Offer support, reassurance and recognize that one approach does not fit all, advises Susan.

Transcript

I think in hospitals when you see all those breast is best posters, it really kind of brainwashes you into thinking that there’s no other way and when you’re pregnant you have this feeling of, you know, you’re going to have this perfect world and everything is going to be perfect and it’s going to be a seamless transition into motherhood and a lot of times it’s not. Some people maybe it is. And when things don’t work out exactly as you had pictured it, healthcare professionals need to let women know that that’s okay and we’re going to support you regardless of what you choose and, you know, one isn’t better than the other. You’re nourishing your baby and that’s what matters and providing that support.

There’s a lot of support, lactation consultants and everything like that. There’s so much support for breastfeeding, not so much for people who are formula feeding. And we went through a lot of trouble with our daughter and finding the right formula that agreed with her tummy and it was a hell of a time trying to do it but if we’d had a bit more support from some healthcare professionals in trying to decipher what was best for her and what her underlying causes were, I think that we would have had an easier time. So if we’d had a bit more support in that area I think that would have really helped for sure.

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