**Happy World Breastfeeding Week**
Seems like a tough topic to discuss right? But does it have to be?
Let me start off by saying I did Both. YUP Both. I have three boys and from the day they were born they had breast and bottle right in the hospital.
I also used both cloth and disposable diapers. Why does everything have to be finite. Black and White. The world is full of infinite decisions. Beautiful Colors.
Now for those of you who don’t know me I’m pretty hard core organic, holistic, and an environmentally friendly Earth Mother so to speak. My kitchen is full of natural and organic foods, I recycle, I’m all about homeopathic remedies, I use fluoride free organic toothpaste, I do not idle my car, I even use rags in the kitchen instead of paper towels.
However, I both breast fed and bottle fed from day 1 and all three of my children are alive and have lived to be 16, 17, and 23 years old.
Does this have to be a debated subject? NO. Do we have to judge each other on it? NO. Are others judging us? The truth is No, Not Really, No.
Hey we all know women were born with breasts given by God to feed our babies. But didn’t he also give us the instinct to keep our babies alive. And didn’t he give us the brains to figure out how to do that when things aren’t as perfect as they should be.
Lets face it as new mothers we worry about everything and feel judged by generations before us and new and old school methods. My family is pretty old school. Still some women breast fed some bottle fed. But as far as parenting styles go I think we all have that old school mentality that if your baby is hungry, feed him/her. For crying out loud just feed the baby. Does it matter how or why you do it?
It is true that because God gave us these breasts it only stands to reason that they will produce the most nutritious form of nourishment for the baby. But that doesn’t mean other issues will not come upon each and every parent facing them with this decision. And that decision does not need to be viewed as right or wrong.
When I had my babies I do not remember anyone caring one single bit about the fact that I did half breast half bottle. Not Nurses, or Doctors, or Grandparents, or Aunts and Uncles. Nobody cared. They were my babies and nobody needed to care. They loved me and were happy for me and my new baby whatever I chose to do. Besides we’ve all heard the old adage it takes a village to raise a child. Who in any family isn’t happy when they get their turn holding, feeding, and snuggling a precious little baby. And pumping is not the end all be all fix for everyone. Sitting around with a machine attached to my sore, painful breasts sure wasn’t for me.
Breastfeeding Week doesn’t mean we have to judge all those mothers who are not breastfeeding. It’s just an opportunity to celebrate with those who do and can. I’d like to think that Moms are Moms. Parents are Parents. Were all in this together.
If we are the new Mom lets stop being so hard on ourselves. Give ourselves a break and feel proud of the job were doing however we choose to go about it. Our baby will thrive off of our positive, relaxed energy as well.
So I say YEAH if your breastfeeding, YEAH if your bottle feeding, YEAH if your doing both. YEAH to all parents feeding their baby! Your doing an amazing job and I’m proud of you!!!
More Resources
How to Combine Breast and Bottle
Breast Feeding and Bottle Feeding Alike
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