Why I Stopped Judging Moms Who Don't Breastfeed

Friday, September 7, 2012 Why I Stopped Judging Moms Who Don't Breastfeed I never made a conscious decision to stop breastfeeding... it was a slow mental, well, wean. At first I was intent on breastfeeding; the idea of formula even touching Layla's lips made me nauseated and anxious, as if formula would poison her (an idea that some breastfeeding proponents suggest quite readily). But because of Layla's prematurity -- she was born months early and spent eight weeks in the hospital -- I couldn't breastfeed at first. She was too small and her digestive system wasn't fully formed, nor did she know how to suck, swallow, and breathe all at the same time. I would have to wait until she was almost ready to leave the hospital. So instead of breastfeeding, my only "job" while Layla spent two months in the NICU was to pump. Keep Reading: What I Finally Realized About Breastfeeding 12 Girl Names That Are Trendy And Timeless Nursing Makes Breasts Look Better? What Kids Think Parents Do During The Day WATCH: Girl Kicks Bully Teacher Where It Hurts 20 Thoughts Parents Just Had To Share With Everyone BLOG POSTS Lisa Belkin: Parenting Rules For Those Who Don't Live In The White House The reason my guys needed cellphones -- in case of emergency once they started wandering out in the world on their own -- is moot when the Secret Service is following you around all the time. Holly Robinson: A Happy Stepfamily? That's No Fairy Tale When I married my second husband, we stood in front of the minister with our four young children -- two from each side -- and I became a stepmother as well as a wife. Abbie Rumbach: McNuggets of Wisdom for New Moms Any girl who's ever been overweight knows to NEVER throw out the fat clothes. Its a slippery slope to skinny, and discarding clothes you've outgrown is just tempting the fat gods to slather you with their lard wands. Pete Wilgoren: Dadmissions: Back To School Shopping The girls were jumping out of their shoes, doing the happy dance, literally shouting in excitement as they went from rack to rack, while I was getting sweaty palms, grabbing my stomach in pain and clinging to my wallet.   Sheila Quirke: Donna's Cancer Story: Questions If you see a bald child, smile. Look their parent in the eye. Let them know you understand. Be aware that you are looking at greatness. Know that kid is amazing and brave and so very, heartbreakingly vulnerable. Just like Donna.

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