Breastmilk vs Formula Feeding!
Why do I bring this up? Well for many reasons as a matter of fact. Everyone knows that breastmilk is best for baby, and it is fortified with so many good nutrients to build a healthy baby. However, it may come to a shock to many, but NOT EVERYONE can breastfeed. In these instances mothers must rely on formula to feed their child, and yet there is a shame hanging over them.
When I was pregnant I proudly and emphatically told my doctors and everyone who asked that I was going to breastfeed my son. I was a snob...formula! Egad! I could never! Well, like many of life's lessons I was blessed with a beautiful tongue tied son. What is this you ask?? Well that fleshiness under the tongue bit is a bit longer, and thus causes my son's sucking abilities to....well essentially suck. Determined as I was I put my little guy on the bewbie...and three hours later I was banging my head against the wall. My baby continued to wail...cuz he was hungry! My poor girls were screaming as well, as imagine something clamped down on your lady lights for three hours! A lactation consultant helped me, and he seemed to improve a bit, but he was SOOO hungry. It was she who let me know we may have problems due to his tongue. Well, I tried and tried...and found myself pumping more and having to supplement with...gasp! FORMULA.
I cannot tell you the emotional rollarcoaster I have been on, as I make my son his bottles of formula. People have questioned me on why I don't breastfeed, and when I try to explain they deduce I didn't care enough to try. Well, I am sorry folks! I do care, and my body simply isn't manufacturing enough to provide for him. I have invested in pills to promote lactation, bought lactation tea, eaten oatmeal till the cows come home, bought a high end pump, drank a beer a day, drank gallons of water, and give myself girly goodness bewb rubdowns to get the milk to flow! It doesn't matter what I do without my little man providing his power sucking abilities the reserve is getting lower and lower. Yet, I still pump, and I still try to breastfeed him. However, yes...I do have to give him formula. He needs to eat...he can't survive on the 1 to 2 oz I produce every three hours.
So here's my issue. I feel bad about giving him formula. I beat myself up over it, and feel like I have to explain to everyone why I don't exclusively breastfeed. Of course then people tell me all the benefits of breastfeeding, like I need convincing. I am so sorry my son has a higher chance of obesity, and he won't be as smart, and he's not digesting all the nutrients he needs...egad...I am so sorry for failing at motherhood. Why do people feel an insatious need to make me feel like I am doing something horrible?
Formula or Breastmilk are both essentially food. Breastmilk is best, and I think anyone who can, should do it. However, all mothers are different and as long as our babies are happy and healthy we as outsiders should quit being so judgemental.
