Have we become breast milk bullies in this country? Before anyone thinks that I am attacking the idea of breastfeeding, make no mistake as to my feelings on the matter that I have shared here in the past. In the meanwhile, I’ve watched the shift towards breast feeding border onto the fanatical. Literature, geared to be informative, is often slanted to favor breast milk over bottled formulas to such as extent that a mother can be left feeling guilty if she contemplates any other method of feeding her baby.
The point is, the majority of women do bottle-feed their babies – whether they are using formula or pumped breast milk. I’ve read arguments that say the bottle fed baby is the price we pay for the emancipation of women and the open door policy that lets them return to work.
Women’s liberation is guilty of the trend of bottle-feeding babies? Hardly. The simple fact is that breast-feeding can be difficult for some women and without the presence of a wet nurse, how else are they going to be able to feed their infants? Telling a mother her child may have a low IQ because she doesn’t choose to breast-feed or cannot breast-feed – well, that borders back into the realm of bullying in my opinion.
Do I think breast-feeding is good for the baby? Absolutely. Do I think it promotes a nurturing and close relationship between mother and child? Yes. Did I myself want to breast feed my daughter? Yes. Were my reasons because I thought she would have a higher IQ? Nope.
In fact, my breast-feeding was also supplemented by formula and that was because I could not produce the sheer volume of what my daughter could consume. Women who choose to become mothers and also choose to work should not be punished, belittled or bullied for how they choose to take care of their infant. Formula is nutritional and it does provide the baby with plenty of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Many babies never have breast milk at all and they grow up to be well-educated, well-rounded and productive members of society.
So for moms who are contemplating breast-feeding. Bully for you. For moms who are not for whatever your reasons are. Bully for you too. Do not let yourself be bullied into doing something you are not comfortable doing. Breast milk provides plenty of good stuff for your infant, but so does formula. If you love, care for, nurture and protect your infant – then you are still a good mother.
Just so you know – I was never breast-fed. My mother couldn’t do it. I was on formula from day numero uno. I had my IQ tested when I was in elementary, high school and college – I’m not Mensa – but I’m not hurting either. So don’t be a breast milk bully – respect the rights of mothers and the choices they make.
Did you ever feel bullied into breast feeding your baby?
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