>
>
>If Tish decides breastfeeding just isn't for her, I beg her to not 
>try to convince other people that it is not important.



Lynette's words express for me precisely why these articles make me cross.

We get them on this side of the Atlantic as well.

I can't get on my high horse and complain about any one individual 
mother's decision on infant feeding (though I  make no apology for 
being quite sure she and her baby as individuals are missing out in 
many ways).  It's up to her to decide what she wants to do, and there 
is no sanction I would invoke for any mother opting for formula 
feeding from the start. Her body, her baby, her feeding decision....

But why try to justify the decision by going on (and on...) to 
denigrate the experience to hundreds, thousands and even (these days) 
millions of other women? Pretending that it doesn't matter? Claiming 
that the research is skewed? And worst of all, deliberately setting 
up a defensive 'Boo hoo hoo, I'm a b...a....d mother' position, in 
order for people to be put into a position where they more or less 
*have to say* 'no, no,  sweetheart,  you're a fabulous mother!!'   or 
'really, darling, such honesty is marvellous!'

Well, I don't fall for it any more.

All I want to say now is:

Please.

Just. Shut. Up.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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