It is time to stop shaming moms who formula feed
Working within the postpartum community, I have seen a lot of examples of how to successfully feed your child.
And I am here to tell you, as long as the child is well-fed, growing well and healthy, and you are doing well, it doesn’t matter if it is breast milk, formula or a mixture of both.
I have worked with moms who:
can’t breastfeed due to medical reasons
want to breastfeed but their child isn’t gaining enough weight at their pediatrician appointments (medical term is called a failure to thrive)
want to breastfeed but their child isn’t latching properly
want to breastfeed but it is too painful
want to breastfeed but their work schedule doesn’t allow for it
did want to breastfeed and changed their mind after awhile
don’t want to breastfeed
And all of their babies are well-fed regardless.
Some concerns I talk with mothers about around formula is the quality and how their child will react. There are a good number of high quality formulas out there, and sometimes it takes a few tries to find the best one that fits your budget and your child’s needs.
For example, some children are sensitive to cow’s milk found in a few brands of formula. This can show up as excessive gassiness, discomfort or skin breakouts.
Except! These symptoms could also show up in breastfed babies who are sensitive to the cow’s milk consumed by their mother. I have also worked with breastfeeding mothers who have had to cut out some key allergen foods to better support their journey.
Another thing to consider around whether breastfeeding is right for you and your situation, is the mental and physical load it has on you. I always talk with my patients about this, and check in with them throughout their journey.
Whether they are back to work and pumping, and how that is going
How breastfeeding has changed once teeth start coming in
How their emotions and mental health are (prolactin is an elevated hormone during breastmilk production and has impacts beyond the breast tissue)
How they are feeling being so ‘in-demand’ from their child
How they feel about their physical appearance, and their confidence. I truly believe the motto out there about how breastfeeding supports weight loss is a scam.
A mother’s feelings around breastfeeding and how they will change throughout the journey are nothing to be ashamed of. And formula-feeding a child is not ‘less than’.
We live in a privileged world where formula-fed is an option. And it is okay to if formula-fed is the right decision for you and your baby.
— Dr Hall, ND