Wow! I'm really surprised that my post was attacked so passionately. That my decision to do what was best for my baby has been rejected by mothers who breastfed more easily than me. Of course I believe breast is best, all other things being equal. But given my particular set of circumstances, I felt I was making the right decision for my baby by bottlefeeding her. Thank you for the advice about steak and cheese, with the benefit of hindsight, if I can ever conceive a second time I hope I have the stamina that you have. However, I reject totally the fact that any other woman was qualified to make my decision. I knew what life I had to offer her as a breastfeeding mother or alternatively as a bottlefeeding mother. I decided I could manage our life together more effectively as a bottlefeeding mother. I am the first to admit, there's not much 'earth mother' about me and I was in way out of my depth. But I researched the best formulas from various academic sources (not just advertising as one respondent suggested!! Please, give me some intellectual credit, I may not have working boobs, but my brain's all there). And someone else suggested a wetnurse be a more suitable alternative than formula? Please, keep your breasts away from my baby - who knows what would be passed on through a wetnurse's milk? Formula is a hygenic and measured source of (yes relative) nutritional value. But I'd much rather look at the contents of a formula tin (yes including the sugar) and know what (and how much) was in my babies system rather than trust another woman's diet. Please, I hope someone wasn't suggesting that a woman's diet from a third world country would be preferable to formula!! If so, perhaps you should pick up some formula tins because these days the only real difference is the immunity factor. But I totally and wholeheartedly support your choice and effort to breastfeed whether in public or private. Just please respect other women's right to choose and don't cut them down or question their mothering ability. At the end of the day it's not physically obvious whose been formula fed and whose been breastfed. It's a mother's choice, not the baby's because like other issues, the mother knows the best decision to make for her baby because she is the only person able to consider all other factors; eg single mother, return to work, preference about breasts being touched, family support, milk supply, shift work arrangements etc etc etc. And I do agree we need more lactation consultants in hospitals and when we return home from hospital because ultimately I would love the opportunity to breastfeed again, but no guarantees I'll stick with it when this forum very obviously highlights how judgemental successful breastfeeders can be.