The 1st heartbreaking time....

[mommymushbrain]

I have the youngest "baby" out of my group of "friends", so I have never really had to discuss many parenting issues with them.

Until yesterday...

I have a friend who's 17 y/o daughter just gave birth 3 weeks ago. Well, she was telling me that her daughter really wanted to try breastfeeding. So in the hospital they tried, but the baby was just "too fussy". She said the hospital was not being cooperative on letting them have bottles and that they were pushing the breastfeeding way too much. So my friend went out and bought bottles and formula and took them up to the hospital room.

My heart literally sank.

I asked if she tried to breastfeed again, once her milk came in... The answer was No.

It was horrible, the way I felt.

I went on into my story of how I basically did the same thing with my 1st... but once my milk did come in 3 days later and I was soooo engorged, it only felt right to put her to my breast - even if my first thoughts were just to relieve MY pain. We went on to breastfeed for 9 months.

I am still sickened by it all. I never thought I would "judge" someone else for their feeding practices, yet here I am.

[AnnaReilly]

I know how you feel. I too try not to be judgemental but when I am doing something that I feel so passionately is right, it's hard not to have those feelings.

It sounds to me like the hospital in your friend's daughter's case may have the all too common imbalance of pressure vs. support. Breast is best so I think it's great for hospitals to encourage breastfeeding but they need to do so in a supportive, helpful manner because for many women breastfeeding is not easy. TOTALLY worth it, but not easy.