Why are American women refusing to breast feed?

Question

Many American women refuse to breastfeed Why is this? There are no *cons for a healthy mum to Breastfeed.

The antibodies in breast milk help babies fight infection.
Colostrum is an ideal first food, higher in protein and minerals and lower in fats and carbohydrates than breast milk.
Breast milk helps safeguard against the development of allergies (and MANY other medical issues).
Breast milk is easily digested.
Breast milk changes to fit the changing needs of a growing baby. (Mother's milk for preemies is even different than mother's milk for a full-term baby.)
Breastfeeding helps develop a closeness between mom and baby.

Women experience an absence of menses.
shorter duration of uterine bleeding, helps the uterus return to its pre pregnancy state faster.
prevents breast cancer.
quicker weight loss.
bonding with the baby.
the positives greatly out weighed the negatives and i love my child enough to realize that.
* for the baby.

Answer 1

Because Americans are too sexually repressed. What else is new?

Answer 2

Well, let me say that I nursed my little girls for more than a year each.

But I can tell you for sure that you're being kind of classist when you say there are no cons about breastfeeding.

If you're able to stay home, that may be true.

But if you have to work, your employer will have a lot of influence about whether or not you continue nursing. Can you take time in the middle of the work day to pump? Is there a place to do it? A place to store the milk? To wash the pump pieces? Does your employer create an ambience that's supportive of nursing?

There are plenty of high-status, high-paying jobs with autonomy that can't provide those things, much less places like coffeeshops or construction sites.

Pumping is hard work. It takes a lot out of you, and you don't necessarily get to see the rewards.

I'm not one bit surprised that most American women don't make it a full year.

Answer 3

I'm an American and I'm a proud breastfeeder of a 2 year old.
There are many proven reasons why woman do breastfeed but there are also many unproven reasons why they do not. The biggest one is because 'society says so'. And if you do choose to breastfeed 'society says so' to stop at the magical age of 12 months when apparently the child is independent of his mother.
Sorry - I don't intend to sound bitter but that is just how it seems to me.
That is American society - I love being American, proud of it but I can't say all of it is good or right.

Answer 4

I nursed all 3 of mine. I think that woman sometimes are afraid of what others and family will say or think. I happened to ignore these people and did what fit my lifestyle and reasons for breastfeeding. I am happy with my decisions. Some woman can't or don't have a lifestyle that would be healthy if the nursed their child. Every situation is different. I believe its a great thing your baby and you can share, but again its not right for everyone.

Answer 5

Well, since I didn't breastfeed either of my two sons, I guess this makes them constantly sick, allergic to everything, they're not close to me, I have really long, heavy periods, my uterus bled nonstop after birth, I have breast cancer, I'm fat, and I didn't bond well with either of them. Oh, and I must have not loved them enough to breast feed them. Geez, it sucks that I couldn't breast feed because I couldn't make enough milk and because I was taking an anti-seizure medicine that would have harmed them. I guess since formula is so rotten, I should have just let them starve to death since it was physically impossible for me to breastfeed?

Before you come on here spouting the "good word" about breastfeeding, maybe you should take into consideration the women who CAN'T breastfeed, and who already feel badly enough about it without having it rubbed in their faces, hmm? Personally, I know all the pros and cons of breast and formula feeding, and I don't need it rubbed in my face.

My younger son is 14 months old now, so I don't feel nearly as terrible about it now as I did when I realized I wasn't able to breastfeed him. If I had read this immediately after realizing it, your question would have made me feel 10 times worse than I already did.

Regardless of why a woman chooses or doesn't choose to breast feed, this is none of your business.

Answer 6

AHH VAIO? It actually prevents breast cancer!
When i think about it, I have a friend who can't breast feed. I don't know why, but she can't!
Maybe women are stressed or depressed, depression seems to be more and more common these days! Maybe they can't produce!
Also if a mother goes right back on birth control it's not good for the baby to drink mother's milk because of the estrogen!
Many other reasons!
But i would like to breast feed one day if i can!

Answer 7

Breastfeeding isn't the *easiest* thing in the world, that's for sure. Plus, there's definitely a vibe out there that breastfeeding is taboo and nasty. Witness the uproar over the breastfeeding photo on the cover of that baby magazine a few months ago. In America, it just seems that breasts=sex.

It's really a shame.

Answer 8

It's probably because it's easier to stick a bottle in the baby's mouth and women who breastfeed probably get real tired of being stared at. Also, there aren't many places that are "friendly" toward breastfeeding or provide areas for it. It can also be said that American women are "too busy" or "don't have enough time" to take the time to properly breastfeed. It's too bad it doesn't happen more because the benefits are tremendous as you stated in your question.

Answer 9

I'm all for breast feeding, but not that long ago, people were told that formula was better for the baby because you knew exactly what was going into their systems. We know now this isn't the truth, but it's hard for people to change their minds about formula. Many well intentioned mothers start with just breast feeding, and those around them want to help and start to feed the baby formula to give mom a break. Sometimes women just find it easier (especially working mothers.) My plan is to pump my breastmilk for when I'm working, but the pumps are expensive and many daycares want to use formula.

Answer 10

Not everyone CAN breastfeed. I have two kids and was never able to. It's not that I didn't want to, but COULDN'T. With my son, he never latched on and pumping, well, I didn't get more than an ounce. With my daughter, my milk never came in.
I am sorry, but not everyone can breastfeed or be successful at it. To say that American women are this certain way is wrong and it is not appreciated.
It killed me that I couldn't breastfeed like I wanted to, but thank God for formula. My two kids are smart, vibrant, healthy, happy and I have a great bond with my kids. My hubby was supportive and felt that bond too, because he got to bottle feed them and share those special times as well.
Good for you if you can breastfeed and are able to supply the milk, but don't stereotype Moms who can't or don't want to. The choice is theirs and theirs alone.

Answer 11

I work in a hospital and theres alot of women(including myself) that doesnt feel confortable in direct breast feeding. Many women opt to pumping their breast milk and feeding it to their baby...women who breastfeed also have the risk of getting pregnant without knowing about it and not getting the proper prenatal care that they need... there is positive and negative for every situation..and it doesnt mean that they are refusing...there are cases of premature babies who have to take a bottle since they dont have a good sucking reflex...I bottle fed my daughter..which was premature and still got breast milk for 9 months of her life and she is perfectally heathly!