Breastfeeding moms... do you look down on moms who bottle-feed their babies?

Question

Please be honest, and explain why/why not? Thank you in advance for your responses.

Well to answer my own question, I do not look down on moms who bottle-feed. I myself breatsfed for 3 months, and then I had to stop because I stopped producing breastmilk.

And I have had a breastfeeding mom talk down to me because I bottle-feed my son. I felt the blood rush to my face and I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth.

Lucky for her, my husband was there and just held my hand under the table, and smiled at me. *sigh* A lot of people would be in trouble if it weren't for my husband...

Answer 1

No it just saddens me that as a culture we aren't doing better educating and supporting mothers.

Answer 2

No I never looked down on other moms for bottle feeding. I actually felt bad for my cousin and best friend because both had tried breast feeding and desperately wanted to do so but had complications with it and gave up after trying to make it work when it wasn't. It made me feel very proud of myself and my body but sad that they missed out such a close bonding experience. I did supplement with a bottle here and there to give myself a break. I think women should do what they're most comfortable with and not something pressured by peers and doctors. I understand from personal experience with loved ones that sometimes breast feeding is just not an option and that's okay. You know your own body better than anyone else. I look forward to nursing my next one whenever that may be.

Answer 3

I do not look down on bottle feeding moms.

I assume that they intended to breastfeed, that they tried but were unable to overcome their issues... for whatever reason: maybe a true medical problem, maybe some wrong info, maybe lack of support, maybe too much pain and not the right info... anything could have caused them to not breastfeed anymore.

I do on rare occassion come across someone who thinks breastfeeding is stupid, or gross, or they don't want to ruin their cute boobs, or just don't think it is as important as the global nutritional and medical community seem to believe it is - that somehow they're one uninformed opinion is better. I do think that they are the stupid ones... I think they have serious issues, are selfish, and I pray for their children's wellbeing.

AGAIN, THESE ARE RARE WOMEN.

And I don't look down upon them for bottle feeding, I think they're arrogant and naive and don't even care enough to try to give their children the best... it is more than the bottle feeding, it is the type of parent who would make a decision in that manner, for those reasons.

Kind of like if they purposely transferred their kids to the worst school in the district when they live across the street from the best school in the district. Just plain stupid.

Answer 4

i do no longer look down on mothers' who formula feed. in my view i do no longer think of that's an somewhat reliable decision, that does no longer mean something of their judgements would be undesirable to boot....of direction some human beings can no longer breastfeed, yet then they are no longer figuring out directly to bottle feed then. i'm no longer perfect the two. i might desire if i replaced into making a foul decision that somebody tried to tell me with out judgement. i in my view am between the few human beings i understand that breastfed previous six months. i'm a rarity between my pals and kinfolk. yet i'm used to being an intruder. a lot of my evaluations fall outdoors social norms. i'm comfortable with it. If some who bottle feeds feels regarded down on, they'd desire to settle on in the event that they share an identical opinion and alter (in the event that they are in a position to) or no longer care what anybody else thinks. Its in comparison to persons are tying lady up and forcing their toddlers to eat breastmilk, or refusing the roles for formula feeding, or no longer inviting them to play dates. If I felt strongly approximately some thing i does not care what all and sundry else theory. So i assume the bigger question is, why does it worry you that folk would look down on you for formula feeding?

Answer 5

No, I just respectfully disagree. You never know why that person isn't breast feeding. I of course prefer to see a breastfed baby, but that is because it is my decision... but I would never bash someone for not doing it. My best friend gave up after a week, but it isn't any of my business. It does irritate me however, that some people are so against breastfeeding and think it's perverted. There is no denying the fact that it is healthier for the child (unless there is something wrong with the mother... for instance, if she has HIV). I just think that people need to stop and think before they judge. I was at the mall the other day and a child was screaming and barking like a dog. A lot of people saw a child who was completely uncontrollable, but I automatically realized that she was mentally disabled. Everyone gave her parents dirty looks, because they assumed that she was just misbehaving... Just like a lot of people assume that people are formula feeding, because they are lazy or for what ever reason they do not feel is a valid one.

