Formula Shaming

I personally believe "Breast is Best" . My goal is to EBF my next child for the 1st year if I can, and I always encourage friends and aquaintances to find me for BF support, questions, etc....but I get frustrated over women shaming others for not BF. Some people for whatever reason cant do it, and it angers me when people put them down for not being able to. Some women have said things like "it made me feel like less of a mother or a failure" because they were unable to breast feed. As women and mothers we have to support each other and stop shaming people for things like this...and I'm done venting

Eh, when I decided to formula feed I had all kinds of people giving me their thoughts about it and trying to "educate" me--(read: force their way down my throat) and I just didn't really give a smurf. It was annoying, for sure, but whatever. People like that need a hobby. I see people get smurf about BFing in public, or for too long, or whatever else as well. I think people need to chill it back and get out more if they're that concerned about boobs and what they are or aren't being used for.

Eh, it's a two way street.
When I BFed, people shamed me for for that. My MIL tried to make me feel disgusting. Stupid bitch. Now that I FF, I've had people try to educate me about my failures.
People are always going to have something negative to say, no matter what you do. Which is why I firmly believe in never giving anyone parenting advice. Unless they are asking.
Good luck BFing though. You can do it!!

People should just stop giving a smurf about what others think. Just do your thing.

I've never seen anyone do that. But I tried very very hard to BF my last two kids. If I could have, I would have.   Several factors had a part into why I wasn't able to succeed but ultimately formula was my only logical option.

Quoting VeggieBurglar:" Eh, it's a two way street. When I BFed, people shamed me for for that. My MIL tried to make me feel ... [snip!] ... People are always going to have something negative to say, no matter what you do. Good luck BFing though. You can do it!!"

This. My first was FF and I never once heard anything negative. When I choose to BF my second one I was told I was disgusting. I would raise my daughter to be a lesbian. If I would make a comment about how exhausted I was I go well just give her a damn bottle and she will sleep. I was made to feel disgusting in public when I nursed and when I went past 6 months I was told how it wasn't needed and she would be just fine on formula. We made it to 9/10 months.

Quoting VeggieBurglar:" Eh, it's a two way street. When I BFed, people shamed me for for that. My MIL tried to make me feel ... [snip!] ... why I firmly believe in never giving anyone parenting advice. Unless they are asking. Good luck BFing though. You can do it!!"

My MIL tried to convince me not to BF with DS. She acted like she was an idiot and tried to convince me that formula was better.   I eventually had no choice but to FF but her trying to convince me was very annoying, no matter how many times I told her there's no formula better than breast milk. I don't get people sometimes.

The people at the wic office rolled they're eyes at me when they asked to "make sure I was breast feeding". I'm like no? Sorry I'm not producing anything so my baby would be starving if I didn't use formula! Thank god for formula. Suck my dry right boob if you don't like it bitch. ;)

I've done both. While I do believe breast is best I don't go around preaching it. Every mother does what's best for her and her baby. As long as the baby is being fed its not my business.

Staunch advocate for breastfeeding right here.

I also put all 4 of my children on formula by 3 months old.

Quoting Jennybananna:" This. My first was FF and I never once heard anything negative. When I choose to BF my second one I was ... [snip!] ... when I went past 6 months I was told how it wasn't needed and she would be just fine on formula. We made it to 9/10 months. "

That is so sad. This story too adds to my point. Women and mothers against each other. We should be supportive of each other with topics like this. I'm sorry you had that experience..

Quoting Trixie7678:" That is so sad. This story too adds to my point. Women and mothers against each other. We should be supportive of each other with topics like this. I'm sorry you had that experience.."

That was my grandmother and mother not even other women. I am a huge BFing advocate. Not in the shove it down your throat but in a I think we need more education about it and this country needs a major adjustment on breastfeeding in general. In other countries no one bats an eyelash at a woman NIP with or without cover you dont have nurse ins (because there is no reason). There is a serious lack of respect for nursing mothers and I believe that has a lot to do with lack of education and understanding. My heart breaks when I hear women say they didnt BF because they were afraid, didnt know what to do, or thought they would be judged for it.

Shaming goes both ways. I've had people try to make me feel like smurf for breastfeeding, especially now that my kid is over 1.

Quoting ℳary ℐane:" People should just stop giving a smurf about what others think. Just do your thing."

THIS!

I never breastfed. I never tried and I didn't want to. I had absolutely zero interest in breastfeeding.

When DD was first born I caught a lot of smurf on here about it, but I did whatever was best for me and was (and am) happy with my choice.