I FF my first as I had such troubles & she was literally starving & I had chunks torn from my nipples! I was so angered, upset & hurt at myself for not being able to feed my baby naturally. My first time at a New Mothers Group I was the only FF Mother, by the 3rd class there were 6 of us FF & 11 BF, by the end of the 3rd month there were 9 FF babies & the rest were BF, with a few having FF top ups..
No one judged me though, I only judged myself & put the pressure on myself!
Baby #2 arrived & attached perfectly (I was so afraid of BF, much, much more so than birth!) I fed her til she refused breast at 14mths, we then found out we were expecting #3... Again I was afraid of the first few wks of BF more so than the birth, I am succesfully demand feeding him...
In my experience I was my own worst enemy with DD#1 as I jusged myself...
However when BF DD#1 I had ppl ogle me, comment on how long I planned to force her to breastfeed for etc...
So far with DS I have sat in a food court eating lunch with my family when he cried at about 3 or 4 wks of age, I picked him up draped a sarong over me us whilst I fed him..
The look I received from a purple haired old bag was outrageous, meanshile she smiled at a young girl whom was shoving McDonalds Chips & Burger into her 4 or 5mth old babies mouth!
From that day on I have ignored looks, stares, ogles & judgement of others (well probably as a young kid I havent really cared about others opinions of me) but still this made me realise that ppl will always judge, their jugdgements are never important... It's more important what we think, how we feel & what we are happy with, anyone else's opinion of me & my parenting choice just doesnt factor into my life!!!
As Mum's we will forever be criticised, no one way is perfect for everyone, just do whats best for your individual circumstance & be proud knowing you are!!!!
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