It is stunning to me that the baby formula shortage is still happening, but the stores local to me are still boasting empty shelves most of the time.
So, I’m about to go on a bit of a rant here to add to the pro-feed the baby sentiment I’ve seen on the internet recently.
A friend of mine mentioned a few weeks back that it’s usually not anyone’s business why someone chooses not to breastfeed.
But I’d go a little further and say that there are NO circumstances that are ANYone else’s business why someone formula-feeds (unless someone explicitly says they want to talk to you about their reasons).
Almost always when someone says, “I chose not to breastfeed” there is SO MUCH MORE to the story than that.
Prying into anyone’s reasons for not breastfeeding is extremely insensitive unless they are explicitly asking for your advice.
Additionally, when someone does completely freely make the choice not to breastfeed (which is pretty rare, IME, y’all), that’s 100% valid and should be respected too!
It is SUCH a complicated issue with a lot of societal aspects that make breastfeeding difficult even for folks who really want to do it.
Add to that the generational trauma (particularly for African Americans with slavery in their ancestry) often layered on top of personal trauma plus the fact that some folks simply aren’t able to produce enough milk even with a desire to breastfeed and ideal situation…
Nobody should be judging or grilling anyone about this issue. Period.
The most important rule of feeding a baby? FEED THE BABY.
Preferably feed the baby on demand (please don’t make your tiny baby wait a specific amount of time between feedings) with a safe human milk replacement (like formula), donated human milk, or (if you’re able and choose to do so) human milk either pumped or straight from the tap.
Over the past 16.5 years I have helped support several hundred families with new babies during all the years I apprenticed with/assisted a homebirth midwife, ran gentle parenting groups, birth support meetings, and attended La Leche League meetings.
Breastfeeding is a complicated topic and telling more people to breastfeed is absolutely not a solution to the baby formula shortage. On the bright side, though, I have been encouraged to see many breastfeeding mothers donating pumped milk to folks in their communities who are struggling to find formula for their babies ❤
Barefoot Betsy's Thoughts 