if you try and search the word, often it will ask 'did you mean hallelujah'?
Although, with that monstrosity that you typed, it would probably just say 'no comprende mi amigo, go make yourself a cup of tea and try again'.
I actually think many mums who haven't actually ff can still understand why others do. I had terrible problems with DS1 because he couldn't attach and the information I got in the hospital was all wrong and didn't help at all. I had no previous bfing experience, didn't have anyone around who had bfed and I was sinking. The difference between me who continued bfing and other mums who have switched to formula in desperation is nothing but luck. I happened, by pure co-incidence, to see a GP for a totally unrelated issue and this GP turned out to be one of the very few in this city who was able to diagnose the problem and fix it. That and a very good friend gave me an ABA subscription so I then knew where to get further help and support. Luck. Nothing more.
We are all mums. We all know what it's like to be sleep deprived, to have feeding problems, to feel unsure of our selves. We all know what it's like to feel isolated and guilty and a failure. We all learn as we go and we all make mistakes. We all make different choices in situations, sometimes choices we are pleased with, sometimes choices we are not. There is no difference between a ff mum and a bfing mum. We are all mums. We all need support.
And we all need to understand that talking about the advantages of something that we didn't do is not a lack of support. It's part of the learning process for ourselves as mums, for those in our social and family circles and for society as a whole. There are things I would have done differently if I had known then what I know now. But I'm glad I know about them now so that I can share with others and help them on their journeys. I don't beat myself up - I made the right decisions for the information I had at that time, and the resources available to me. I can't change that. We all do the best we can in the situation. And that is the best we can do.
pb, I understand why the post upset you. I can only assure you that it was not intended as it came across. We all post things in haste at times and they can seem very different to what we mean.
MR, I agree with so much of what you've said. That pure luck you were talking about. The lack of support and information out there for mums is simply astounding. I come to realise this more and more with every week, and it just breaks my heart. Mothers deserve better. We know that breastfeeding initiation rates in Australia are very high, mothers WANT to breastfeed their babies.......but the numbers drop off very quickly. This is mostly due to that lack of support, and knowledge, and I find that very distressing. It is not the fault of the mother!
I personally think that BB does a wonderful job of promoting breastfeeding as being the norm, and most members are very encouraging of those struggling . I know that my experience would have been a lot different had it not been for BB. As someone who has BF and FF at the same time, for most of my baby's, well, babyhood, I know the trauma involved with opening that tin. Yes, I was bl00dy determined, and worked extremely hard to be able to continue breastfeeding in any way, but like MR some of it was just luck. If my MCHN had been less supportive, our paed, my family, any of those people telling me to just make the switch, it could easily have all been over.
TBH, I saw the comment referred to and thought 'OUCH'. But I'm sure it wasn't meant to hurt. PB, I hope you can go back to feeling comfortable around here and know that you have much support
Bookmarks