Go Stuff A Boob In It!

GET IT; I DO. I LOVE BREASTFEEDING AS MUCH AS THE NEXT DETERMINED BREASTFEEDING MOTHER. IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST OPTION FOR A CHILD, IF IT'S AN OPTION. I LOVE THE BONDING (LIKE MY GORGEOUS FRIEND HERE WITH HER BEAUTIFUL BOY...IT MAKES ME WARM AND FUZZY!). I LOVE IT SO MUCH THAT I BREASTFED BOTH OF MY BIRTHED CHILDREN AND AM STILL CURRENTLY BREASTFEEDING MY INFANT SON. 


BUT, FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING WONDERFUL, CAN WE JUST GET OVER OURSELVES?!

IF I HEAR ONE MORE IGNORANT, RUDE, AND ABUSIVE COMMENT, I THINK I JUST MIGHT SPRING A LEAK! 

I WAS RECENTLY COMMENTING ON HOW TEDIOUS MY QUEST FOR FORMULA WAS WHEN A FRIEND OF MINE SUGGESTED I EXPLORE TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT I CAN PURCHASE BREAST MILK THROUGH. I DO BREASTFEED, BUT, MY SUPPLY IS DROPPING NOW THAT I'M PUMPING AT WORK AND MY RESERVES ARE LOW. THAT, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT I TRULY LOVE BREAST MILK FOR BABIES, MADE ME WANT TO EXPLORE THE OPTION. AFTER ALL, THIS FRIEND IS AN EXPERIENCED MOTHER, SHE BREASTFEEDS, DONATES HER BREAST MILK, AND IS EVEN STUDYING TO BECOME A LACTATION CONSULTANT. WHO ELSE TO BE A BETTER SOURCE OF INFORMATION?!? 

AS I BEGIN TO EXPLORE THE OPTIONS SHE SENT ME, I REALIZE THAT I CAN'T ACTUALLY UTILIZE THE SERVICE. IT LITERALLY IS NOT AN OPTION FOR SOMEONE IN MY SITUATION AT ALL. THEY FOCUS ON NICU AND PREEMIE PATIENTS (THANK GOODNESS SINCE THOSE LITTLE BABIES NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET!), YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DETAILED PRESCRIPTION, AND THE MILK IS IN HIGH DEMAND.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED. NOT AS MUCH IN THE FACT THAT I COULDN'T UTILIZE THE SERVICE AS I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT MY FRIEND ACTUALLY SENT ME THOSE LINKS. SHE WAS SO QUICK TO SPOUT OUT HER "ADVICE" AND "RECOMMENDATIONS" AS TO HOW I COULD BE A BETTER MOTHER WHEN SHE HADN'T EVEN TAKEN THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WAS SENDING AND REALIZE THAT IS WAS COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT TO MY SITUATION.

WHEN I DID LET HER KNOW THIS, SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW AND WOULD GET BACK TO ME. HER FOLLOW-UP CONSISTED OF ESSENTIALLY A CLASSIFIEDS PAGE FOR BREAST MILK. REALLY?  

WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF COMPETITION, JUDGEMENT, AND IGNORANCE. IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT MOTHERHOOD HAS TAUGHT ME, IT'S THAT MOTHERS ARE GENERALLY DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN. MY 19 YEAR OLD SELF WAS DOING THE BEST THAT SHE COULD WITH MY FIRST-BORN BUT THINGS WERE DIFFERENT WITH HER THAN THEY ARE WITH MY INFANT SON. 

WHY DO PEOPLE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN THEIR BELIEFS THAT BASIC CONSIDERATION (OR FACT FINDING IN THIS SITUATION) GOES OUT THE WINDOW? I WAS OFFENDED BY THE IGNORANCE WRAPPED IN GOOD INTENTIONS. THIS EXACT MENTALITY IS WHAT HAS CAUSED ME TO LEAVE THREE SEPARATE "MOMMY" GROUPS THAT SWEAR THEY HAVE THE COMMON GOAL OF SUPPORTING EACH OTHER. 

ONE THING I DO KNOW IS THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF SUPPORT THAT I WANT. 

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