FF is not a crime

[LuluHB]

Ali - again, I'm with you 100%. I'm not anti bfeeding - far from it. I wish I could BF my DD. I starteed off not liking BF and then when it ended up I could no longer do it, I missed it dreadfully. Its such a special gift to be the only one who can nurture your child in such a personal way. I will certainly be trying to BF my next child and crossing everything it works.

I FF for medical reasons. My DD has severe silent reflux, as well as being lactose and wheat intolerant. I tried absolutely everything to enable me to keep BF, but nothing worked so my DD is now on soy. Having said that, I don't believe I have any reason to have to justify myself to anyone for how I feed my child.

My point about pro BFing women being difficult to deal with sometimes was not a negative towards women being educated as to the advantages of bfing. I personally have had comments from these people to the effect that formula feeding, particularly soy, can be detrimental to my child's health. I take huge exception to someone not only criticising my "choice" to FF, but then going on to say I am endangering my child's life. That is not just not acceptable.

As for the question about what to say to a woman who doesn't BF because of vanity or whatever, leave her be. Its her child, her body and her choice. Provided a child is not being neglected, I don't believe any of us have a right to make comment (if asked for an opion obviously that's different). As someone else said (sorry - can't go back that far to check who!), some people feel they have a right to criticise from the minute we're pregnant and it just doesn't stop. We would all be much more confident as mothers if we were offered support and respect of our choices as to how we parent our children, not criticism