Answer 6

I am very pro-breast, but I don't look down on moms that bottle-feed.
I had the luxury of being able to breastfeed my daughter for a year and a half.
However when my son was born early, I had a very hard time getting my milk supply up no matter what I tried..I was able to breastfeed and supplement with bottle for several months, and finally the milk dried up..I was glad to at least get a few months in there..it doesn't seem to have made him any worse for the wear. Although I did notice he is a HECK of a lot happier a toddler since I switched him to whole organic milk..maybe something in the formula was making him upset..it was hard to tell.
Anyway, the answer is: no, I don't look down on moms at all, unless they are horrible moms..ie..abusive, inattentive, letting their kids run amok, etc..

Answer 7

I am not sure if anyone will admit that they do, but I know firsthand that there is a prejudice against mothers who bottle feed their children. I bottle fed my son and I constantly received comments about it. I always felt like I had to explain myself as to why I was not breastfeeding. Even though I had my reasons I shouldn't have felt the need to say anything at all.

As mothers and women I think we do not support one another enough. Whether is is the bottle or breast, stay at home or working mom, spanking or time out it seems that we tend to look down on the parents who choose to do things differently from us. I refuse to be that type of person.

(Hey, you got me out of R&S. lol)

Edit: I just want to point out that even though most people have said they don't look down on moms who bottle feed, they have also felt the need to say that they think brestfeeding is best. That is the undertone that bottle feeding moms feel. Even if someone doesn't do so because they think it is just "gross" doesn't make a difference in my eyes. Some judgement is judgement none the less and it is wrong in my book.

Answer 8

I don't think so, but I do feel frustrated that some moms 'can't be bothered' to try. I tire of the excuse the formula is as good as breastmilk. We all know it's not (and I had to use formula, too).

I didn't produce enough, so we had to supplement with formula. My sister's a dang DDD, so her and my neice just couldn't figure it out. She pumped and bottle fed the breastmilk for a while. My point is, it doesn't always work out. I just wish we as a society were more educated (and tolerant!) so that we were collectively TRYING to do as much as possible for our children's health and futures. Like you did!

I also wouldn't dare confront a mother for bottlefeeding her child. That's just classless IMO. Good thing your husband was there. ;)

Answer 9

Definately not. I think each mother has a choice as to whether she wants to breastfeed or not and this should not be looked down upon, same as I would not want a mother who bottle feeds to look down on me for breastfeeding. Also, mnay woman try but are unable to breastfeed so they have no choice but to use a bottle.

I made my choice to breastfeed because I believed that it was natural, better for baby and thats what my body was made for so it must be okay. That was my choice though and do not expect any other mother to do the same just because I believe it.

As long as the baby is being cared for and fed well, then that is all that matters.

Answer 10

I don't think anyone has a right to look at them sideways...it is their body and their baby. I think people are to consumed in random strangers lives. I mean how pathetic is a person to look down on another who can't or won't breast feed. Sorry you and others had to deal with the stupidity.

Answer 11

I absolutely would NEVER look down on a mother for not breastfeeding. I breastfed my children, but I'd be lying if I said I actually enjoyed it. I kept hearing other moms talking about what a wonderful feeling it was, and how relaxing it was, and I kept waiting for that feeling to kick in. Unfortunately, it just didn't. I still breastfed my babies for the first year, because of the health benefits for both them and myself, but it really didn't have anything to do with actually enjoying it.

It's amazing to me how pious and judgemental people are these days. I've especially seen it running rampant on the internet, because I think people are more cavalier with their words when they're not speaking to some one face to face. It's like, if you don't agree with everything they say, and you don't subscribe to their particular beliefs on how to raise your child, then you are automatically wrong. My gosh, shouldn't we be trying to support each other rather than condemn and judge?