why are my breasts your business?

Question

i breastfed my son for as long as i could. i eventually started him on formula and he is thriving. not only is he well fed, he is healthy, smart and well taken care of. i am not ignorant, selfish, or uneducated. i've read all the studies about formula feeding vs. breastfeeding and i feel like many women do the same when they find out they're expecting. my point is, why is it anyone's busines what a woman feeds her baby? as long as a baby is getting the proper nutrition, how can you honestly belive it is your job to make snide remarks about how that baby is being fed? i am happy for those who are able to breastfeed, but not all women can or want to. and you know what? that is OUR choice, not yours. i am sick and tired of women acting all high and mighty about how they feed their munchkin. it's even worse when men get into the debate as if they have ever had milk coming out of their boobs! does anyone else feel this way? if you are a breastfeeding "nazi", why do you think it's your place

hey cre8ative? when was the last time milk came out of your nipples? the last time you gave birth? thank you.

first off, to those of you that act as if every formula feeding mother is on W.I.C: you are ignorant and uninformed. i had to stop breastfeeding because i work, and cannot pump at work. i work so that i am not on welfare. and while we're on that subject, to those of you that say you don't want to feed a "w.i.c" fed baby, well why should you care as long as that baby is getting fed? would you rather he or she die from starvation? . i am not trying to start a fight on here, but i am sick of women who bash others for such ridiculous reasons; it's not like i'm beating my son, i'm just not breastfeeding. you have no right to bash me, i have NEVER said that breastfeeding is wrong. i totally support women breastfeeding in public and have done so myself. we all have to makes decisons on what is best for us.
to the lady that said it's not my choice? well, apparently it is. it's hurting the enviroment? so, i assume you recycle, avoid cars, use cloth diapers, are vegetarian, don't use plastic..

if you don't d oeverything you preach, you are a hypocrite and fake as hell. we all have to pick and choose our battles, ladies. the only women on here who went crazy are the exact ones i despise. and i will use "nazi" all i want, get over it!

oh, and one more thing. i totally support men understanding breastfeeding and formula feeding. my husband is very involved with my son. my point is, they cannot honestly understand all that is involved because they have never experienced it firsthand. they can stand back abd make all the judgements they want, but until they lactate i don't want to hear it.

shera q:
i am a vegetarian as well, have been for 9 years. i cannot just "pop" in and breastfeed my son since he stays with my mom during the day and i am a server. i cannot tell a table, "excuse me guys, i will get your dinner order in a moment. i have to go pump." i am also in collee, finishing my degree. my whole point is, it's not your business. i could care less how you live or raise your children; you should give me that same respect. and fyi: many people would bash you for taking your kids to daycare. do you agree with that? i don't.

Answer 1

Thank you!

I find it funny/sad/ironic that the people freaking out here are again the breastfeeding nazis! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion; it's when you choose to shove that opinion as fact down my throat that I protest.

Do I think breastmilk is best? Yes. Do I think it is an issue that I should let everyone know my opinion on? No. Do I think I am smarter than mothers that formula feed their babies? No. Do I think that modern-day formulas are a suitable substitute for breastmilk? Yes. Do I KNOW more than you formula feeding mothers? No. Do I KNOW more than you breastfeeding mothers? No. Do I wish that women would just shut up about this and support each other. YES!

Oh, and for all you breastfeeding nazis who claim you have done extensive research on the benefits of breastfeeding, La Leche League materials are not the only source of information! Have you ever actually tried a medical journal?

Answer 2

I am for breastfeeding if at all possible. I had to pump with my son though because he was 12 weeks early. So there are ways the father can be involved in feeding even if the mother is breastfeeding. With that said. It is your own buisness whether you breast or bottle feed. formula wont hurt your child and some women are not cut out for it. I definalty am pro breastfeeding but I am not against formula either. I use both!!

Answer 3

Personally, I find it interesting that there is a backlash at all. Only 10 years ago, women were made to feel like porno queens for breastfeeding. It was the formula feeding moms bashing the breastfeeders (oh and the nasty things that were said).

To make a change in society, there is a period where it goes overboard. Eventually it settles down and everybody forgets that there was even a controversy. Example: Drew Carey recently remarked on a question about how many women consider themselves feminists. Many woman today were too young to even remember the movement or how things were like in the 50s, so they don't really even understand the question. They are able to lead lives very differently than they were 'allowed' to.

I anticipate over the next 10 years that this whole feeding frenzy (pun intended) will be completely gnashed out and something new will take the forefront. In the meantime, stop being so sensitive. Suck it in, make your choice and get on with life. Help those you can and stop whining about it.

Answer 4

I think it's simply your own acceptance of your decisions.

I don't know who asked you these questions but I never had this problem. I BF my 1st for 12 mos & my 2nd for 6 mos....I was sure I'd catch some flack for not BF my 2nd longer, but not from the pedi, friends, aquaintances....it just never happened. I had my reasons for quitting and I felt secure in that.

It is no one elses business but when it comes to babies & kids I think it's simply filler. Everyone knows BF is better so they feel since they actually know those 2 cents, they might as well share it! Even if they're not parents.

I remember when I was about 22, a new mom & my cousin who was only 16 just had her baby, I was surprised she didn't want to BF - or at least try. The nurses said most teens are not willing to try. I think that was my first dose of, not everyone thinks like me! Doh! Not all people have had that realization yet!! :)

All we can do is mothers is make educated decisions & wear our decisions proudly. I could care less what someone thought of my parenting, etc. What they think doesn't matter.

