Category: Stories from Mothers

Post Natal Depression (PND/PPD) & Fed is Best

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As I begin, let me state plainly – I am an advocate for Perinatal Mental Health, I am not here to be an advocate for Breast Feeding or Formula Feeding. I am “pro” whatever is best for you and your family – only you, and yours, will know the right answer to that.

I have no interest in adding to the debate on “Breast is Best’, as I’m not sure it ever does anything other than draw in those who agree or disagree, firmly, with one side or the other.

My disclaimer is, I formula fed Reuben. For me, it was a lifeline. With that said, I stand for your rights, your hopes, your dream, and for whatever you deem best and most suitable for your circumstances. Continue reading →

The Rest of My Breastfeeding Story

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Written by Fed is Best Foundation Co-Founder Christie del Castillo-Hegyi, M.D. 

Not many people know the rest of my breastfeeding story, the part that happened after my son’s hospitalization. People assume that because I spend most of my time advocating for safe infant feeding practices by educating moms on how to breastfeed safely, that I am against breastfeeding or want mothers to feel like exclusive breastfeeding is unsafe. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Clearly if a mother has enough breast milk, exclusive breastfeeding is a wonderful way to feed her child, if that’s how she chooses to feed them. But I had to learn the hard way that being a good mother is not defined by exclusive breastfeeding.

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My Pumping Journey: Third Time’s a Charm

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Written by  Morgan Patris

Morgan and her daughter (Credit: Brandon Burton Photography)

My pumping journey started a little over 7 years ago in 2009, when I had my first son. I didn’t
even last a full six weeks. It was hard, he had colic and cried all the time, he was either gassy or constipated, and it was all around a complete disaster.

Being a new mom is difficult to start with and to add all of that, little support just sets one up for failure. Two years later when I had my second son, I told myself I would give it another shot.

Same results. Except this time I had a crazy two year old running around and a content little baby who never cried. Once again, I never made it past six weeks. Continue reading →

“Breastfeeding Mothers are Shamed in Public, while Bottle feeding Mothers are too – Clearly We Cannot Win!”

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Written by Laura Lee Palmer

The breastfeeding debate. It’s something I feel very strongly about, and for obvious reasons it has been preying on my mind an awful lot recently. So I really feel the need to say my piece.

During my pregnancy I started following a lot of the ‘mum’ pages on Facebook. I was mortified by the amount of stories I would see on a daily basis about mums who had been abused for breastfeeding in public places. Although it disgusted me, it also made me feel nervous in case a similar thing happened to me – I consider myself to be a fairly strong person but I’m not sure I could have handled the ‘breastfeed bashers’ in my post-birth hormonal state. So I bought a hooter hider (fabulous name!) to avoid such an event, and even googled breast-feeding friendly places for my days out in town. Continue reading →