Why the heck is this the norm?

Question

Perhaps I am in the minority of moms that just do not consider bottle feeding my children. My first intention has always been to breastfeed. With my first child I gave up too soon, just 3 months then he was formula fed. My second I sucked it up and she was breastfed exclusively for 2 years! This next one I'm planning to breastfeed too. 
Anyways, yesterday I went to Motherhood to get me a bra I can grow into. They asked me if I wanted to sign up for some magazine to get coupons and stuff, and hey, I'm always up for a good coupon. Today I open the gift bag they gave me and this is the first thing I pull out. A bottle? Why not some breast pad samples? Lanolin sample? Idk, something that says, "you CAN breastfeed your child!". But no, everywhere you look, new mothers get swarmed with formula offers, bottles, etc...  Perhaps that's why when a mother dares to breastfeed her child in public people act like they are looking at the most strange and disgusting thing.  I'm sorry, perhaps it's my hormones, but I'm really bothered by this. 
At my church they always plan a baby shower for expectant mothers, and honestly I plan on announcing that if they want to give me something to not give bottles. I just don't plan on using them and if by any reason I am unable to breastfeed it's not like I can't run to Walmart and get one of those things. 
Sorry, rant over.

Answer

To be fair a bottle doesn't have to mean formula fed, the bottle could be for a breastfeeding mother to pump in.

Answer

A bottle does not mean formula feed. Pump into a bottle and freeze it for your hubby when you're not around to feed baby. Or in the middle of the night when you're too exhausted to get up, he can feed baby with what you pumped into a bottle.
Let's not forget you're not the only person subscribed to this coupon thing, and not all women can breastfeed.

Answer

I exclusively breastfed both of my kids (and will #3 too) for 2 years each. Neither of them ever tasted formula and when a doctor tried to tell me I needed to switch to formula I kindly said ok! And went home and nurses. With all that being said I am a working mom and I used bottled all the time (filled with breastmilk). I don't see the big deal with receiving a bottle?

Answer

I plan on exclusively feeding my baby breast milk. My boyfriend wants to be involved in the feedings as well and for that a bottle would come in handy...filled with breast milk. Bottles don't necessarily mean formula.

Answer

There are so many reasons a mother may have to use formula. I plan on breastfeeding, but I know there is a chance I won't be able to (my grandmother, and sister both had problems breastfeeding) you don't know what someone else is going through. If you expect to not be judged for breastfeeding, then don't judge a mother for not. The important thing is that your child IS fed. Different things work for different moms. I plan on saving all of my formula coupons and samples just in case I need them. And as for a bottle, any mom can use that.

Answer

I plan on breastfeeding but will also be working for full time. I am using those exact same bottles so my mom/husband can put my pumped breast milk in them to feed my baby. I was really happy to have gotten a free bottle from Motherhood. My bag also had a coupon for nursing pads.

Answer

I dont really think the bottles and formula samples have anything to do with breast feeding. Its just that there is no money in breast feeding so of course companies are going to push for moms to spend their money on these things. Samples come from companies trying to get you to buy their product. Just my opinion though :)

Answer

I don't know where you are from but in New Jersey it's about the exact opposite .. breast feeding isn't an option for me because of medicine I have to take .. and everyone I know looks down on me and criticizes me for not being upset that I can't or not going off my medicine so I can .. you have to look at the situation on the other foot too .. and alot of it is where you are from too ... if bottle feeding is the norm in your area they are going to reach out to the higher majority

Answer

I am with you. I got the same gift from that store as well and couldn't agree more some samples for breastfeeding moms would be nice. 
I also only breastfed my first for 3 months (he got his first tooth and thought it was funny to bite). This one I intend to go longer and stick with it. Just because it is so much better for my baby. 
I think I am more appalled at the moms who don't even consider trying to breastfeed their babies. My husbands cousin is having her first and isn't even considering breastfeeding cuz she just thinks it's "too weird". Really?! And her mom agreed with her and said she didn't do it for her kids either because it didn't seem right. Yes it's strange at first but I love that I am giving my baby all of my immunities and not to mention burning off plenty of extra calories to boot while doing it.

Answer

Im actually excited about the free bottles! I breastfed my first for two years and I was a SAHM so there was no need for me to pump. This time around I'll be going back to work when this one is 4.5 months old so we need all the bottles we can get! I don't want to buy a bunch in a specific brand and have her refuse those so I'm collecting all the different free samples and seeing which one she takes to the best before I stock up later.

Why the heck is this the norm?

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