Feeling good about how we feed our babies
But if we just see the benefits of breastfeeding as one reason to breastfeed
If there is a duty to breastfeed
You have to do your duty unless you have a good excuse.
Then, if breastfeeding is good for the child, mothers have to breastfeed unless they have a good excuse.
If we have a reasons to breastfeed
Reasons help us to make decisions.
Mothers should have all the relevant information about different ways of feeding.
This includes evidence about the health benefits of breastfeeding, commercially independent information about infant formula, about how to feed using a bottle, about combining breastmilk and infant formula, about pumping, and lots more .
If there is a duty to breastfeed
If you don’t do your duty, other people can ask you why.
Then, if breastfeeding is good for the child, other people can demand to know why you aren’t breastfeeding.
If we have a reasons to breastfeed
Other people should support you in your decision.
Other people should support the way you feed your baby. This includes friends, family, employers, and society.
This also means getting the right support at the right time. A lack of support in the early days – or even hours – after birth can leave you with limited options.
If there is a duty to breastfeed
If you don’t have a good excuse, they can blame you and you should feel guilty.
Then, if breastfeeding is good for the child, mothers who don’t breastfeed should feel guilty. Leads to: Guilt and shame for formula feeding
If you don’t have a good excuse, they can blame you and you should feel guilty.
Then, if breastfeeding is good for the child, mothers who don’t breastfeed should feel guilty. Leads to: Guilt and shame for formula feeding
If we have a reasons to breastfeed
It can be worth doing something for a good reason even if it isn’t easy.
You are not being silly or stubborn if you want to keep breastfeeding even though you are having difficulties.
(This doesn’t mean someone who decides to stop breastfeeding is giving up too easily! We all need to make our own decisions about how to balance our reasons to make the best decision for our own family.)