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Attitudes towards both Bottle-Feeding and Breastfeeding

Sometimes I think that the whole breastfeeding topic is a bit of a sensitive one and  that's probably because everyone has such different opinions on it.

Some people are very pro breastfeeding and some people aren't really into it. And both are fine.

Personally, I didn't breastfeed. To be totally honest, I'm one of those women who just really isn't in to it. I tried very hard to be, but it just wasn't for me. I also tried to breastfeed Ethan when he was born, but I really struggled to get him to latch on and I felt so poorly in myself that accepting help from other people to bottle feed Ethan seemed like the best choice for me.

I also had to go back in to hospital three days after Ethan was born because I blacked out and fell in the shower, I couldn't do anything for myself and I couldn't stand without falling. So Adam changed all of Ethans first nappies and he did all of his feeding. He took Ethan home with him when I went back to hospital, because I wouldn't have been able to get out of bed to tend to him if he woke up in the night. And so bottle feeding worked out really well for us.


I've never been made to feel guilty about bottle-feeding Ethan. But I do know other Mums who have been made to feel guilty for their choice to choose bottle over breast -  which is something that really just baffles my mind.

And it's the same for women who choose to breastfeed - I've heard stories of photographs being removed from Facebook that are of Mothers breastfeeding their babies and I don't quite understand why this happens? I have seen such disgusting things go un-removed by Facebook, yet they remove something that is natural and in no way offensive? I simply can't get my head around it. I've also heard stories of breastfeeding Mums being asked to leave shops because they're feeding their babies and other people don't feel comfortable about it.. how is that even allowed to happen? What do people expect breastfeeding mothers to do? Leave their babies to cry out in hunger and simply ignore them?

It seems to me that there can sometimes be quite a lot of negativity towards how us Mums decide to feed our babies, no matter if we choose to breast or bottle feed.

At the end of the day, all that matters is a healthy happy baby. People need to stop judging Mums who bottle feed and they need to stop judging Mums who breastfeed. Us Mums will feed our babies using the best method that works for both us and our children. And we certainly don't need any negative input from people who should know better than to judge.

Have you ever received negative feedback about the way you choose/chose to feed your baby? How did you deal with it?





8 comments

  1. I breastfed William for 18 months because I wanted to. It was hard work but I've never looked at anyone differently for bottle feeding. It's never been something that has bothered me and I can never understand why it bothers others. It's sad really - to think that women are judged for how they feed their children when really we should focus on the fact that these children are getting fed at all. xx

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  2. I bottle fed for the exact same reason, it just wasn't for me! I too felt horrific for the first few weeks after labour so bottle feeding was a godsend. I luckily never had anyone say anything, but I agree that there's far too much drama when it comes to the breast vs bottle debate! Xx

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  3. I'll never understand people's obsession with how people feed their babies? When Jasmine was born it would always be one of the first questions people would ask me (even complete strangers) - "How are you feeding her?" Why is it any of their business?

    Jenna at Tinyfootsteps xx

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  4. I know, really well said. Why are so many people so judgemental of what others choose to do? I tried to breast feed my twins for a few weeks but it wasn't for me (I was ill and they lost far too much weight) and so we went for bottle feeding. However I have friends who breast and bottle fed the whole way through and none of us judged each other. It's such a personal choice - no-one should feel pressured either way. My opinion on this, is that if Mum is happy (breast or bottle feeding) then baby is going to be happy too. It's got to be the most important thing. x x

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  5. I breastfed Sophia for 12 months, at first I didn't want to and tried to talk myself out of it as much as possible, simply because I didn't have the confidence, I was also worried about feeding her in public just because of all the negativity that comes from people when Mothers feed in public it put me off! But...I got through it with lots of support! Once confident, I was proud to feed her, if she needed feeding whilst I was on the bus or in a restaurant then I would do so, I was always discreet for my own modesty, and luckily never offended anyone! If anything I had a woman praise me for doing so on the bus once, and it made me feel proud!
    I have nothing against bottle feeding, Abigail was bottle fed and is a happy, healthy girl!
    xxx

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  6. I couldn't agree more with this - you're damned no matter what you do. Isabelle is almost 17 months and is still breastfed, and it's treated like the weirdest thing ever - but it's fine for a 17 month old to have a bottle! People are never happy, so just do what's best for you and your family x

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  7. I'm currently pregnant, and have already begun to experience the negativity surrounding bottle feeding in particular - I've been told by so many people that I have to breastfeed my baby, and it's already begun to place pressure on me, and I'm still no where near even meeting my baby! x

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