My point is that folks should consider their tone and words carefully on this topic.
There are a great many women out there who would like to be breastfeeding, but can't, for various reasons. And the amount of guilt and shame experienced by many in this group, because of the glib culture surrounding breastfeeding, is doing severe and lasting damage to many parents' mental health.
While not optimal, formula is a healthy and viable alternative. That's really all that needs to be said about this.
I agree with all of this. Luckily I have observed that there is a growing pushback against "breast is best" militarism and shaming of mothers who cannot (solely) breastfeed. The new slogan I have heard is "fed is best".
When you’re at your most emotionally vulnerable due to a seething mixture of hormones AND having primary responsibility for a tiny, helpless human, it’s a bit harder to do that.
Oh, and everyone feeling entitled to, nay, obliged to tell you how to do your job.
There are a great many women out there who would like to be breastfeeding, but can't, for various reasons. And the amount of guilt and shame experienced by many in this group, because of the glib culture surrounding breastfeeding, is doing severe and lasting damage to many parents' mental health.
While not optimal, formula is a healthy and viable alternative. That's really all that needs to be said about this.