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Board name change?

Teresa - posted on 12/26/2009 ( 3 moms have responded )

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'Breastfeeding Moms' is quite misleading. I AM a breastfeeding mom, so by that name and a lot of the posts.... I DO belong here. But by a lot of the guidelines and condemnation being spouted at GOOD mothers.... I don't and it makes me very sad. :( It seems to be a very exclusive and only supportive of ONE type of parenting group. Negating all other methods.

I don't 'support' formula and have only used it a handful of times in my 8 years of parenting, but it (IMO) isn't the devil. I totally understand how if someone is switching entirely to formula then this wouldn't be a place for them, but if they are breastfeeding at ALL... they are still a breastfeeding mom.
I'm sure this won't be received well by most here, but I had to get it out. For the most part I really do enjoy being a part of this community. :)

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Teresa - posted on 12/27/2009

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I fully understand the guidelines to not suggest formula usage. What I don't understand is the obvious condemnation that I have read time and time again placed upon mothers who are ALREADY supplementing... Forget the title of my post and how about the condemnation and accusations placed on mothers... GOOD mothers for using CIO. I am NOT a fan of CIO, but in my 8 years of parenting have used it about a handful of times and yesterday was accused of being an uncaring, abusive mother who shouldn't have kids.

These are the types of things that I take issue w/. Support and positive suggestions are great. The obvious condemnation placed on women who choose differently is not.

Sorry, I let those kind of comments get to me too much yesterday. I am extremely sensitive and actually spent quite a lot of time last night going over and over things from a message board... instead of sleeping. :( I suppose that is my issue to get over though.

I apologize again for any ranting from me. :)

Minnie - posted on 12/27/2009

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I think again many people are misinterpreting the guidelines. "we do not encourage or recommend formula for non-medical reasons."

OK. If you have a medical reason to give your baby formula, that's fine. That's why formula is there. I'm not sure why that is a contentious issue. I'm sure that every poster here would be happy to give accurate information on maintaining breastfeeding as much as possible if this were the case.

The point of the guidelines is to not suggest or recommend formula for non medical reasons. So if one poster is using formula for a bottle here and there so she doesn't have to nurse her baby through the night she is not allowed in this community to say "oh, you're not getting any sleep? Do like me, give a bottle of formula!"

This community is about breastfeeding. Not formula feeding. Yes, some mothers supplement. And they are more than welcome here! But it is the breastfeeding portion that is covered here. Does that make it more clear?

Johnny - posted on 12/26/2009

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Thanks Teresa! I agree. I'm not sure the name needs to change, but I feel your sentiments. I am a breastfeeding mom, but at one point I supplemented my daughter with formula. But that does not make me less of a breastfeeder. I definitely think that we need to be supportive of moms breastfeeding, no matter how they are doing it. If we want to encourage and promote breastfeeding, being sanctimonious is not going to win supporters or help struggling mothers.

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