Dear Wendyl,
My best friend and I both got pregnant around the same time and we have had the most wonderful time together sharing in our pregnancies and births. But since having our babies I’ve been breastfeeding and she put her baby straight on the bottle. She never even tried to feed her naturally. At the time I said she should at least try but she says she doesn’t want to, which is fine by me.
But now every time we’re feeding our babies together she looks at me and says negative things such as, “That looks so disgusting and messy.” I’m starting to get angry about it and really feel I need to speak up, but what would you recommend I say?
*
Jenny, by email*
**
Dear Jenny,
**Surely the thing about being mothers is that we support each other in whatever decisions we make? This isn’t fair on you. There’s a lot of pressure out there to breastfeed and your friend has probably had some negative reactions from people, so could be feeling insecure. Next time try saying some positive things to her about bottle-feeding, how no-one should judge people for what they do, and find some examples of bottle-fed babies who are healthy. With positive reinforcement for what she’s doing, she will stop feeling the need to say those things.
Send your questions towendyl.nissen@nzww.co.nz or write to Agony Aunt, NZWW, PO Box 90119, Victoria St West, Auckland 1142.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
