About a decade ago I only knew a few women who nursed. When I made the decision to nurse my child I was in the minority. As the years went on it has become more popular once again. It seems that moms who bottle feed are in the minority. It was a strange feeling to be on both sides of this issue. As one who nursed around few who nursed and as one who bottle fed when everyone around were nursing.
I remember the comments when I had my first baby. Many asked me how I knew my baby was getting enough milk. Many said breastmilk is too thin to satisfy hunger and that was why my baby was fussy. I was asked if I wanted to go to a private room to nurse. I was asked if I needed to go to the car to nurse while in a restaurant or if I brought a bottle. Some said it was a shame I nursed because then no one could babysit.
All of that was bogus.
I remember when I made the painful decision to stop trying to nurse one of my babies. I was made to feel as if I gave up too easily. I was told to let him starve and soon he would learn to nurse. Someone told me that he would never reach his full potential intellectually because I stopped nursing. Someone else told me he would be subject to a weakened immune system and prepare for many ear infections due to bottle feeding. I was even told formula was basically poison. When he had to be put on soy I was told that had I continued to nurse I would not be in the position to buy a special formula.
All of that was bogus.
It is time to stop with falsehoods and begin to respect a mom’s decision on how to feed her baby. I nursed three of my four children. My bottle fed child rarely gets sick and is highly intelligent. One of my nursed babies seems to be nothing but sick and scores average on tests. Does this mean I advocate bottle feeding? No. Does this mean I advocate breastfeeding? No. I advocate a mother’s freedom to make the decision without wrath or judgment falling upon her. Yes, I do believe breast is best. I do think that every mom should give it a try. However, I respect the decisions of a loving mom to feed her baby through the bottle or the breast. Let’s just get over it already.