As far as role models, it is nice that these beautiful models can inspire young girls that birth and breastfeeding can be sexy too. I am tired of hearing that birth and breastfeeding “ruins” one’s body. Hear hear to Miranda and Gisele (as well as other supermodels and actresses) for “modeling” behavior to young women that we can applaud. Too often, they are behaving in ways that makes one want to cover our daughter’s eyes with blindfolds…lol!

I believe people should do what is right for them and what they personally believe is the right choice for their children; living up to someone else’s expectations is completely bogus. If a mother chooses to breastfeed, that is a choice SHE is making for herself. I am sure that women who are “all-natural” are so ecstatic with how their choices are panning out and as a result they want to shout it off the roof tops, but some women out their cannot and do not wish to breast feed and that is their choice. I personally do not think that they should be demeaned for their choices. I have three beautiful girls who are growing like weeds, who have been formula fed from the beginning. Motherhood is supposed to be an amazing experience that you learn and grow from, why would you want someone putting a damper on your plans because THEY think you’re not making the right choice as it is not the choice they themselves made? Some people do not realize that what works for them might not work for you. One size does not fit all.

People *SHOULD* make their own choices, but to say that no one should “put a damper” on someone else’s motherhood parade, is just not taking the entire story into account. These women are being influenced in other ways through their entire lives. Some women beat and spit on their children. Should we not rain on THEIR motherhood parade? I think everyone would have the opinion that women should not abuse their children. Why? Because it is hurtful and mean, and selfish. Someone who beats their child is only thinking of their own anger and not taking into account what is best for the child’s future. Likewise, I would compare a woman who “just doesn’t want to breastfeed” her newborn. She is being selfish. For whatever reason – and there are many reasons! From sexual abuse, to her just not having the time. Nonetheless, it is still a selfish reason. The best for baby is being nurtured and fed through being fed by mom with her own breastmilk. But because there is a “choice” (formula) – we aren’t allowed to tell women that choose formula that they are selfish. WHOA, hold your horses, TELL a woman she is selfish because she fed her baby formula??? No doubt I will be flamed for even typing the words! Nothing, absolutely nothing can compare to breastmilk. Women and families that choose otherwise are limiting their child’s (and their own) health and wellness. They are choosing to do that, and IN that, I believe that they should CHOOSE to be okay with people saying that breastfeeding is superior (because it is a fact – it IS) Don’t get me wrong, there are countless women that can’t breastfeed for various reasons. I am not speaking of them. I am speaking of the woman who just never breastfeed. The women who decide that after 4 months “they can’t” – mostly because they are uninformed and need the support of the women in their lives to tell them they are doing wonderful and that the baby is just growing. Our society is uninformed and there are right chocies and there are wrong choices. Breastfeeding can work for the vast majority of women. And I think it is so sad that our societies children are growin up with a bottle propped with a blanket across the room from mom. That baby may someday be my child’s spouse. Or friend. Or pastor. Or President. How we are nurtured, and what we are fed *does* matter.

Your comment “for sure I thik a lot of women and doctors believe that breastfeeding is the superior form of nourishment..” sounds like there could be an argument against breastfeeding? Sure there are reasons that a woman cannot breastfeed, and in those times I am so thankful that there are other ways to feed babies for those instances. The fact is, the great majority of women will NEVER need to buy formula.
This topic affects me in a variety of ways, so many that I could go on and on, and this would be a full-length magazine article! For starters, think about the “obesity epidemic.” There have been numerous studies stating that breastfed babies are less likely to be obese as children and as adults as well. How do you think that affects a persons health? How do you think that persons’ health affects insurance options? Cost? How does insurance options affect cost of health care? How does the cost of health care affect lower income families? Okay, this is just ONE way in which breastfeeding or not affects me (and you and everyone else). Being fed breastmilk is just one aspect of a breastfeeding relationship. Being fed AT the breast and nurtured and loved with skin to skin contact is another giant benefit for a baby. It is constant love and touch for a child. It is a regular part of a child’s day. They know they will be cuddled up several times a day. They feel safe, comforted, loved. How does this aspect affect a child? The way children are nurtured, loved and fed matters. It matters in their relationships for the rest of their lives, whether those are personal close relationships, casual relationships or business. Those children not breastfed may not care to breastfeed THEIR infants. Those male children may not encourage their wives to breastfeed when she is upset and having a hard time. It *matters*.

