breastfeeding and high IQ!

Jennz if you feel bad about ffding Im sorry but that doesnt mean that the rest of us have to. If you feel like you have failed in any way thats your issue, dont try to tell us we havent done what is best for our babies. Sorry if that sounds harsh but your post just really got my hackles up.

Edited by my2angels

Totally agree that those are my own issues- it wasn't my intention to make anyone feel bad, just to take responsibility for their choices and not say that scientific studies are rubbish because it doesn't support that choice. I don't feel that I failed- just that I didn't do the best for my baby, which is true.

I also think that it is possible to seperate emotional issues from fact.

I expected it would get hackles up so don't worry about being harsh- I was pretty harsh myself so if I can give it I should be able to take it

To add my 2c worth:

Yes, I agree breast milk is better for babies than formula. No, I don't think formula is evil or bad for babies, it has its place.
I do think that formula is hugely overused these days and there are many, many women who could be breast feeding if they had the right support or encouragement or education or whatever, which is sad in an overall/societal sense.   
However, I also think that there is no way I could ever know all the complicated reasons behind why individual mothers make the choice/need to formula feed, so on an individual level there is no judgement or feeling of 'oh she's not doing the right thing'. All of the mums I know who feed with formula made the decision based on what they thought was best for their babies - who the heck am I to tell them otherwise! We all have to make decisions about raising our kids, it would be nice if the whole 'breast vs. formula' battle could be dropped and we could get on with the job of being mums (and dads). And live in a fairy land with flowers falling from the sky. Sorry - had to lighten the tone there somehow.

I would add that, as a mum who breast feeds, often I do feel like I have to tiptoe around formula users or be overly supportive/enthusaistic towards them when discussing feeding, because they are often so defensive right from the outset. On the flip side, I also notice a lot of 'older generation' women I have met have been very pro-breast feeding and not shy about making inappropriate comments about it, as in 'oh good, you're breast feeding.' Like I need their approval. So I can understand some of the angst/annoyance.

There's got to be a balance somewhere!

Yeah cuppeatea it should of said how long you need to bf for for it to make a difference.