I fully support breastfeeding. It is what God (or the Higher Power, or Mother Nature or whatever you believe in) designed to nurture and feed and comfort our children.

I had some interesting experiences with breastfeeding. I breastfed my oldest for13 months. He had "failure to thrive" and was below the 10% on the charts. The doc was concerned until I showed her my baby book and my husband's baby book. We were BOTH very small babies. My oldest liked breastfeeding. He did not like cups. We later learned that he has a form of autism and has Sensory Integration Disorder. So change was really hard. And so was MILK. He could tolerate skim (I was having health problems and had to take meds, so I couldn't continue breastfeeding) but the 2% milk made him quite ill. He ended up on formula until he was 3. We got TONS of free formula for him - WIC, doctor, formula companies.

I ALWAYS held him while I fed him, so did my husband. He was a cranky, crabby, demanding child. but it was all we knew, so he seemed fine to us. I learned to do what felt right, not what some "expert" who saw us for 10 minutes said to do.

When my daughter (middle child) was born it was very strange to me. They did give her sugar water in the nursery (I STILL don't understand this!) and she wanted to nurse constantly. She also had colic. For several weeks/months it seemed like nothing would help her. I put her on soy formula at about 6 months because she was not willing to take breastmilk from a bottle while I was at work. We skipped cowmilk b/c her bro's problems. At 3 months we had introduced a bottle as a supplement. She would nurse for an hour, then an hour later take a full 8 oz bottle and then 2 oz more. Then she would want to nurse again. She went back and forth quite well.

I felt guilty because I was working, because I wasn't nursing, and because her needs were hard on my older son. It was a mess and so was I. But she seemed to thrive. And she ate everything when foods were introduced. My daughter slept with us for years. Later b/c her older bro's issues, but mostly b/c she is a cuddlebunny.

My youngest will be 8 soon. He nursed for 7 months. ALL of the 7 months. He did have colic but we found an herbalist who suggested catnip tea. I would give him a bottle in the morning with 2 ounces of catnip tea mixed with formula powder (tea subbed for part of the water). We did the same thing at night. It was a miracle for us. I felt bad b/c I really NEEDED to take meds to prevent migraines and so had to stop breastfeeding. He never really did like a cup. He still uses straws!!

As a mixed breast/bottle mom, I think support for moms is wonderful. Employers really NEED to help moms, but they don't. I pumped in a bathroom quite a lot as my office had a window and my employers would not let me cover it or pump there.

We need to change the hospitals because I cannot think of any reason to give a child sugar water. Even at 16, 12, and almost 8 I think sugar water (soda) is not a good thing.

I do think many breastfeeding moms can make bottlefeeding or mixed feeding moms feel bad or guilty. Mostly not on purpose, but our instinct is to breastfeed, so formula often comes with guilt.

I am not sure how to change the situation, but as long as a child is thriving, the mom should try to take it easy on herself. Beating up yourself with guilt is never helpful.

Susie