Here are some things you can do to deal with criticism.

Be positive: It is hard for someone to argue with a happy, positive person. If you are excited and enthusiastic about breastfeeding it can be contagious . Try to educate them: Find information on benefits of breastfeeding to mom and baby and share this with them. You don't have to "push this down their throat". Just be enthusiastic about your decision to breastfeed and share with them why you decided to.

Be sympathetic: A lot of times women are defensive because breastfeeding did not work out for them. If you sit and talk with any woman that really wanted to breastfeed, you can hear sadness in her story. Try to be sympathetic and non-judgmental. Don't say things like "you could have or should have". Share your experience, be positive, and let them know you care. Try not to get angry: Breastfeeding conversations can get very heated. Getting angry with someone is not likely to change her feelings. It will just make you and her upset. If you don't feel like you can talk about breastfeeding with this person change subject or avoid talking about it.

Use your doctor as your advocate: Sometimes best thing you can do is tell someone that this is what your doctor recommends. What you think means very little to some people but a doctor's word carries weight.

Don't be sarcastic or insulting: Belittling someone is likely to make someone defensive. It is not a good approach to winning someone over. You may turn an opportunity to educate someone into a personal attack.

Stand your ground: Do not let someone else decide how you are going to parent. If they are uncomfortable then they will have to come to terms with it. You do not have to change way you parent to suit someone else.

If nothing is working then you may just let person know that you do not want to discuss issue with them any more. Hopefully, it doesn't come to this.