In Babies and More we like to share stories that invite us to be more empathetic and understanding with other parents, and those publications that seek to put an end to those judgments that we sometimes make without realizing it, inspire us to stop judging or draw conclusions just by seeing a small fragment of the lives of other mothers.
A cancer surviving mother posted a sign in her fourth hospital stating that it was a “no breastfeeding zone” to avoid receiving comments related to her baby’s feeding .
Meghan Koziel recently became the mother of a little baby named Kendra, whom she looked forward to after surviving breast cancer. Due to the cancer she had, she had to undergo a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and later, reconstructive breast surgery .
For this reason, Meghan would not be able to breastfeed her baby , and she knew that she would probably receive questions or comments from people who did not know her story fighting breast cancer, asking her perhaps why she had chosen to feed her formula and not breast milk.
Not wanting to relive all that and focus solely on celebrating the birth of her daughter, she decided that she would do something to prevent those comments from dulling the joy of her baby’s arrival , causing awkward moments and causing her to have to explain.
Because she had previously worked in hospitals and knew that not all the staff who entered the room read each patient’s medical history in detail, and would try to help her begin breastfeeding, she chose to hang a sign stating that it was “zone not to breastfeed . “
Ver esta publicación en InstagramAttention please, attention please. We do indeed have a mommy-to-be who had breast cancer and a mastectomy which means, without boobs in the houseeeee! Got the banner raised just in case people are confused at why we are NOT going to be breastfeeding our little bundle of joy. Yes I have foobs, no I do not have boobs (or nipples) therefore… my body is incapable of breastfeeding:) -sign was made by me!!!!!) 💕 thank u @japalelis for the inspiration! #breastcancer #pregnancy #thebump #bump #babybump #pregnant #survivor #thriver #breastcancer #breastcancerawareness #pregnantafterchemo #pregnancydiary #pregnantbelly #photography #38weekspregnant #inducedlabor #laboranddelivery #formulafeeding #breastfeeding #breastfeedingmama #banner #breastfeedingbanner #nobreastfeeding
Attention please, attention please. We have an expectant mom who had breast cancer and a mastectomy, which means she has no breasts. I put up the poster in case people are confused about why I am NOT going to breastfeed my baby. Yes, I have fake breasts, but no real breasts (or nipples), so … my body is unable to breastfeed.
Although Meghan was always very open and shared her fight with cancer on social media from the beginning, she did not want to have to answer questions about feeding her baby and have to relive those difficult moments instead of just celebrating Kendra’s birth.
The pink poster with images that allude to breast cancer, was placed behind her hospital bed so that it could be easily seen , and on it you can read the following message:
No breastfeeding zone.
Although breastfeeding is something very special, be aware before you ask, our baby will be fed formula and it will not affect his future.
This mom is a survivor.
Meghan tells Buzzfeed that the idea came about when a follower told her that she had also had a double mastectomy and when she had her baby, the hospital staff, not knowing it, made her feel bad about not breastfeeding him.
Meghan’s publication received thousands of positive comments and the poster was taken positively by the hospital staff, but in addition to sharing her admirable story as a survivor, it reminds us of the importance of not judging without knowing what is behind it , because we do not always know the situations that each person has gone through.
For us, promoting breastfeeding will always be something that we will seek to do, but we also know that each mother is free to choose whether to feed her baby with formula or breast milk and that the rest of us must respect her decision and the reasons behind it, avoiding falling in the absurd war of mothers.
Via | Dearly
