“After 24 hours of labor and then a c-section, staying up overnight to breastfeed a newborn felt impossible. The nurses offered formula, and I was grateful. Then I got home to Brooklyn and was inundated with judgment. Didn’t I know I was ruining my supply by doing a 2 am formula feed? Sigh. Apparently my supply was just fine, bc I breastfed my first kid for 16 months. After having my second kid, I had to get a prescription for formula in the hospital! By that time, I had the confidence to stand up for what I needed to take care of myself and my newborn – and I went on to breastfeed him for 15 months. Don’t let anyone tell you one way is right or wrong. Do what works for your family.”
Here’s my (Lindsay Powers Eichmann) #NoShameParenting story. It seems like we’re criticized for not breastfeeding enough, and then for breastfeeding too long. It’s hard to win this whole parenting game! So let’s reframe it: Parenting is not a competition. We’re all doing the best we can every day. My book, You Can’t F*ck Up Your Kids, will explain just that, with actual science to back it up.