"Proud Formula Feeder"?
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| Thu, 12-14-2006 - 8:27pm |
In my playgroup, I've noticed some members have a blinkie I haven't seen before: "Proud Formula Feeder". In the past, I've seen the "Formula Feeding Mom" and "It's formula, not rat poison", but this new one struck me as odd. I can understand simply stating that you formula feed or saying that formula isn't rat poison (because it isn't), but I've been trying to figure out just why someone would be "proud" to FF.
While I don't think that women should necessarily feel guilty about not BF, I don't get what about FF there is to be proud about. Most (or maybe even all) of the women with said blinkie acknowledge that breastmilk is better, so why would they be proud to feed their babies something they know is substandard, even if they couldn't BF and FF was their only choice? What do you ladies think? Is/should there be such a thing as FF pride?



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"True enough, but remember the topic of this thread? I know we've gone off on many different tangents but the question was why might someone feel it necessary to claim to be "proud" of ffing."
>>>Someone would be proud of formula feeding because of how they perceive breastfeeders think? They are proud out of spite?
Isn't pride supposed to be in something that YOU yourself did?<<<
I am proud of what I did accomplish. I got over PPD mostly on my own, no thanks to the medical community who pulled out once the crisis period was over. I managed to take care of my daughter through the worst of times and I learned to love on a whole new level.
I was terrified of becoming a mother and had no idea what kind of mother I would be. You do not learn to become a mother from books, and I did not think I could do it.
So, I am proud that I did it! I became a mother and learned to love on a whole new level. I also managed to do what I needed to do for her. That is in all aspects of my care for her.
Many people will flame me for this however, I am proud of what I accomplished and she is a wonderful kid now, 17 months and learning to explore and she knows that no matter what, I will always be there for her.
OT: There are risks to FF, no doubt, but some of the other risks that we are talking about taking over the possibilities of FF I do think I would be willing to take, like the slight possibility of the HIV virus or medication passing through breast milk. I think if I thought there was even a slight chance that I could transfer the HIV virius to my daughter, I would take the risks of FF over it. But then again I was a FF mother so do not take my word!
Spud...
"I'm just heartbroken to learn that a decision I made could lead to cancer for my baby girl. It bums me out, so a part of me wishes I didn't know."
I understand how you feel, since I deal with the same feelings because I switched my DD1 entirely to formula. I look at it this way: I'd rather KNOW so that I can encourage healthy behavior that may help offset the "damage" that was done early in my DD1's life. I'm only using the word damage because I'm only on my first cup of coffee and not feeling too wordy this morning. =)
Everything we do in life has risks, so the best thing we can do is minimize the risks. Some risks are unavoidable -- with my daughter, my lack of knowledge led to increasing the risk of breast cancer for her. I can't go back in time and make it different, so I'm glad that I know NOW about this so I can take steps to help the situation.
What really bugs me is that increasing risks for MYSELF is my choice and I'm the only one to blame for it. My DD1 didn't make the choice for herself; it's squarely on my shoulders.
RPS
I guess I don't see it as over the top since it is a proven fact and it has been helpful in the past. If I have to worry about offending or alienating each and every possible person who is reading this or other boards then I might as well never post anything at all ever again. Seems like that's a rather paralyzing way to look at things. Perhaps if more people were concerned about women living in third world conditions then there weren't be quite so many doing so. After all, we don't have to look too far to find such conditions in this country.
-jeanine
"So you are against women having a say in what happens to their bodies. You think bfing should be dictated. I can never agree with that. Sorry. It's fine to share facts, but you are suggesting that women should be forced: "It's not ok if women don't bf", it shouldn't be up to the women. Who should make the decision then? You?"
Why do you read into these posts that women should be forced to breastfeed?
It's NOT ok if women don't breastfeed. Everyone pays the price for it. It's not only the babies paying for it with increased health risks (take a look at how unhealthy the US population is as a whole!), but we also pay the price in health care premiums, taxes and our environment.
RPS
I see a lot in your post for you to be proud of. You overcame some hefty challenges. :o)
So why limit your expression of pride in your accomplishments to just feeding formula?
And, is it the ff you *are* proud of? Or how you overcame PPD and fear to successfully care for your baby, and ff is just a part of that care?
ilv2read
>>"True enough, but remember the topic of this thread? I know we've gone off on many different tangents but the question was why might someone feel it necessary to claim to be "proud" of ffing."
Someone would be proud of formula feeding because of how they perceive breastfeeders think? They are proud out of spite?
Isn't pride supposed to be in something that YOU yourself did?<<
You quoted me yourself - it says "claim to be proud". I never said they were actually proud, just claiming to be.
"I guess I don't see it as over the top since it is a proven fact and it has been helpful in the past. If I have to worry about offending or alienating each and every possible person who is reading this or other boards then I might as well never post anything at all ever again. Seems like that's a rather paralyzing way to look at things. Perhaps if more people were concerned about women living in third world conditions then there weren't be quite so many doing so. After all, we don't have to look too far to find such conditions in this country."
Excellent point, especially about similar conditions existing here at home. However, I've said it many times now. I am referencing the *original* question: "Why might a ffer *claim* to be *proud* of ffing? I believe a lot of that has to do with the *overuse* of such examples. I don't doubt the validity of the example; I don't doubt that it has been helpful in proving a point with others in various situations. What I am saying is that in *most* cases, when someone who is not an avid bfer sees that, they are probably going to be somewhat put off by it, and it may cause them to feel they need to *claim* to be proud of ffing. I didn't say they actually were proud, I didn't say we should tie our hands when arguing a point - I wholeheartedly believe in the First Ammendment - which is why I also defend a ffers right to claim to be proud in the first place. They have every right to say what they want, just as bfers do. There are of course consequences to our actions and one of those consequences *may* be alienating others, inadvertantly as it may be.
"Why do you read into these posts that women should be forced to breastfeed?"
For the same reason she read into my posts that I am defending the substance. For the same reason she read into my posts that I think we should outright lie to women.
"It's NOT ok if women don't breastfeed. Everyone pays the price for it. It's not only the babies paying for it with increased health risks (take a look at how unhealthy the US population is as a whole!), but we also pay the price in health care premiums, taxes and our environment."
Look at the first sentance and tell me how I should read it so it doesn't say that women should *have* to bf. Isn't saying it's not ok if they don't bf, if not the same, then very close to saying that they should be forced to bf? I don't think I'm reading into it all that much. We could use your logic to enact prohibition, again:
It's NOT ok if people drink. Everyone pays the price for it. It's not only the individual paying for it with increased health risks (take a look at how unhealthy the US population is as a whole!), but we also pay the price in health care premiums, taxes, and our environment.
You could really substitute nearly *any* vice (legal or not) for not bfing or for drinking. Smoking comes to mind. As does eating junk food/fast food/prepackaged/processed foods. Not to mention not exercising. Part of the beauty and the *problem* with living in a free (or semi-free) society is that people will do what they want - not necessarily what is *best*. But I wonder if you would really want to see that freedom done away with?
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