvard." My daughter is very healthy, and growing like a weed.... no one should ever be made to feel guilty for feeding their baby formula. I agree that breast is best... but formula is not far behind!!

Answer 8

I breastfed both of mine and plan to do the same with #3..I would never bash a mother for not doing it though..It`s the mothers and only the mothers choice on what they feel is best for them and their babies...My sister didn`t breastfed any of here 5 kids and they are all just fine and healthy....So people are just set in their ways on what they think is right and wrong...

Answer 9

i agree with you 100%. it is completely up to the mother to choose to breastfeed or use formula. i mean, that is why someone created formula was for women who didn't want to or possibly couldnt breastfeed. i think as long as you are feeding your child, then what is the problem? it's not like you're starving them, so it's all good.....

Answer 10

I know how you feel. I've been on both sides. I have one child. I breastfed him for the first week of his life. Things happened that caused me to dry up. Then I had to give him formula. A lot of people judge you before they know anything about your story.