No Explanation Needed. Carry On!

Great piece on Jezebel about the conflict between the bodily autonomy of women and the increasing pressure placed on mothers to breastfeed. 

 Are we on the verge of a backlash?   I hope so.  Sure, breastfeeding is great.  But there is nothing wrong with formula feeding in the developed world, either.  If the water is good, your baby will be just fine on formula.

 Yes, really.  My parents were both formula fed.  And they managed to get into prestigious universities and study things like economics and Medieval history.  My mother even marched against the Vietnam War.  (My father was considered fit enough to join the Army, too!)

Until recently though, I always felt that I had to justify my choice to use formula for my child.  I hated the judgmental stares and the pointed questioning:

"Why aren't you breastfeeding?"

I thought I owed other mothers an explanation.  A confession.  I thought I needed to be absolved of maternal sin.

Until I heard this story.

A friend was at the pediatrician's with her kids.  When she began bottle feeding her baby, another mother chastised her and demanded to know why she wasn't breastfeeding. 

My friend looked at her and said, "I don't owe you an explanation."  Then she turned back to her child and continued feeding him with a bottle.

"I don't owe you an explanation." 

One of the most freeing and empowering things I've heard in years.

You don't need to explain to me why you are breastfeeding your toddler.  And I don't need to justify the cans of Enfamil that used to fill our pantry. 

We are adult women making adult choices about our own children.  As long as your kid is getting his nutritional needs met and is physically and emotionally safe, and you aren't putting other people in danger, you don't owe any one an explanation for your parenting choices. 

So, don't worry about breast v. bottle.  Do what you need so that you can be the best parent to your child.