10 Things Breastfeeding Advocates Need to Stop Saying.

In no way is this a "hate" blog about breastfeeding. I am all for breastfeeding and I am so glad that my son was able to get my colostrum before I dried up. I think breastfeeding is great, but I am in a lot of groups who do not have the best approach when trying to promote breastfeeding. I loved this article.

• Breastfeeding is a choice. -- No, it’s not, actually. It only is to women who are able to lactate enough to exclusively feed their babies.
  
  It is not a choice. If it was a "choice" I would have breastfed my baby for at least a year. My milk came in, but I did not produce enough to feed my 10lb, 3oz baby.  I was lucky if I got 2 oz in a day.  My son never latched, so I bottle fed him the colostrum that I was able to extract. I do think that if he was not taken to the nursery and fed a bottle right away, I probably would have had much better luck.
  
  
• Formula is poison. -- We have not engineered a product that completely mimics true breast milk. However, as each year goes by the quality of formula is improving. Calling it poison is ridiculous. Have babies had serious reactions to formula? Yes. The fact is that the chance of any allergy from mother’s milk is virtually non-existent (only in very rare conditions), but that still doesn’t justify calling formula poison. Formula saves lives in many circumstances around the world. I think that we need to be cautious of formula companies and how they are regulating their product. Just like a breastfeeding mother regulates what goes into her body when she is lactating.
  
  I HATE the response when mother's say that formula feeding is like feeding a baby a spoonful of sugar. Um No! Of course I am not debating the question if breast milk is better than formula because obviously Breast milk is better. 
  
• Breast is best. -- Breast is biologically normal. There are many situations when it actually is not best for mother or baby.
  
  ^ I do not understand the argument here, but the slogan often is ANNOYING to hear. 
  
• Formula feeding moms didn’t try hard enough. -- Really? I’m assuming the people who say this were able to breastfeed, or don’t have children. There is a reason that wet-nursing is still widely used in African villages (and developing countries around the world). Some human beings produce little or no milk to feed their infants.
  
  You seriously cannot state the above statement if you only know the mom through facebook! Like come on! You do not know their life and you do not know their struggles. 
  
• I only judge moms who have never tried to breastfeed. -- How about don’t judge at all? There are some people who can’t breastfeed for a number or reasons: Women with double mastectomies, women who have adopted (yes, I clearly know this is a possibility, but it doesn’t mean everyone can or should try this), or women who are on medication for severe PPD. Then there are just some women and families where breastfeeding is never going to be a good option for them. And that is okay, too!
• I am just stating the truth, they make themselves feel guilty, that isn’t my fault. -- With that logic it is no wonder breastfeeding has little support for the general public. Words hurt, you aren’t going to be winning any hearts by making someone feel like they have failed their child.
  
   You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.
  
• If they cared more about their children they would try harder. -- No, if they cared about their children they are going to be making the right choice to keep the entire family (including mom) happy and healthy. That sometimes means taking breastfeeding out of the equation -- whether they produced milk or tirelessly tried and finally laid it to rest without results.
  
   No one is going to tell me I didn't try hard enough. No one knows how hard I tried except my mother and sister.
  
• Domperidome is all you need if you *really* aren’t producing milk. -- No, it definitely can increase supply, but it doesn’t mean it will work for your biology. Plus, some women aren’t comfortable taking this prescription. Trust your instincts.
• I just think formula feeding moms are lazy. -- And I just think you’re an asshole.
  
  Well, I think breastfeeding moms who judge, judge, judge are complete bitches. If you see a mom formula feeding, does seeing her feed her baby explain her breastfeeding struggles? Maybe she couldn't produce milk? maybe she didn't want to breastfeed! maybe she tried and tried and couldn't even get an ounce? It doesn't matter to me, the baby is being fed and that is all that matters. 
  
• Breastfed babies are smarter. First off, there are many extremely intelligent people I personally know that were formula fed. More importantly, the studies that have been done on this are still not totally conclusive. There has been a link to an “extended” duration of breastfeeding an significantly higher test scores. However, the mothers of these children all were of an older age and came from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. I think the studies are important and valid, but I also think this isn’t something that would be healthy to mention to a mother that formula feeds her child. 
  
  This could be true. I am not debating, but this could be point when talking to a mother about breastfeeding. My son only received colostrum, but is one of the 3, 3 year olds who was moved up this year to the 4/5 year old class. I think it also has to do with the type of teaching instruction you have set up at home. Learning begins at home.
  
  
  Source:
  http://www.blogher.com/what-breastfeeding-advocates-need-stop-saying?page=0,0