dinascully replied to your post: PLEASE make me controversial on this website for...
since you ASKED lmao the thing is women are shamed for not breastfeeding when it’s out of their control far too much and are made to feel like they didn’t try hard enough or whatever…. and I know that’s not who you’re directing your words at but taking such a hard stance is easy kindling for that fire….
trust me i know firsthand how not even all the prevention in the world can keep from adverse medical things from happening. i’m not here to shame anyone. and i think for the average public taking such a hard stance is a bad thing because they can’t possibly see every side. HOWEVER, i will not be the general public. my job will be to support the infant feeding dyad and to present factual, scientific evidence and then let parents make choices from there. if i omit information in favor of people’s feelings, then i’m not doing my job properly. and as someone who Will see every side of the experience, i doubt it will be hard to say “hey, this is out of your control, you are absolutely doing the right thing right now” and then explain why when that’s relevant, and to call out negligent behavior when i see it.
i think nowadays there’s this pop feminism belief of “choice = empowerment” but there are soooooooo many places in which that’s not the case, and this is one of them. i know it probably comes across when i say this stuff as “she doesn’t believe women should make their own choices” or something like that, but that coming across is rooted in social and cultural beliefs, not my scientific education about breastfeeding. it’s important to remember that women being shamed for not breastfeeding and equating that to that they didn’t try hard enough is another part of breastfeeding culture in (in my case) the united states. and there are plenty of problems in communities related to breastfeeding right now, and i can’t begin to cover all of those. but all of that being said, no one harps on doctors for saying fast food is unhealthy for you even though there’s a lot of classism and fatphobia involved in food culture here, as well as the existence of food deserts and whatnot. i think that if i, as someone whose work is rooted in protecting the milk supply and ensuring that infants are fed, take a hard stance on those topics, that’s pretty normal.
i also want to point out that like...my stance isn’t particularly hard! what i’m saying is that opting for formula feeding over breastfeeding just because you feel like it isn’t ideal for your health or your baby’s. i’m not coming for any biological, medical, physical, or mental issues pertaining to breastfeeding whatsoever. i’m not giving an anti-formula sentiment. all i’m looking to say is that 1 equating formula to breast milk is scientifically incorrect and has harmful outcomes for parents and babies and 2 please for the love of all things good JUST TRY. JUST TRY. ALL I’M ASKING IS THAT PEOPLE TRY