I do not want you to believe that I think that women that choose not to breastfeed are horrible people. But I do think they are making the wrong decision, and that is my opinion, and right to have, just as it is theirs to think I am rude and obnoxious for believing their choice is wrong. No, I don’t think it is enough that a baby is “fed and grows at whatever means possible.” I have seen people give fast food cheeseburgers to 6 month old babies and in the next minute their mother leans her soda cup over so that same 6 month old can slurp sugar from her straw. No, I do not think that as long as the child is fed and grows that is what matters. God (or evolution, however you want to see it) has created us with the perfect food for our infants. Why would we choose NOT to use it? There IS nothing better. It is factually THE BEST. Parents look for the BEST car seat, the BEST baby mattress, the BEST, SAFEST car, the BEST stroller, the BEST diapers, the BEST daycare centers, the BEST schools. Why are these same parents not worried about choosing the BEST food to start their newborn baby on? You are right though, I can only make decisions for myself! And I want women to make their own decisions, but I want them to be truly INFORMED decisions. I think that most women are not truly informed. I think most of them are not thinking clearly about the impact that other-feeding can have on their children’s health. A hundred years ago, a woman not wanting to feed her baby from her breast would have been thought of as unloving, unkind, and crazy, depressed, or sick (and many other women would have stepped forward to nurse that child). Why is it now that it is so widely accepted that we feed the brains and bodies our future generations something less than the best?

AC, someone who beats their children are inflicting all sorts of physical and emotional scars that may NEVER heal whereas a woman who chooses to formula feed will very likely raise a perfectly healthy, happy child. And I would like to state that I have breastfed both of my 2 children, so this is not me trying to get rid of my own guilt.

The truth is, you’re right, choosing not to breastfeed for personal reasons is a “selfish” decision. But you know what? I’m guessing even perfect mothers like you have made at least one selfish decision at one point or another. And – yes, I’m going to dare to say it – sometimes women have to put their own needs/wants into the equation.

Part of my problem with the “selfish” argument is where does it end? I’m guessing when evaluating how someone else chooses to parent their child – especially when their parenting methods don’t mesh w/ yours – we could all find a wide variety of “selfish” motives in other mothers. And at the end of the day, attitudes like yours don’t make for any positive change. You say women need to be informed and supported – I’m guessing most mothers who think formula feeding is the norm aren’t going to be interested in being educated by someone like you who is quick to spout off how “selfish” they are.

I have a number of friends who have chosen to formula feed and I’ll be honest, those kids are just as loved as mine. I am all for educating and encouraging women to breastfeed but I will never tell a woman she is being selfish for not breastfeeding and I don’t think my refusal to yell at other moms on the internet for their choices makes me less of a supporter of breastfeeding.

I’m a supporter of natural birth and breastfeeding, having been raised by a mother who gave birth to eight children naturally and breatfed all of us. My problem comes from the part in the article that talks about how these images may just be intimidating to “regular” women because these women are supermodels. Who cares if you aren’t stick thin, but you should try to be healthy. I’m really tired of the whole “I’m big and beautiful and you should accept me even though I’m overweight” thing. No I don’t think we should judge anyone for their appearance. But accepting overweight people means that we accept the numerous and proven health consequences that come from that. I recently lost 40 pounds because I knew my husband and I wanted to have children, and I knew that my best chance at a healthy pregnancy and birth and my best chance at breastfeeding would come if I was at a healthy weight. So instead of acting intimidated by these women and therefore dismissing their point of view, take some responsibility for your own health.