World Breastfeeding Week 2013

It's World Breastfeeding Week. People have asked me why I care about breastfeeding so much. The answer is, oddly enough, because my older son was formula-fed. There are mothers who choose to use or need to use formula for whatever reason. That doesn't make me mad.

What makes me upset is that misinformation (e.g. breastmilk has no benefit after ___ months) robs women of the choice to breastfeed and that doctors and nurses have little or no training when it comes to breastfeeding but still give "advise" (a.k.a. tell moms to supplement when it isn't necessary or put baby on a feeding schedule, which will destroy milk supply).

What angers me is that formula companies send home samples with the intent to sabotage breastfeeding, and that the act of feeding one's child is treated as something to be ashamed of or a sick fetish. Would you ask a mother giving a bottle to "do that in the bathroom"?

What make me sad is that mothers who breastfeed often feel alone and isolated. When a minor problem comes up (as they often do), well-meaning people immediately insist on supplementation rather than solving the minor issue before it becomes a major issue. I feel sad, honest to goodness sad, for mothers who use formula (be it by choice or necessity) because there isn't a better product on the market. Even after all these years, formula is still, basically, processed milk with sugar and oil with some added vitamins.

I know what it's like to struggle with breastfeeding. It's heart wrenching. No woman should have to go through that because of misinformation, sabotage, and/or societal hang-ups. So, mamas, keep on keepin' on whether it's with a breast, a bottle of breastmilk (yours or a donor), or a bottle of formula. If it's YOUR best, it's awesome.