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Want to raise some eyebrows? Then kick start a discussion on which is better — breastfeeding or formula feeding! If you get where I’m coming from, don’t you think it’s time we put an end to this argument and stop shaming parents over their little one’s meal plan?
When I first thought of discussing my struggles as a mom with my friends, breastfeeding topped that list. So I decided to try out the formula. But soon as I informed my close pals, I was bombarded with texts, phone calls, long WhatsApp forwards pitting breastfeeding against formula instead of seeing them as alternatives to the other.
I was a little taken aback by the response. The whole idea of informing my friends and family was to break through the stereotypical mindset. More so, to feel liberated about making smart choices for my baby and me. But all my efforts went in vain.
I’m not saying my friends and family didn’t understand why I chose to switch to formula or didn’t see its necessity. But a few of them did give unsolicited advice around the matter, and let me tell you, that’s not fine.
All parents have a different journey throughout parenthood. So each of us is entitled to make our own decision on what works best for the baby. But since humans are labeled as co-dependent beings, it often backfires in times like this. What’s worse is that if I feel the pressure to justify why I’m making the switch to formula, then I’m just not sure where the conversation is headed. It seems like a never-ending battle between what I’d like to do and what society expects of me.
There’s enough on my plate already, given the pandemic and other restrictions that it brings along in terms of work from home. I don’t want to doubt my choices as a mom who keeps second-guessing herself when it comes to ensuring my baby’s well-being. When will people stop pitting breast milk against formula?
The stress of breastfeeding is real, and the stigma makes it worse!
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There is an endless number of studies that speak of breastfeeding and its benefits. The dos and don’ts etc. But I still don’t understand why it’s frowned upon when a woman chooses formula over breastfeeding. Or sometimes and very rarely, the other way around.
Say, I’m struggling with breastfeeding, and that’s why I want to make the switch to formula. But I have thought this through. I checked with a lactation consultant on how to go about things and visited the pediatrician for their inputs on my baby’s nutrition. Only once I was sure that it was safe to try out the formula, I started supplementing it.
And while it is said that breast milk is best for babies and the ideal way to keep them healthy, sometimes it doesn’t provide enough nutrition and hydration. So doctors do suggest using expressed breast milk or formula as well in some scenarios (1).
I think it’s time we start normalizing the idea of parents choosing formula for their little ones.
Why do I or other parents need permission to do so? The guilt around it will vanish in thin air once there are more of us coming out and speaking of our experiences as parents — fighting the good fight against the stigma behind breast milk versus formula.
If having the conversation around breastfeeding and how to feed my baby has taught me anything, it’s that we all make our own choices. And it is OK to switch to formula if that’s what the situation demands. There are so many reasons for parents to choose formula over breast milk, let’s try not to judge them for it.
