Control the Narrative, or Educate Wisely

Choose your words with intention

What is the difference between a breastfeeding mother of a 3-day old baby saying "I tried pumping but I got nothing so I had to give the baby formula" VERSUS "I gave the baby some formula so I made sure to pump even though I only got drops"?

The difference is education.

The difference is that someone took the time to explain to the second mother that pumping in the earliest days of lactation is very important if you give formula, and that often it yields very little milk.

The difference is that the second mom knows that it's normal not to get very much milk with a pump very early on, and when she felt that it was important for her baby to have formula (whatever reason led her to that conclusion), she had the right information about how to continue protecting her ability to breastfeed and make milk.

The words that the first mother chose here tell you everything - she saw the results of early pumping and thought she had no other choice but to give formula AND that something was "wrong" with her.

There’s a sense of desperation and loss.

Do you think she has as much faith in breastfeeding or in her body's ability to make milk as the second mother does? It's not likely.

It might not seem like a huge deal.

But it really is.

Having appropriate expectations means that people spend less time stressing and more time doing what needs to be done.

The nuance of this is powerful.

We need to be intentional in how we educate new parents, to choose language that can be heard through the noise.

If this speaks to you, please share it. I’d really appreciate that!