Why I don't breastfeed, if you must know.
This woman was dealt a very hard hand and I am so happy that she has recovered and was able to have the child she wanted. I understand there are bullies when it comes to every little thing a mother chooses to do. It is really sad when it happens with something like breastfeeding. I am passionate about the pros of nursing your child but I do not judge mothers who make a different choice. I think this could have been a really great article but then it veered off, it took an odd tone about how breastmilk could actually be worse than formula and then she lost me.
I headed on over to The Fearless Formula Feeder blog and it made my stomach hurt. Do people really treat eachother this way? Have I ever made a friend who feeds their child formula feel this way? I really hope not. The only thing I got out of that website, besides a new hashtag #ISupportYou, was that some of us need to take a step back and see if we are being bullies. I haven't seen anyone personally do it and I have never wanted to do that but I will be more mindful. I will not stop saying things like 'Human milk for human babies' or 'breast is best' because I 100% feel that way but I will never tell you that what you are doing is wrong because we all only want THE BEST for our babies.
I Support You: The conversation we should be having about breastmilk and formula feeding.
You do not have to read the whole thing but you should read this:
We are standing together, and we’re asking you to stand up with us. You, at the La Leche League meeting. You, in the lactation consultant’s office, perfecting your newborn’s latch. You, in the Nordstrom’s dressing room, nursing quietly on the couch. You, at your older son’s baseball game, nursing openly in the bleachers. You, who have cried rivers of tears over your feeding choices, and you, who chose without fear.
I support you.
You, in your hospital gown, asking the nurses for formula. You, shaking a bottle with one arm while your baby snuggles close in the other. You, who have researched the healthiest, most tummy-friendly formulas. You, who pump and mix and combo-feed. You, who have cried rivers of tears over your feeding choices, and you, who chose without fear.
I support you.
You, with your partner, as you feed the baby that you are hoping to adopt. You, who had a mastectomy and are locking eyes with new life. You, who chose your mental health, or your physical health, or your freedom, or your lack of freedom, so that you could feed your baby in a way that protected both of you. You, the Daddy who is finger-feeding your infant. You, the Mommy who lovingly pours formula into a G-Tube. You, at the NICU, pumping your breasts by the light of the machines that are keeping your baby alive. You, with the foster child who you are loving back to health. We see you. You are a part of this conversation too.
We support you.
I introduced myself and also let them know how I found this group - you can find that here
[The Day I Almost Gave Up Breastfeeding] and then when I returned for my first meeting, thank you Granola Babies and Beach Cities Midwifery for hosting it [Support group, with a splash of IUD hah]
I didn't have anything prepared so I read the letter that I had written to my breasts that I have shared a few times on here, I love that letter. I am so glad I wrote it because it takes me right back to when I was when I wrote it. Man, I am thankful for this blog. I will post a few YouTube videos below, but I read it and I felt so supported and so loved. I am thankful for breastfeeding and what it has brought into my life. So glad so many women got up there to share.
xoxo
Below are the videos that I took from the open mic - There is me, Maricela, Celine, Christine & Christine's mom. I have other moms but I do not know them well enough to post but if they do not mind it I will.