It’s been an ongoing debate that I really never put much thought into unitl I became a mother myself: Breastfeeding Vs. Formula. I myself was bottle fed, as was my husband, and a lot of other 80’s babies that I know. When I became pregnant, I figured I would breastfeed if I could, and was actually looking forward to doing so. However, Mother Nature had other plans, as she usually does. Not only am I infertile and almost 40 (Baby B was an IVF baby) which can make it harder to produce milk, but I also had a C-section,and my milk didn’t come in for a week. When it did come in, I couldn’t produce the needed amount for my baby, no matter how hard I tried. So I switched to formula and never looked back. I was fwith my decision, and so was my pediatrican and OB/GYN. You wouldn’t believe how many of my friends and aquiantances weren’t. I would get messages on social media from people asking me if I was breastfeeding, and telling me to keep trying because it’s better for the baby. Or when I would tell someone I had to stop, I would get the response “Oh, that’s a shame”. Really? Is it? Or my favorite, “But you lose so much weight when breastfeeding!” I was lucky to drop weight easy. Had I breastfed, I would probably be emaciated by now! Honestly, I just made my decision and moved on. Happy mom = Happy baby, right? Right.
Fast forward a few months, and now there’s a formula shortage. Yes, it sucks. We had to switch brands, and basically take what we can get when it comes to what’s available. Thankfully, brand switching had zero affect on Brandon so far. But what is getting me is the “Breast Feeding Mafia” attacking the “Formula Femmes”- yes, I’m giving them team names, and we should really have our own jerseys. Anyhow, while reading the various articles that have been posted to new sites this week regarding the shortage, I have noticed the negative comments towards women who use formula to feed their children. Here’s just a few that I came across:
News flash: NOT EVERYONE CAN BREAST FEED!!!!
Just because you can, doesn’t mean someone else can. I literally would have starved my baby had I continued to try. And even if a woman chooses to bottle feed for any reason- health or not- that is HER decision. As long as that baby is getting fed and cared for and loved, what does it matter? Yes, breastfeeding is very beneficial, but it is not something everyone can do. And with the stress of a formula shortage, comments like these really don’t help at all. Whatever happened to a woman’s right to choose? Oh, wait. That only pertains to killing your baby in utero, but not what you feed him or her. It seems to me that a lot of people who are pro-choice aren’t pro-choice when it comes to how you feed your baby. Riddle me this, Batman.
The thing is, how one chooses to feed their baby is their choice. And yes, we all have our opinions on what is best, and that’s fantastic. But, when it comes to the Breastfeeding Vs. Formula battle, women can be downright hateful and vicious towards each other, and it really is disheartening to see.
Women say they want to be treated with respect by the opposite sex, but until we can do the same for ourselves and each other, then how can we expect others to do it?
Also, my formula fed baby is 6 months old and rocking it. So, I made the right decision for us. I have the right to do that, and so does every other mother. We should be able to choose how our baby gets nurition without having to deal with the onslaught of motherly scrutiny.
Be kind. Motherhood is hard enough without us making it worse.
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