Breastfeeding in public

[Fireball]

When we had our daughter, I was stunned to learn how mothers in particular are guilt-tripped by society (mostly by other women I think. Men don't really care as long as thw baby isn't starving is my impression ) with completely contradictory expectations. For instance, we had to feed formula for a while due to the usual issues, and holy crapola did everyone have an opinion on that they didn't hesitate to share. My favorite from  a neighbor was, when we literally just got home from.the baby IC unit because our 1 week old had developed slight jaundice from not drinking enough, "don't let the doctors make you nervous, a mommy's body knows best what is right for her child. Don't listen to anyone. You do know though that once you start with formula you can probable never go back?". It's all BS. And don't get me started on internet forums filled with judgmental super mothers who will tell you that you are a child-neglecting failure for not doing it exactly the way they did it.

Oh, I know!  It's ridiculous.  There are mommy wars over EVERYTHING - breastfeeding, co-sleeping versus crib, stay-at-home versus working mom.  Women can be terrible to each other.  From a dietetics POV, of course breast milk is best under ideal conditions, but that's just not how life works.  If baby is having medical issues and nursing isn't cutting it, you HAVE to supplement.  Failure to thrive is a far more serious and immediate concern in those situations.  

Not to mention, breastfeeding is really hard!  Noone tells you that you've got to learn latch technique, and positions, and what a newborn swallowing sounds like, and what proper sucking looks like, and ways to keep the tiny, flailing arms out of the way... I don't judge ANY woman for throwing in the towel.

So much it is, that people shouldn't judge for this. I was formula-fed. That may be why I'm not married to a gal with immense breasts.   Great story- one of my wife's friend's daughter had a baby recently. She went into labor and before the husband could get her and the gear into the car, she had the baby boy in the bathroom (3rd child- be warned!), with him barely catching him from falling on the floor. She has ample breasts, but that boy nurses both sides and then wants a bottle to boot, just like my eldest. And then he fills a diaper before she can finish changing him!   I'm half afraid of what's going to happen when my spawn finally reproduces, and I get to baby sit.