b'When loved onesWORDS // LAUREN THREADGATE are unsupportiveW hen you love someone, you care about theirto it. Your loved ones dont need to understand exactly what feelings and opinions. Its natural to seek theyoure trying to do, they just need to know its important to you.approval of those we love. Focus on building your confidence. If you truly feel good You give them a bit of power over yourself. They can lift youabout what youre doing, it wont be easy for others to make up with love and support and they can put you down withyou doubt yourself.criticism and discouragement. Its easy to say not to listen orFind your support network. You can even start doing this to care about the opinions of others, but when its someonebefore you start breastfeeding. If you have a team of people you love, thats not always possible. encouraging you, it can take a lot of the sting out of one The support from those closest to us should be empowering.Negative Nellie.When we have people behind us ready and willing to push usKnow signs to look for to show that you are producing towards success, it can make us feel like we can accomplishenough breastmilk. Knowing this fact alone protects me anything! When people are unsupportive, they can have theagainst negative comments suggesting I dont make enough opposite effect. The slight disapproval of someone close tomilk. Being aware of the facts helps me see those comments us can have the potential to hurt us much more than overtfor what they areincorrect.rudeness and intolerance from a stranger. Celebrate the wins. Did your baby have a huge weight gain They probably dont mean to be unsupportive but theythis week? Did she kick her legs and smile all morning? Do question us and what we do in a way that makes us questionpeople keep commenting how alert and intelligent she is? ourselves. Comments like, Why dont you offer a bottle? She seems very unsettled. A bottle will fill her tummy and help her sleep better come from a place of concern but may alsoYour loved ones dont need make us feel inadequate. Regardless of any good intentions, these kinds of comments are often insidious and gently wearto understand exactly us down over time. what youre trying to do, WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT? they just need to know its I try my best to be a peaceful lactivist so I would never advocate aggression or nastiness, especially towardsimportant to you.someone who is important to you. I dont even really recommend attempting to educate anyone who isnt open 24| Essence | Australian Breastfeeding AssociationDecember 2019'