Ok..so in severaly groups Im in moms who don't breastfeed are looked down at or lectured to death!!! Im sick of this!!! If a mom can't or chooses not to for other reasons then why don't we all support each other!!!!!!!! I think that all moms should stick together, not against!!!! Can anyone tell me what people are thinking here!!!!!
2007-06-03 15:59:35 · 15 answers · asked by rhoda 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
I agree with you....I really wanted to and tried to breastfeed my son, but my milk never came in. So obviously I couldn't do it. Fortunately, no one ever said anything to me about it. I say that it is the mother's choice what to do with their child...and we should all support each other because being a mom is hard enough already!
But you also have to think of the mothers who do breastfeed and get looked down on and scowled at for doing it in public. I mean, I don't really like to see it either, but I know that they are doing it for the baby. Most mom's do cover up though. And I greatly appreciate that! :)
2007-06-03 16:06:53 · answer #1 · answered by rikki_jo 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My Personal opinion is that breastfeeding is best, but I do not feel that it is fair to look down on Mothers who cant or opt not to Brest feed. I can understand why one may not feel comfortable or ops not to.
On the other hand Not as many woman who say they cant really can't breast feed though. Breast feeding is hard and not the most convenient and i think that we should just admit that and not always go with the i cant produce enough milk which is true for most but not all.
I also think that its a cultural thing as well. Brest feeding is viewed completely different in other countries ( outside of the states). For example its very rare in Kenya that a mother cant produce enough milk, Bottle feeding is not common at all in Kenya, even the malnourished poor mothers who live in the slums seem to produce enough milk. The thing is they have no choice.
2007-06-04 00:09:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Breastfeeding is best for all babies. The AAP and WHO list the order of preferred feeding methods as this: Nursing from mom, a wet nurse (nursing from another woman), bottle-fed donated breastmilk, then formula. There is overwhelming evidence that formula is unhealthy for kids and should only be given if there is no other option. Less than 1% of all women cannot breastfeed, this includes women who have had breasts removed, have diseases or require medication for a disease that would preclude breastfeeding. This is what these moms are thinking. They do not see formula-feeding as a choice, anymore than if you were to "choose" to give your 4-yr-old a Twinkie and a Flinstones vitamin for every meal. Formula feeding was erroneously considered adequate starting in the 60s and 70s and formula manufacturers were quick to take advantage of that. Those of us who have breastfed know that it is easier, safer, healthier and better and many fail to see how there is any other choice. Both of my sisters chose to formula-feed and not for very good reasons. Most of us know women who made that choice and either it was for a silly reason or all they can say is that "its MY choice". It will always be a hard "choice" to understand and justify. If you have decided to do it, try actually telling someone why, they may be less likely to give you a hard time.
In making that choice, you must understand and accept that you have chosen a lesser food for your child and will get disapproving looks for it.
2007-06-04 01:59:34 · answer #3 · answered by Momofthreeboys 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Are you sure you're asking a question and not just complaining? I imagine the mothers you say are mean think that they are providing you with information (Read the long answer about the Twinkie and vitamin). But "mean," "sick to death," and "!!!!!" imply that you don't want to know what they are thinking, you just want them to stop.
In that case, you'd have been better off asking how to get them to stop than asking why they were doing it.
BTW, you can ask them to stop. They are not going to change their minds, but they might shut up. You can also find some other mothers to be around. Of course, then there'll be two groups of moms, breast-feeders and those who don't, so that "sticking together" thing you say you want won't be happening.
2007-06-04 02:42:23 · answer #4 · answered by Sarah C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I guess I think breastfeeding should not be a concious choice one should have to make. It should be assumed that a mother will breastfeed because we all know that nothing is better than a mother's milk. Why would a mother choose not to give her baby anything but the best? Its terrific that there is formula for mothers who can't breastfeed for medical reasons, but that only makes up 1% of the population whereas more like 80% formula feed.
2007-06-03 23:15:40 · answer #5 · answered by dolly 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
it is more of a personal choice for a mum whether she decides to breast feed or not and should definately not be frowned apon for choosing either way. the mothers who choose to breastfeed may look down on those who turn to formula because of the health factors. it has been proven that breast milk helps to prevent respiratory diseases like asthma and also excema and hayfever which are all on the same gene strand. it also helps in preventing obesity. also breastfeeding helps the mother return to normal faster. in my case i am going to breastfeed as i have excema and by fiance has asthma so our baby is predisposed to these disorders and i want to try and make sure that my baby has the best chance of not getting these. as for the formula mothers, they may not have a choice, some mothers cannot breastfeed, they may find it hurts too much, they may have inverted nipples making it hard for the baby to latch on or the baby may simply not like the mothers milk and prefers formula. personally i think all mothers should try to breast feed first before deciding to put the baby on formula, if they have done that then they should not be put down because of it. my mum tried to breast my brother, sister and i but was unable to. she did the best she could and i wouldn't put her down because of it.
2007-06-04 01:58:28 · answer #6 · answered by Louise 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know the type of people you are talking about :) I too was in a few mom's groups where the extreme advocates were really very cruel to the mothers who formula fed.
Personally, I breastfed my boys but I completely understand that some women are physically/medically incapable of breast feeding their babies. Why should they be condemned for something they can't control!!
A very good friend of mine was unable to breast feed due to a past breast-reduction surgery and she was heart broken! It would have really hurt her to be lectured by another mother who didn't know the whole story!
My mom was also unable to breast feed because of a brain tumor on her pituitary gland! It was very hard for her (for more reasons than one!) Whenever I see the extreme advocates going crazy on someone, it makes me think of my mother!
And you know what...I DID suffer chronic ear infections as a child...but aside from that I have been perfectly healthy, I have never struggled with my weight, and I am not allergic to anything!!
I think a lot of these "advocates" are jumping to conclusions and just assume that women who formula feed are just doing it because they don't want the hassle of breast feeding. What they fail to realize is there are women who have gone through emotional struggles over breast feeding their children and to be lectured on top of everything else is just cruel!
2007-06-03 23:39:15 · answer #7 · answered by western b 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Really I could care less if women decide to breastfeed or not. I did with my second child, and only because my first didn't really take to it. I'm pregnant now and planning on breastfeeding this baby, but if someone else decides not to it is perfectly fine with me. My husbands sister does not breastfeed and I don't give her a hard time about it.
2007-06-03 23:06:25 · answer #8 · answered by Not your average mom 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They are not thinking. They feel that their way is the only way and if you don't do it as well you are wrong...it sucks. Just like the age old war between Moms that work vs Moms that stay home. That's a bunch of crap too.
Judge not....people do the best they can with the life they live. I think if we were all a lot more accepting and a lot less judgmental we would all be alot happier!!
2007-06-03 23:05:43 · answer #9 · answered by Barbiq 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I do know that breast milk is good for babys but I also think that its up to the mother to decide what is best for the mother and child. If the mother dont want to then she should not be criticized for not doing it. I was breast feeding my baby when she was born but it only lasted about 2 months because my baby was gulping the breast milk so the doc said it was like drinking water to her so we had to put her on formula to fill her up we even went through 3 formulas before we got her on the right one that now she no longer gulps. Not only that in the midst of her feeding problems my milk dried up on its own so not like we had much of a choice either. So I think women should be criticized for doing what is best for the mother and child.
2007-06-03 23:07:47 · answer #10 · answered by Arie 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