Breastfeeding has been the most wonderful experience of my life. Once I found out that I was pregnant, I made the decision almost immediately to breastfeed. However, I also did not rule out the fact that I may be faced with formula feeding as well. I subscribed to multiple parenting magazines, read about breastfeeding on the internet and in books. I had no life sources to refer to because neither my mother in law nor my mother breastfed. I was entirely on my own to figure out this new and wonderful part of motherhood. However, as I researched more, I found that some mothers are guilted into breastfeeding and the reality of breastfeeding is misrepresented.

As I progressed in my pregnancy, I took the usual childbirth awareness and childcare classes. Last but not least came the breastfeeding class. I had pretty much made up my mind about breastfeeding but I still wanted to know more. The class was taught by a lactation consultant. She did a great job of explaining the physics of breastfeeding, along with various holds and positions. However, there was one question that ran through my mind. In my self-education, I watched A Baby Story and Bringing Home Baby religiously. Too often than not, breastfeeding mothers would comment on their milk not coming in, or having to supplement with formula. This was a question that ran through my mind. Luckily, someone asked this pressing question. Do you need to supplement with formula because the baby does not get enough breastmilk? The lactation consultant matter of factly answered, “No. The baby will get all they need from you. The colostrum is more than enough.”

So there I was, ignorant to reality and assuming that my baby would need nothing else. Well, there I was, a new mommy. I was in the hospital trying desperately to keep my son latched on. We requested a consultation from the lactation consultant with every nurse, doctor, and midwife who entered the room. No luck. Finally, the second night was upon us. I was working on three hours of my son latching on to me and I was in pain. He still hadn’t had a satisfactory amount of diapers and I sent my husband to get the nurse. She assessed the situation and determined that he was latching on fine and giving him formula would not create nipple confusion. He downed a bottle of formula and slept, pardon the pun, like a baby. Two hours later, the nurse took him for some tests and she said that she would keep him in the nursery a bit to let us get some rest. She brought him back six hours later and informed us that he had taken two bottles. Hmmm…he wouldn’t need formula, huh? Not true.

Here we are 8 months later and my son is a happy breastfeeding baby. We supplemented with formula for the first month of his life and now he won’t take formula. What frustrates me is the guilt placed upon the shoulders of mothers who give formula to their babies. Whether we exclusively formula feed, exclusively breastfeed, or supplement with both, we are doing what is best for our babies. Breastfeeding is not for everyone, but misrepresenting the realities of breastfeeding is more likely to discourage mothers from continuing. Yes, it will hurt at first, you may have to supplement with formula, some babies never latch on, however, you are not a failure because of it. Doing the best you can with what you have to work with is all anyone can ask.