FED REALLY IS BEST

It's been almost a year since my blog post on why I bottle fed my boys, there isn't any big story to why I couldn't breastfeed, it was my choice, our choice as a family and one I'm really happy we made. However, I'm a lucky one, so often that choice we're so fortunate to have is ripped away from new mothers and newborns, illnesses, breast reductions, milk allergies, low milk supply, the list is endless of medical reasons that can prevent a mother and baby from starting that feeding journey that so many begin every single day. But are the 'excuses' heard through the harps of what is best for your child, since when did something that is an incredibly sensitive subject for many, become a target of weakness in which to bring another mother down?

Fed is best, in my eyes it really is now we're not talking the most literal sense, because obviously we're all going to be feeding our children regardless right? I'm surrounded by a community of Mummy bloggers so I see my fair share of newborns, I read the tweets, watch the videos and notice the captions, breastfeeding can be a struggle, a seriously hard struggle. A smutty comment in the street making parents anxious about feeding in public, latching problems, mastitis, are they being fed enough, are they feeding for too long, I've seen it all and for some women, it's too much, it's too overwhelming and that is ok. If we're creating an environment where we're against the fed is best method, you're quite honestly giving a huge middle finger to all of those women, who is going to tell a mother on the brink of despair, reaching for the bottle that what she's doing isn't best. I certainly couldn't and wouldn't do that. I think as mums we all have enough self inflicted guilt that we don't need it from those around us too, yet it happens, day in and day out. Sometimes accidental, you'll get the look whilst you're bottle feeding your baby in public, other times quite openly people will share their 'views' on your chosen feeding method. I already know this post will piss off some of my friends who have expressed to me they don't have very high opinions on bottle feeding and that is perfectly fine, but I'm sure if the shoe was on the other foot it would quite the different story wouldn't it.

I'm not a breastfeeding shamer, I think it's such a fantastic thing to do, and it isn't easy. I have such an unbelievable amount of respect for the women that choose that feeding method, they are doing something their bodies are made to do. Which brings me to a comment I recently read in an anti-bottle feeding article, 'Breastfeeding is the best method for feeding, our bodies wouldn't produce milk if it wasn't meant to be used', which got me thinking, our body produces lots of things that we don't use... I'll leave that thought with you as it's a road I most certainly don't want to go down. I'll always be on the fed is best train as I believe it's one that focuses on the family and their interests, happiness and health rather than what a health visitor or Sally on mumsnet is going to pressure you into thinking. If happiness for you and your family means a long and prosperous breastfeeding journey then hooray, but if happiness is a bottle and aptamil then hooray to you too. We shouldn't be berating people on their choices of how to feed their children, people do have problems breastfeeding but people also struggle with bottle feeding, there will always be positives and negatives from each side and neither more weighty than the others. I'm very open in my feeding method because there is such a stigma attached to bottle feeding and I know so many girls that don't like talking about it online for fear of a backlash - I mean how ridiculous have things got now for that to be the case? You're not able to share a picture of you feeding your baby, because people will judge you negatively or enforce their views on you. We're all entitled to our opinions, and some people feel incredibly strongly about each side of the fence, but sometimes if you know they could be construed hurtful, then just keep them inside not everything has to be vocalised all of the time.