So I had this thought when I was being berated and severely questioned about whether or not I planned to breastfeed my child.
I just want to start off by saying if you're just a co-worker/acquaintance/COMPLETE STRANGER there really isn't any reason for you to know this... Not that I'm not relatively open with my choices, but it just feels like a strange inquiry of something you really don't need to know about my life. Again, I'll probably tell you because that's how I am, but still weird.
Basically this lady at work (I do work with her) asked me if I planned on breastfeeding. I told her I want to, but I'm not against using formula or anything like that I just figure that breastfeeding is free and seems kind of cool and I definitely want to experience it! But if it doesn't work out I won't be upset, my wallet will just be sad for the cost of formula.
Seriously you would've thought I said I was not going to feed my baby anything at all. She started saying how much better breastfeeding is and how I would deprive my child of that if I didn't and I really should for as long as I possibly could because it is SOOOO much better for them and she won't get as sick and have less problems, etc. All because of breastmilk over formula.
It really just kind of pissed me off. And it made me think I know a lot of people (WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE BABIES CURRENTLY OR EVER), mostly women, have super strong opinions about why breastfeeding is so much better and if I don't do it I'm selfish or gave up too easily or whatever.
I just don't believe this at all! Formula wouldn't be an accepted alternative if it was really that detrimental to a baby's development. I don't even feel like I can say breastfeeding is a "better" choice. What if you don't have that choice?!
So I just want to say, STOP hating on women who choose to give their babies formula instead of breastfeeding. You don't know their situation, you don't know why they decided this and really it's none of your business and their child is going to be just fine. It just feels like such a shameful thing that women are hating on other women for! What if a baby is adopted? So therefore that baby is inferior because it never received breastmilk? What if the mom just cannot produce milk for whatever reason? I mean to me it starts to be on the level of well if she can't get pregnant she's not a real woman. NO. Ridiculous! Breastfeeding doesn't seem to come as naturally as people think it does for some women! I mean I haven't tried yet so I can't say for sure, but everyone is still different and I think this would still affect people in different ways.
So can we just stop hating on women for their choices as a mother? I think we all try to do the best we possibly can and we are all always learning. Pregnancy takes a lot out of you so excuse some women if they don't have the energy to fight with breastfeeding. Newborns are kind of demanding.
If you personally don't feel like formula is an acceptable substitute for breastfeeding, THEN DON'T DO IT FOR YOUR CHILD and a different momma make her own choice. CHOICES. It's something we have now and I think it's great! So support your fellow women, mothers, and soon-to-be mommas with the choices that they make and stop the hating on either side!
\
I just want to start off by saying if you're just a co-worker/acquaintance/COMPLETE STRANGER there really isn't any reason for you to know this... Not that I'm not relatively open with my choices, but it just feels like a strange inquiry of something you really don't need to know about my life. Again, I'll probably tell you because that's how I am, but still weird.
Basically this lady at work (I do work with her) asked me if I planned on breastfeeding. I told her I want to, but I'm not against using formula or anything like that I just figure that breastfeeding is free and seems kind of cool and I definitely want to experience it! But if it doesn't work out I won't be upset, my wallet will just be sad for the cost of formula.
Seriously you would've thought I said I was not going to feed my baby anything at all. She started saying how much better breastfeeding is and how I would deprive my child of that if I didn't and I really should for as long as I possibly could because it is SOOOO much better for them and she won't get as sick and have less problems, etc. All because of breastmilk over formula.
It really just kind of pissed me off. And it made me think I know a lot of people (WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE BABIES CURRENTLY OR EVER), mostly women, have super strong opinions about why breastfeeding is so much better and if I don't do it I'm selfish or gave up too easily or whatever.
I just don't believe this at all! Formula wouldn't be an accepted alternative if it was really that detrimental to a baby's development. I don't even feel like I can say breastfeeding is a "better" choice. What if you don't have that choice?!
So I just want to say, STOP hating on women who choose to give their babies formula instead of breastfeeding. You don't know their situation, you don't know why they decided this and really it's none of your business and their child is going to be just fine. It just feels like such a shameful thing that women are hating on other women for! What if a baby is adopted? So therefore that baby is inferior because it never received breastmilk? What if the mom just cannot produce milk for whatever reason? I mean to me it starts to be on the level of well if she can't get pregnant she's not a real woman. NO. Ridiculous! Breastfeeding doesn't seem to come as naturally as people think it does for some women! I mean I haven't tried yet so I can't say for sure, but everyone is still different and I think this would still affect people in different ways.
So can we just stop hating on women for their choices as a mother? I think we all try to do the best we possibly can and we are all always learning. Pregnancy takes a lot out of you so excuse some women if they don't have the energy to fight with breastfeeding. Newborns are kind of demanding.
\
No comments:
Post a Comment