A nurse who doesn't breastfeed

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Are you a nurse who doesn't breastfeed or know a nurse who doesn't breastfeed?

Someday when I have a baby, I'm going to bottlefeed. Yeah yeah, I know all the health benefits of breastfeeding and all that. And I teach my patients that. But I also respect their decision if they choose not to breastfeed. I personally don't find it's something I want to do. Feeding formula is NOT POISON and these lactation consultants need to stop acting like it is. I was given formula when I was a baby and I turned out just fine. Nobody even knows the long-term benefits of breast milk. Working as a postpartum nurse, I feel like I'm going to be judged beyond belief for not choosing breastfeeding when I become a patient someday. It's always in the back of my mind.

Thought of this thread when I read this

https://news.brown.edu/articles/2013/06/breastfeeding

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Specializes in hospice.

Argh.....quote from the article:

"A study using brain images from 'quiet' MRI machines adds to the growing body of evidence that breastfeeding improves brain development in infants."

No. Breastfeeding does not "improve" anything. Breastfeeding is the biological norm and therefore any result we see from is also the biological norm, and therefore the expected baseline. What this study really shows is a negative impact on brain development from artificial infant feeding products.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

What is a quiet MRI?

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Specializes in ICU.

I absolutely detest these mommy wars. Why do people feel the need to make themselves feel superior to others? I don't get it at all, I really don't. It's not anyone's business whether you choose to breast feed or bottle feed. I had to bottle feed. I'm an epileptic and my meds could not be passed to my baby. So I bottle fed. The nurses at the hospital where I gave birth were fantastic, no judgement. My son is healthy, very few ear infections, great immune system. My son ended up being allergic to milk so we had to do soy formula for him. He still loves soy milk and he is 8. I remember my SIL giving me crap about not giving my son milk. She was so rude and misinformed about it. It would make me mad. I won't even go into all of the things she told me would happen to my son.

You need to be confident in your decisions as a mom and let others opinions slide off your back. If people know they can get to you, they will. Your decisions are yours and not up for debate.

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I did not breast feed either of my children. It was my choice. I worked in a baby friendly hospital and used to get so mad at some of the nurses who would judge the formula feeding moms and force breastfeeding on them. It was annoying. If you want to breastfeed...great. If you don't....great. Don't tell them about all the benefits etc. They are making an informed decision. Believe me. It's been talked about since they found out they were pregnant by their OB and many others. I used to support the moms in any decision they made. I never made them feel bad. I hated when other nurses would make them feel bad. Everyone is SO breastfeeding crazy recently. Now I'm a certified breastfeeding counselor and the majority of my clients breastfeed, and I help them. But guess what, if I have another I'm not doing it either. So judge all you want. My baby. My choice. I'm supportive of whatever the woman chooses as long as she is making an informed decision.

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Specializes in hospice.

A breastfeeding counselor who never breastfed and chooses not to despite all the evidence?

Seems kinda like a physicist who's bad at math and discounts gravity....

As to informed decision making, how many women actually get true, honest information about what formula is made from, what it lacks, and what their baby loses by not getting breast milk? Are you able to give that information honestly, considering your own stance, or do you promulgate the fiction that the two are equivalent? And if you are calling them equivalent, then you're not an honest counselor, are you?

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Specializes in Maternity.

I also think that you can never give too much information because there are still new mothers that come into the hospital who had not thought of breastfeeding because nobody around them breastfed. In my hospital it happens every day. Often when family members hear the information, They tell me that they wish they had known that when they had their baby and would have at least tried to breastfeed.

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I counsel all of my clients with the correct. Evidenced based information. At that point they are allowed to make an informed decision as it is their baby and their body. I obtain my clients early in pregnancy and have a lot of time to talk to them about breastfeeding before they give birth. A recent study according to statistics, because of our program and programs like ours, has shown a significant increase in breastfeed babies. Actually all of my clients have at least tried breastfeeding. So I think it's obviously working. But I will never judge a woman for deciding to formula feed, as I have seen done many times. I had a client who was abused as a child and did not want to breastfeed because of that. I mean I guess I should've told her about the poisons of formula or forced her to breastfeed and relive the feelings of sexual abuse she suffered as a child? I mean you are already judging me for not wanting to breastfeed my next child (if I am blessed to have one) and you are the kind of nurse I am referring to. As for my own personal opinions on breastfeeding, I keep them to myself and do not push them upon my clients because isn't that nursing 101....leave your own opinions at the door and support your patient in whatever educated decision they make.

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You should never judge a person. You don't know their story or what they've been through in their life that led them to that decision, unless they chose to share it with you. I get to become very close with my clients and their reasons are shared with me, most of the time. Regardless I don't bombard them with questions about why they don't want to. I just make sure they know all about breastfeeding before they make that decision.

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Specializes in Maternity.
I counsel all of my clients with the correct. Evidenced based information. At that point they are allowed to make an informed decision as it is their baby and their body. I obtain my clients early in pregnancy and have a lot of time to talk to them about breastfeeding before they give birth. A recent study according to statistics, because of our program and programs like ours, has shown a significant increase in breastfeed babies. Actually all of my clients have at least tried breastfeeding. So I think it's obviously working. But I will never judge a woman for deciding to formula feed, as I have seen done many times. I had a client who was abused as a child and did not want to breastfeed because of that. I mean I guess I should've told her about the poisons of formula or forced her to breastfeed and relive the feelings of sexual abuse she suffered as a child? I mean you are already judging me for not wanting to breastfeed my next child (if I am blessed to have one) and you are the kind of nurse I am referring to. As for my own personal opinions on breastfeeding, I keep them to myself and do not push them upon my clients because isn't that nursing 101....leave your own opinions at the door and support your patient in whatever educated decision they make.

I never judge mothers for their feeding choices. Ever. There are many reasons for formula feeding such as the one you mentioned. I only questioned your statement that you never inform women of the benefits. Further stating that these women have heard it before. How do you know? Was it factual? I do not find that to be the case where I practice. As much as formula feeding mothers have the right to make that decision. They also have the right to have the education. You sound a little defensive or maybe I'm tired of being accused of passing judgement on formula feeding just because as a nurse and LC I feel you should provide education on breastfeeding. That argument is getting very tired. If you have read my posts about breastfeeding you will find that am against making women feel guilty or passing judgement.

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I wasn't referring to your comment. I am all about educating. That's a major part of my job. I was referring to the post prior to yours. :) sorry for the confusion.

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I work with pregnant women from basically conception until their child is older. I educate about breastfeeding from day one. Until the point they make an informed decision based on all the education material that has been provided for them. So that's what I meant by, as long as they are making an informed decision, I no longer educate and then support. Maybe it came out wrong. But where I used to work there were many nurses who passed judgement and would be mean to patients for going against breastfeeding and it ****** me off to be honest. That was my initial point lol but certain comments after then further ****** me off lol

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