I am so glad you enjoyed the show, and you wrote something this powerful and important from it. I do think we as moms tend to be too hard on each other, we need to trust we know how to do what is right for our kids.

Thanks for the links!

 

I didnt even try with my two boys, because it was my choice not to, and I am still proud of it. I was never embarrassed by using a bottle in public, the one and only time someone ever said anything to me about "how could you just do that right here in the store," I laughed at them. Parents make their own decisions on whats best for their children, or what works, there is nothing to be ashamed of, be it bottle or boob in public.

 

I find it absolutely freaking incredible that anyone would give a stranger a hard time about how they are feeding their kid. It just seems...wrong.

 

I'm glad you listened too, and it is absolutely true that some kids just dont' latch on. I actually did mention some point in the show that my own son was diagnosed with an "ineffective suck" something that isn't often discussed by MD's but certainly is known to occur in infants. If I didn't expand that to specifically saying to Jodi that some babies don't nurse, I was remiss.

It is absolutely true that there are babies who don't breastfeed and it's not about the mother at all, it's about the baby's make-up and just nature being nature.
Finally, let me add in my experiences as a social worker, not being breastfed isn't a typical precurser to why someone would come in to my office to meet me and address their mental health issues. Breast feeding seems like a big deal because the issue comes up right away, but in the big picture, it's not the be all and end all of their entire future successes. It's not a failure on anyone's part if breastfeeding doesn't happen, for whatever reason.

It's okay not to breastfeed, it's okay if your baby doesn't breastfeed. What we need to develop is a society that realizes it.
Now, let's all nurse a few drinks at BlogHer, shall we?

 

oops, maybe you meant that no one ever told Jodi when she was struggling with the nursing that some babies don't nurse? I thought you meant that no one on the show told her this and I wanted to make sure you knew Jodi had gotten some reassurance and support later on in the show if you had not listened to the full program.

 

Husband and I were both bottle fed. He came out very well. I'm sure that my nuttiness has to do with other factors. :)

I read a great book by Dr. Jennifer Shu on newborns and she repeatedly stresses that the most important thing for babies is having non-stressed mothers. The judgments that parents must deal with are more harmful than formula feeding by far.

 

I stumbled accross this blog, and I must say it's awesome!!!!!!!! It's about time that someone took a balanced approach to these issues. I spent too many wasted hours feeling guilty that I couldn't make breastfeeding work, instead of enjoying my first baby. Alas, I was about to do the same thing again with my second. Thank you for the reality check!

-Nicole