Open Letter to Breastfeeding Mommies

I don't refer to Susuibu.com and other breastfeeding mum's groups pages as religiously as I did previously.

I just don't want to bitch (silently) those mothers (not all) who successfully breastfeed their children, exclusively for six months or the whole 2 years (congratulations yo!) and at the same time look down upon other mothers who don't do so. 

"Kasihannya anak-anak itu, ketahuilah itu hak mereka untuk disusukan oleh ibu mereka... Janganlah disuapkan susu lembu kepada mereka." 

"Bukannya susah untuk menyusukan anak, dimana ada kemahuan, disitu ada jalan."

"Mengapala disusukan anak tu dengan susu formula?"

**********

Dear Breastfeeding Mothers, 

Thank you for sharing with us your success stories, for the pictures of your freezers filled with your EBM to the brink. They inspire me to be as determined and as rajin as you guys are. Who don't want to see their baby thrive solely from our susu? It's the best feeling in the whole world tau, especially when the baby terlentuk macam mabuk lepas kenyang minum susu. Macam baru lepas dapat candu gitu. 

BUT. 

Please refrain from looking down on other mothers and just be thankful that God has given you the chance (and abundant supply) to feed your newborns. Almost all the mothers I know want to breastfeed their babies, but are faced with difficulties that prevent them from doing so / doing so full time. Sakit ke, boss tak understanding ke, anak confused bottle / nipple ke, pam tak best ke.  

You can't assume that everyone's journey is as rosy as yours, tau? The above remarks do not help at all. Bunyi dia sombong gila. Nanti Tuhan tarik balik rezeki tiba-tiba kering perigi tu baru tau. Kot ye pun dia malas, apa kena mengena ngan korang? Kot ye pun dia taknak work hard to feed their babies, that doesn't reflect their mothering capabilities at all. 

And there are mothers who, by their own choice, choose not to feed from the very beginning. Tapi suka dia la kan dia nak ke taknak feed, anak dia, bukan anak korang. Just respect them for their decision, whatever they may be. Keep whatever you're feeling to yourself.

You know, The Sweetest Words Can be the Deadliest Poison, Spoken at the Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Told to the Wrong Person.

I was, and still am, a strong advocate of breastfeeding. We should all, try to the best of our abilities to breastfeed our babies until they are at least six months old and kalau boleh, till they turn 2. I myself only managed to feed my first son until he turned 7 month old, during which my well dried up. *sob* This time around I'm determined to make it till my second son is 2, insyaAllah, may Allah make it easier for me. 

Keep on posting your achievements and be our source of inspiration. Motivate us! 

Thanks!