To feed or not to feed
I went for a cuppa in the hall after Mass today and was chatting with J. She was there with her daughter, son-in-law and 6 week old grand-daughter. She told me something that really shocked and angered me.
Her daughter was breast-feeding the wee one, but had to stop because she has on antibiotics. She went into the pharmacy that she has used for years to buy formula but couldn't find it. She asked the assistant and was told that the owners wanted to "promote breast-feeding" and therefore stopped stocking formula! I am so glad that I don't use that pharmacy. If I had been told something like that when I stopped feeding myself, I would have totally fallen apart. I firmly believe that (all things being equal) breast is best. But, it absolutely has to be about what is best for both mum and baby. And if the best thing for both of you is the bottle, that no woman should be made to feel guilty by some idiot.
It has really knocked my mood for six. I do regret that I stopped feeding, even though I believe that it was the right thing for both of us. I was just too stressed and he was picking that up.I know that he is happy, healthy, thriving little boy. But, I still wonder ... did I do enough; did I try hard enough; was there anything else I could have done. ....
Her daughter was breast-feeding the wee one, but had to stop because she has on antibiotics. She went into the pharmacy that she has used for years to buy formula but couldn't find it. She asked the assistant and was told that the owners wanted to "promote breast-feeding" and therefore stopped stocking formula! I am so glad that I don't use that pharmacy. If I had been told something like that when I stopped feeding myself, I would have totally fallen apart. I firmly believe that (all things being equal) breast is best. But, it absolutely has to be about what is best for both mum and baby. And if the best thing for both of you is the bottle, that no woman should be made to feel guilty by some idiot.
It has really knocked my mood for six. I do regret that I stopped feeding, even though I believe that it was the right thing for both of us. I was just too stressed and he was picking that up.I know that he is happy, healthy, thriving little boy. But, I still wonder ... did I do enough; did I try hard enough; was there anything else I could have done. ....