“Mother and Baby”, the leading online British parenting magazine, has been slammed by parents and critics everywhere forthe provocative article titled “I formula fed. So what?” by deputy editor Kathryn Blundell.
In the article, Blundell wrote about how she bottle-fed her baby since birth.
“I wanted my body back (and some wine),” she stated, “They’re part of my sexuality too, and seeing your teeny, tiny, innocent baby latching on where only a lover has been before feels, well, a little creepy.”
The Ministry of Health in Singapore and most other countries recommend complete breastfeeding until the baby is six months old. Still, Blundell has not been not swayed.
“There are all the studies that show [breastfeeding] reduces the risk of breast cancer for you, and stomach upsets and allergies for your baby. But even the convenience and supposed health benefits of breast milk couldn’t induce me to stick my nipple in a bawling baby’s mouth,” she declared.
A spew of criticism and comments ensued, following the article being published on this month’s copy of the magazine. An enraged mum commented that “as a formula-feeding mum who was unable to breastfeed, I am left wondering whether, thanks to this piece, people who see me giving my baby a bottle may assume that I am doing so because I found the idea ‘creepy’.”
Breastfeeding advocates and parents feel that, even if the article was written with a tounge-in-cheek view of the issue, it was in rather bad taste, especially if somebody came across it while feeling vulnerable postnatal and struggling with breastfeeding. Many others felt it might have been a turn-off for mothers who were thinking of breastfeeding.
Despite this, there were some who took rather well to the article, applauding what they called her “refreshing” view. Said Miranda Levy, the editor, “This was her personal experience, and has a place in the debate. We have made readers feel ‘normal’ and less of a ‘failure’ for not managing to breastfeed—a situation which is incredibly common.”
Is breastfeeding “creepy”? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
theAsianparent also has a Singapore Breastfeeding Mums Support Group that you can join for mum-to-mum advice.