Answer 5

I think it's like spanking and many other parenting issues. We think we know what's best for kids, and we want to protect and give our best to all kids, so we try to tell each other what to do! If we can convince everyone we are right, then we can feel good about our own choices.

There is a lot of evidence that nursing is best, but I could not care less how your baby gets fed. There are "nazis" on both sides, with women telling breast feeders to nurse their babies on the TOILET rather than expose an inch of breast. I have never made a snide remark to any woman feeding her child any way or anywhere. When you gaze upon the adult world, you can in NO WAY tell who got breast and who got formula.


Everyone has to figure out their own way on this parenting journey, and I respect your right to feed and parent in the way that seems best to you.

Answer 6

You are going to get comments no matter what. You have people on both sides. Some will tell you that breastfeeding is "indecent exposure" and inappropriate and will make remarks about that. Then you have those that will drives you crazy with comments about how you are a bad mom if you don't breastfeed. You have to just ignore them and do what you as the parent feels is best for your baby. You have pushy people on both sides and they all think they know best.

Answer 7

If you started a breast massage business, you'd get the holy tit clamp brigade comin in there. Could you handle them. They like to be twisted, in more ways than 3. as for attention, i do not want to presume anything BUT people who need special attention are a whole different clientele, and your services would have to be designed to each of them individually. you follow me here? Right, sometimes those things need special attention.

Answer 8

And I assume that the women who sympathize with you NEVER make nasty remarks about women who breastfeed in public.

I don't care if you choose to feed your child inferior food. I let my kids have popscicles today, even though I know that fruit would have been healthier. I do have a problem with women who perpetuate myths and ignorance. How many women do you see on here who say "breastfeeding past [arbitrary age] is sexual abuse." Or how about his gem: "Once my baby is [another arbitrary age] he has gotten all the possible benefits from breastfeeding." "I can't breastfeed because I have a hangnail." There is a woman on here right now who just told us how she loves formula feeding because it means that she can smoke and drink caffeine. If you can't (or won't) stop smoking, you should breastfeed, but this woman claims to be very educated on the matter. more ignorant myths: I'm taking antibiotics, it will ruin my breasts, I don't want to be tied down, I want my husband to be able to bond with baby, I have to go back to work so I can't, it's unnatural (!) and my personal favorite: it's too inconvenient.

Those of us who have read extensively about breastmilk feel that formula is not proper nutrition. Formula causes constipation, allergies, asthma, ear infections, it contains way too much iron and the proteins are inappropriate for human babies. In fact, the proteins were made for baby cows. There are compounds in human milk that we don't even know of yet, so formula is lacking those. The whole DHA/ARA thing is an improvement for babies who are not allergic to fish. I guess those who are will get by without those few extra IQ points.

My friend has done consulting work for formula factories (he's an engineer). He told me all about formula manufacturing and it chilled me to my bones. I don't eat anything that's made that way. OK, maybe I have some aerosol cheese once in a while, but I wouldn't feed it to an infant. I'll give you a hint: pork spleens smell like wet dog. Feed it to your kid if you choose, but let's stop the BS so everyone can make an informed choice. Even the illiterate. I worked with low-income city kids and I am heartbroken at how infants are treated in that culture. Those little girls who become pregnant need to know about the straight up facts of breastfeeding. It's not just a nutrition delivery method. It's communication and love and mutual respect.

Yes, there are some women out there who believe so strongly in the perfection of human milk that they don't understand why anyone would choose something that doesn't measure up, is crazy expensive and causes pain. They sometimes even get nasty, but they have good intentions. I wish I could say the same for the formula industry. Nestle recently won an award for lowering the breastfeeding rate in one of the small European countries. Nestle must be a bunch of baby haters.

Answer 9

Never had a comment yet, but will post my position for a heads up for those reading this.....BTW, I would breastfeed my child if I had a choice between the two. However, just want to appeal to those who are apt to give unsolicited advice or commentary to us formula feeders........just think the next time you might run into a gal like me who has taken in a Foster baby, who is going through withdrawl symptoms, disease, disability, a custody struggle, abandonment, etc. We have much bigger issues to be concerned with than your "opinion" about formula. Thank God it's there for these babies, it's all they have.....and us Foster Parents......

Answer 10

I must be getting SO old. I can remember when breastfeeding was considered hopelessly outdated and all "modern" women were urged to use formula. Breastfeeding was very much considered lower-class.

My only interest in that portion of your anatomy has to do with my health. I have seen the results of a study that says 7 minutes of staring daily gives the same benefit as a 30-minute cardio workout. So you are helping save my life. By the way, this part is actually true.

Answer 11

(c&ping from another post)

Yeah, right. I mean GOD FORBID someone tell you that you are feeding your child something inferior. Oh wait, they are just telling the TRUTH! Your breasts were made for nourishing your offspring. It's that simple. I get sick and tired of having to listen to mother's that formula feed whine and cry about "militant" breastfeeders who are just trying to ensure that the mother truly does understand the decision that she is making. I formula fed my first son because I wasn't educated well on the subject of breastfeeding. However, I have now succesfully EXCLUSIVELY breastfed my 8 month old(no bottles, no formula, no water, no juice); and we are still going strong. I can see a marked difference as far as development and health between my 2 sons as well.

And, how is this post anything other than flame bait? You aren't making any kind of point at all. It would be just as inflammatory as me posting that I believe all formula feeders are the devil. I don't think formula is a bad thing, FYI, I just believe that it should only be available AS NECCESSARY, not as a first option.


Hypermama......I think I have a little bit of a girl crush on you at the moment! LOL