Raise your hand if you’ve ever mentioned or posted a link to a study on breastfeeding (with no value judgment added– or intended!) and been accused of attacking other mothers and making them feel guilty…
I encounter this almost daily. I wonder sometimes whether moms are feeling more sadness or grief or even anger (rather than guilt) at the situation they were presented with. We know moms love their kids and do their very best with each situation that comes along. I want to help moms by giving them information so they (or their sisters or their daughters) have a better chance to breastfeed – if not this baby, then the next time around.
Here are some thoughts on guilt from several points of view… enjoy!
From the point of view of a health care professional:
- Breastfeeding and Guilt by Jack Newman, MD
- The Guilt Issue by Nancy E. Wight, MD
- Labbok M. Exploration of guilt among mothers who do not breastfeed: the physician’s role. J Hum Lact. 2008 Feb;24(1):80-4.
From the point of view of a breastfeeding counselor:
- Guilty Secrets by Lesley McBurney BA, ABA Breastfeeding Counsellor
From the point of view of a mom:
- Guilty as Charged by Nicole at Navelgazing
- “Don’t Judge Me” at PhD in Parenting
- 5 Ways to Deal with Mama Guilt by Dionna at Code Name: Mama
Adding this link:
