The Great Mommy Debate

Even though I live in NYC, I'm not about to get dragged into the latest debate in The Mommy Wars. Quite honestly, I got sucked into a debate and quickly remembered why I keep my thoughts to myself on so many hot topics in parenthood.

I have a 6 month old who is exclusively breastfed, has tried solids once and received a bottle of formula once in the hospital without my consent.

I'm incredibly proud of that.

But for some reason, I'm not able to say that without "bashing" moms who have had to or have chosen to formula feed.

Let me say this:

Being Pro-Breastfeeding does NOT
mean one is anti-formula feeding Moms.

It's a fairly simple concept, but it seems to be overlooked and ignored whenever these debates flare up. Jut because I'm proud of my own success does not mean I'm judging you or that I think you're wrong or have failed.

If you want to know the truth, I'd say about 60% of my success with EBFing was plain old dumb luck.

The stars aligned just right. Due to an actual emergent c-section, we didn't have the immediate skin-to-skin contact and ability to be put to breast.

I was lucky to have a baby who came back to the breast after having a bottle given by a nurse when she was under the lights for jaundice. She figured out how to latch quickly, properly, on her own.

Yes, I did also put in the work and effort required to make it work for our family. I had a pedi who didn't push formula on me when she didn't gain "enough" weight after her first week home. I had a LC who told me just throw out the samples, that there's always a 24 hour store if I ever actually needed formula. I had the support of my family.

I also had sheer will and determination to do this for my child.

If any one of those building blocks was removed, the whole tower might come crashing down. I can't say because that wasn't my experience.

I can only speak of my own experience.

But for some reason I'm not allowed to speak about my own experience and how proud I am without offending another mom.