Nutrition

Mom Says She Regrets Breastfeeding

There continues to be a lot of online controversy over whether or not moms should breastfeed. While breastfeeding has clear health benefits for developing newborns, it’s not always possible or feasible for every woman. And mom Maddi Wright is taking a bold stance on the issue.

“I wish I never breastfed my baby,” Wright wrote in a post last week on Instagram that’s now going viral. “A strong statement and many would disagree but here’s why… 3 weeks post stopping breastfeeding with my 4 month old I am a completely different person. I’m a better mum and better wife.”
In her post, she goes on to detail all the reasons why switching to formula has improved her life, including having more energy, more time to spend with her husband and older son, more “me” time for going to the gym and even being able to “enjoy my clothes again as I’m not leaking everywhere or having to wear uncomfortable maternity bras.”According to Lauren Streicher, M.D., clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, there are several factors to weigh when it comes to feeding your baby. “It is not controversial that breastfeeding is good for both mom and baby. For baby, there’s a significantly lower risk of hospitalization, infections, certain cancers, and improved gastrointestinal functions,” she says. “Moms also benefit. Aside from personal experience and bonding, moms who breastfeed experience a decrease in rates of breast and ovarian cancer and possibly diabetes and heart disease.”

That said, weighing your health and happiness as mom, just as Wright did, is also really important. “I strongly encourage all women to breastfeed, but I also acknowledge that for some women it’s just not going to work out and they’re not going to breastfeed for the full recommended six-month minimum,” Streicher says. “We don’t need to put them in jail for that. Is there a benefit to breast feeding for just three months or four months like she did? You bet. While six months is the recommended time, you’ve gotta do what’s right for you. Kudos to her for breastfeeding for four months.”

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Wright acknowledged she’d get a lot of flack for her stance but said, “I think it’s important for mums to know that they have choices.”

Streicher agrees. “My job as a physician is to say these are the benefits for both the mother and the baby and this is my recommendation, but it’s ultimately your decision,” she says. “People have to make the choice they think is best for themselves and for their baby.”

Thankfully, many of Wright’s followers agreed, with some commenters thanking her for posting about this issue, and others telling her she’s making the right choice for her.

What do you think about Wright’s stance?

Source: Mom Says She Regrets Breastfeeding

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