Screw It

[Guinhyvar]

I didn't breastfeed exclusively.

I was induced, by choice, three of four deliveries.

I had the epidural every time.

I do not regret nor feel like I have to defend my choices. I will not apologize for the choices I made to anyone... except to the people it most directly involved, and that would be my children, and ONLY if there were a reason to apologize to them for it.

So far, there hasn't been one.

I am not a bad mother, a neglectful mother, a stupid mother, a lame mother, an uneducated mother, and I won't tolerate being called one.

I don't care if people agree with my choices or not; really, really.

My reasons for doing what I did and how I did it are extremely personal and absolutely nobody's business. I do not feel the need to explain those reasons to anyone, except possibly my children, should they one day ask.

I am a firm believer that women should educate themselves before they even get pregnant about their options, and once they ARE pregnant, make educated choices for how they want to labor and deliver and feed their babies. I am not going to tell anyone how to do it, or that they suck for doing it differently than the way I did it.

The way I did it WORKED BEST FOR ME. No one else can tell me differently, because they were not there, were not involved in any of the decision making processes, had no idea how I felt or what I did to prepare myself for my impending deliveries.

I am sick and tired of the judgement, on ALL sides, of the defensive attitudes, of the idea that one way is best for everyone. I am tired of people ASSuming that I somehow missed out on something by choosing to deliver the way I chose to deliver, that I didn't bond with my children because I had the audacity to not breastfeed exclusively, that my experience was somehow less rewarding or less real or just less because I am a woman who induced, epidural-ed, formula fed.

I have to ask you- how do you like me NOW?

[briarraindancer]

Apr. 28, 2010 at 11:13 PM

Oh, I like you, like, bunches, dood. I believe I might just have to come over there and worship you now.

[jsnzmom]

Apr. 28, 2010 at 11:23 PM

I don't just like ya, I love ya!  And sometimes ya just gotta hit the red "X" and walk away from the nasty.  It's everywhere!  Gahhhhh!

[KristiS11384]

Apr. 28, 2010 at 11:27 PM

I love you. I always have!!!!

[yogapantz]

Apr. 28, 2010 at 11:50 PM

I'm so feelin' ya on so many things right now! I swear, if one more perosn tries to imply that I didn't bond with my child because I didn't nurse her, I'm likely to go balls out and say some really mean things. REALLY mean!

[Jillicious]

Apr. 28, 2010 at 11:51 PM

AMEN.

[Lb128f]

Apr. 28, 2010 at 11:53 PM

Agreed! :-)

[KelleyP77]

Apr. 28, 2010 at 11:54 PM

I like ya a lot. Like a lot a lot. =)

[kerijeanbean]

Apr. 29, 2010 at 12:55 AM

I love you too and I am right there with you.  I was induced with all thre of my babies, two by choice, I had an epidural with all three, and I supplemented breast feeding with formula.  I agree with you. It is your choice to do those things.  As long as you aren't harming your children no one has the right to tell you what to do with them.

[MustangShelby]

Apr. 29, 2010 at 12:57 AM

I was going to try to be sarcastic and pretend to not like you for giving your babies formula, but I just can't do it.  I love you too much.

[prfctangel_85]

Apr. 29, 2010 at 1:27 AM

I am in you club. I was not able to breastfeed with either child. I am a pansy when it comes to pain. And there was no way that I 1. was going to go any farther pass 41 weeks then I was and 2. I was not going to have my child delivered on the side of the road with strep b. We have to do what we have to do. I love your post.