Feeding choices carry an enormous emotional weight for new parents, often shaped more by online narratives and cultural pressure than by balanced evidence. In this conversation, we unpack formula guilt, breastfeeding myths, and how distorted risk messaging fuels shame. We talk about how understanding research in context can help parents move away from fear-based thinking and toward informed, values-based decisions that support both parent and baby.

The episode also explores the long-term impact of early feeding shame on maternal confidence. Feeding is often the first major parenting decision, and how a parent navigates it sets the tone for future choices. We focus on strengthening self-trust, rejecting stigma, and recognizing that child outcomes are driven by complex environmental and social factors, not a single feeding method.

What we discussed:

• Why parents feel guilt around formula feeding

• How online activism shapes feeding narratives

• Evaluating whether sources of information are trustworthy

• Misleading statistics and risk exaggeration

• Relative risk vs absolute risk in infant illness

• The psychological harm of formula shaming

• Why stress can worsen milk supply struggles

• Breastfeeding benefits in realistic context

• Why breastfed babies still get sick

• The role of environment and exposure to germs

• Myths about allergies, IQ, and milestone differences

• How child development is multifactorial

• Socioeconomic factors in feeding research

• Sibling comparison studies and feeding outcomes

• Why shame damages maternal bonding

• Strengthening decision confidence early in parenting

• Owning feeding choices without apology

• How openness reduces stigma for other parents

• Modeling self-trust for the parenting journey

• Letting go of guilt about long-term outcomes

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Check out Mallory's new book, "Bottle Service": https://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Service-Encouragement-Guilt-Free-Successful/dp/1668088762

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