Reply to Pediatrician + Family/Friend Making Comments About My Choice Not To Breastfeed

Forum Index » General Parenting Discussion

Reply to "Pediatrician + Family/Friend Making Comments About My Choice Not To Breastfeed "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Breastfeeding is so much easier. I would give it a try. I hated formula feeding because of having to make and warm the bottles and wash everything. Popping him on the breasts was so much easier. [/quote]

It was easier FOR YOU. It isn't easier for everyone. Can you comprehend that?[/quote]

Oh, she comprehends it just as well as you comprehend that it is actually easy for some people. It's like neither of you dogmatic PPs can allow that the other person's perspective is accurate to their experience and not universal to everyone else's.

OP, realistically, this is one of those standard questions that people ask new moms. It is in the category, for me, of "invasive and rude but socially appropriate in 2022" in the same way that having people asking you when you're due, commenting on how you must be having twins, etc. is invasive and rude but socially appropriate. Most times, if you are asked this by an acquaintance, they will be perfectly happy with any answer to the question. They are just making conversation most of the time.

As others have noted, medical folks asking about it at this age and stage of development is appropriate, though it would be ideal if how your baby is being fed was noted in their chart somewhere so that you don't get asked every time, the same way that you will also get asked where they're sleeping and if there are guns in the home at many appointments. The topic of conversation will fade into the rearview with your pediatrician as your baby gets older. If the baby does not have weight gain issues and is meeting milestones and eating well in general, they will stop asking WHAT they're eating and just ask HOW they're eating.

As for your friends and family, I see no reason why you cannot say to them, "Susan, I've already told you a couple times that I am not breastfeeding. Please stop asking. It is starting to feel like you are judging me for a parenting decision that is, quite frankly, none of your business." Maybe other PPs would not say that, but you are clearly bothered by them asking repeatedly. Letting them know that you are offended that they keep asking and asking them to stop is a reasonable response that puts you back in charge of the narrative. I would expect some of them to be crabby about it, but that's likely because you are right in that it's not their business.

Signed,
I nursed one baby for 18 months and one for almost 3 years and I am glad you've found something that works for you![/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics