Dear Darren,
Has your friend considered that if she formula feeds she
will pre-dispose her baby to getting more illnesses and infections. If
she thinks life is tough getting up to a new baby, consider how tough it will
be to get up to a sick baby. (I'm sounding so grumpy cos I have been,
not a baby though, a 7 yr old) If you explain this to her, do it in a
gentle, empathetic way. I'm too tired to add appropriate empathy.
I'm tired of formula being seen as a completely benign choice. Lately
I've had a rash of mums who have breastfed their 1st children, but are
considering formula feeding their 2nd children because they don't have "the
time to waste" breastfeeding their 2nd. Anyone got any ways to combat
that line of thinking?
Love, Barb
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Dear Barb
I hate that way of thinking too. I recently attended a
wonderfully natural birth (IN A HOSPITAL!!) of a woman's first baby. I
asked if she wanted to breast feed, and she said, "I'd like to try". So
I took that as semi-positive. After 5 seconds of the baby being on the
breast BEAUTIFULLY, she said, "I think it will be easier to bottle feed, don't
you?" ummm... no way! I explained to her that once she and the
baby are experts after a couple of weeks, in the nigth all she will have to do
is bring the baby to bed with her and feed. She won't ever have to think
of getting UP and making a bottle, mixing formula, etc. And when she
goes out all she needs to do is bring nappies! The baby kept feeding,
and I went out to check the placenta. When I came back, not 5 min later,
the baby was off the breast, and there were 3 bottles and a can of formula on
the bench. She'd brought it with her. :( There was nothing more I
could do... it's so sad.
Jo
