
I’ll never forget when a friend of mine welcomed her beautiful new baby into the world, only to be reduced to tears by a midwife just hours later for not breastfeeding her child. Had the midwife taken a moment to speak with her before stepping onto her soapbox, she would have realised my friend had lost part of her breast in an accident when she was younger and therefore her body did not produce milk. Breastfeeding for her was not a choice, it wasn’t even an option.
And while yes, breastfeeding is the ideal option where possible, a fed child is the most important thing.
As any mum will tell you, the breastfeeding journey is one that is fought with difficulty, doubt, pain and lots of emotion. Most of us go into it with the best of intentions and high hopes, but the reality is, it is not always possible to breastfeed. Whether it is due to a low milk supply, a baby who can’t latch or the mother has a physical/medical condition preventing her from feeding or, quite simply, the mother makes the decision to stop (because that’s her choice), we’re so lucky that we live in an age where there are options available to make sure our bubs can still thrive.
So while you might feel strongly about breastfeeding – or it came so easily to you and you feel like you’re helping with your advice – remember that most mums who have moved to formula have done so because they didn’t have an easy time and they’re often grappling with their own sense of failure without you needing to make them feel even worse.
11 things you should NEVER say to a formula-feeding mum:
- Breast is best
- Breastfeeding came so naturally to me
- You won’t bond with your baby if you don’t breastfeed
- Formula feeding is the easy option
- At least your boobs wont be ruined like mine are
- Your boobs are so big I’m surprised/You boobs are so small I’m not surprised
- Have you tried doing it this way?
- Do you know what’s in that formula you’re feeding your baby?
- Formula will make your baby fat
- How will you lose the baby weight if you don’t breastfeed
- Couldn’t go without the booze hey?
And here’s a few things you SHOULD say:
- Well done Mama, you are doing an awesome job!
- Is there anything you need/want me to help with?
- You look amazing
Recommended

Parenthood
What is a Daily Rhythm and how will it help me?
When you enter into parenthood there are a lot of unknowns and most of the questions you have will only arise once you are deep in that newborn bubble. We could talk about how each baby is different – but that’s nothing new! We already know that they will come out with their own little…

Baby
Nappy bag essentials for #winning at outings
Parenthood is certainly a busy time. With its never ending cycle of feeding, sleep and play, getting out the door might feel like an achievement in itself. In those early sleep deprived days, it’s possible that there will be times where good old ‘baby brain‘ kicks in and you leave something crucial behind. Now pray…

Baby
Tips For Bottle-Feeding Your Toddler
There is often a lot of information out there to guide you through your baby’s first year of feeding but what happens once you enter the next phase of toddlerhood? What milk can you give your toddler? If you are already bottle-feeding your little one, feeds can now be made up from cow’s milk, a…

Parenthood
The Milk Diaries: 8 Things All Breastfeeding Mamas Will Relate To
Ah breastfeeding! That wonderful, life giving, nurturing, bonding experience that can be the biggest mind f*ck you are likely ever to experience in your life. While there is so much focus on pregnancy and giving birth, breastfeeding can often be the thing that absolutely throws you for six as a new mum. Sure, it’s the…