This breastfeeding image has left mums feeling like total failures and wishing people would be more understanding.

The image was shared on the Australian Breastfeeding Project Facebook page with the caption,

“The power of this image almost made my knees buckle.

During my feeding journey the pressure I felt by family and friends to feed my children artificial milk due to the normalisation of artificial milk in today’s society was crippling.

Every time I struggled artificial milk was suggested instead of support to help me meet my goals. Society’s conditioning is failing mothers and babies all over the world! I hope one day I will see this change before my children have to go through the same thing.

How many of us felt like the woman in this image?”

Mums have soon jumped up and down with their responses, some totally loving and agreeing with the message, while others are angered and very hurt by the what the picture represents.

The post has attracted over 1600 shares, 300+ comments and 2600+ reactions.

One comment states, 

– “God I hate this. There is so much pressure for mother’s to breast feed!

I couldn’t keep up my milk production, then after weeks of trying I finally could I had to go back onto immuno suppressant steroids I had to stop because that’s something they couldn’t tell me would or would not effect my baby.

This shit makes me so mad because we try and sometimes it just isn’t what is best. I’m so tired if people and their opinions being shoved down my throat. It’s hard being a parent but twats undermining decisions like this when there is no other safe alternative really get me going.”

– Another wrote, “This photo makes me angry. Not for the fact of people pushing formula but for the fact that I LOVED breastfeeding my first child.

I was so excited to start nursing my second, everything worked against me when it came time. A week in the nicu, ppd, struggle with letdown, not enough milk… I am still heartbroken I can’t nurse her, not a day goes by that I don’t wish I could comfort my child by breastfeeding, not a day goes by that I wish I could bond between nursing.

I am thankful for formula and how it’s contributing to my daughters growth. I tried, I struggled and I went to formula to give me some relief, so my husband could help me emotionally and physically.”

“Fed is best, breastfeeding or not. Don’t shame mothers who are unable to and turned to the bottle, don’t ever make them feel bad.”

– Another shared, “What is needed is to empower all women to feel confident in the choices they make for their children, in whatever aspect of their lives it is. If you want to choose ‘A’, then be confident in your choice, same if you want to choose ‘B’.”

– As one mum wrote, “Your a good mum either way in my eyes. No judgment here!”

– Allison wrote, “This art hurts my soul…. I was totally as committed as one could possibly be to breastfeeding my daughter.

3 months after her birth me only eating unseasoned grilled chicken and tasteless plain oatmeal, going to countless Dr appts to figure out why my child screamed 24/7, never slept, spit up constantly, and was absolutely MISERABLE, we found out she was allergic to my breast milk. Something that I had NO control over. The ONLY option I had was to feed her a hypoallergenic formula.

DO NOT shame mothers for feeding their child. A FED child is the best. The lack of compassion I have felt over not being able to breast feed her for at least a year as planned is heartbreaking.

As a mom the most important thing I can get is support from other mothers. This picture and some of the comments break my heart and makes me feel inadequate as a mother. My daughter is PERFECT in every way and has progressed so much faster than others her same age and older. I don’t for a second regret feeding my child formula.”

– Another said, “I agree and I disagree. I wanted to breastfeed my son so badly, but he turned out to be very lactose intolerant so I was forced to formula feed and I was so put down and judged by those around me for not breastfeeding, even though it was not my choice. Basically I think this image varies depending on what type of community one lives in.”

- Tina said, “This is just shit the minute I seen this all I felt was failure I couldn’t breastfeed and all this did was make me feel terrible to the point I am in tears yes breast is best but please spare a thought for those who couldn’t no matter how hard they tried.

I still remember feeding my daughter with a bottle in tears because I couldn’t breastfeed I still get those feelings when ever I see images like this or how you should always breastfeed.

Feeding your baby should be the ultimate not how they are been feed just that they are been feed either by breast or formula.”

International Board Certified Lactation consultant, (Milk Meg) Meg Nagle also shared the image saying, “This picture really affected me when I saw it. People talk so much now about the pressure to breastfeed. However the reality for millions of us is actually the opposite.”

“You’re breastfeeding him AGAIN? You just fed him! He needs some formula.”
“Why don’t you just pump and give him a bottle?”
“Don’t you want a break? Let me give him a bottle.”
“Wait, you’re STILL breastfeeding him? Why don’t you just give him a bottle?”
“Come on, let’s go out! Just leave her with someone and they can feed her with a bottle.”
“He really needs formula. You’re not making enough.”

…and on…and on…and on. The pressure to bottle feed can be overwhelming. And it often leaves us questioning our instincts and confused. But you know what? Many of us will find here is absolutely no reason our baby HAS to have a bottle. Breastfeeding can be just that. Breastfeeding. #keeponboobin’

And the original caption with this photo from the artist’s Instagram page (@typhainelegallo)…
“Conceptual Illustration based on an article from The New York Times: “Working to Close the Breast-Feeding Gap (color inks and watercolor pencils) Despite decades of the “breast is best” message, African-American women often are not encouraged to nurse as much as white women. The newborns of African-American women are nine times more likely than the babies of white mothers to be given formula in hospitals.One of the reasons is because the hospitals serving lower-income populations often rely on formula companies for financial support and lactation consultants are seen as supplemental, not essential.”

{Artist Typhaine Le Gallo can be found here: http://typhainelegallo.com/}

Do you think this image is shaming anyone OR is it a total overreaction?

Share your comments below

Via Facebook

Original image via Instagram

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.