What causes a mother to CHOOSE not to breastfeed?

Question

I'm just curious. Not talking about moms who are physically incapable of it. But wondering why, in todays well-educated society, some women choose not to for reasons that seem silly to me. My sister in law gave it up after a week just so she could sleep in on weekends. What other reasons would make a woman decide against breastfeeding?

Answer 1

I always ask women why they choose not to breastfeed,because it intrigues me.I don't judge anyone because I think it's a PRESONAL CHOICE. I would of course breastfeed if I have a child,but hey,it's my body and my time.
I have been given different answers,like"I smoke", "I don't have time/energy" "It creeps me out", "I don't produce enough milk to breastfeed the baby".

Answer 2

Hello! My name is Autumn, I am almost 20 weeks pregnant and I know exactly what you're going through. I could not decide for many reasons.. "What if I later wish I had breast fed?" has been a lingering questions in my mind. My reasons for not wanting to breast feed are selfish. I am afraid it will ruin my boobs! Many people have looked down on me for voicing this opinion, but it is a fact, many women breat feed and their breasts remain perky and full, but what if that is just not so for me? A "boob-job" is not always an available [if desired] answer, and saggy, unattractive breasts are a HUGE issue for me. My appearance is important to me, and I feel my child won't be any less or any greater in life if I breast feed or if I don't breast feed. However I have heard weight loss is a pro of breast feeding.. Could this be myth? It could! There is no influence a person can make on you to make a desicion concerning your body and your child's life. I suggest making a PRO vs. CON list and make the personal adult decision on your own, it is what you will end up doing any way, you might as well get a head start now! Here was my list: *note this is my PERSONAL list reflecting how I feel about breastfeeding, and if you make a list yours should reflect souly upon your opinions! PRO: Inexpensive / Cheaper / More affordable Possible weight loss [??] CON: Breast/Nipple Damage Tenderness Public Feeding Public Leaking Weaning the baby when the time comes There were a few others I can think of at this time [for both PRO and CON] but overall I decided breast feeding is NOT for me and I only considered it because such a vast majority of people insisted it was the thing to do and if I didn't I would be being a bad mother [not exact words, but how I interperred it]. Make sure your decision is your own and you are not swayed by OTHERS. If they want to raise a child they can go have one/adopt! This is your body and your baby, do what you think is best for the both of you!

Answer 3

My sisters are incredibly "creeped out" by it. I breastfed both my boys until they were 15mos (they both self-weaned then, just coincidence). My sisters would even say something when I fed my sons. They thought it would tie them down, that it was work, and one of my sisters (not the bright one) actually thinks that formula is better. Sadly, they are nurses. Imagine how a woman would be instructed if they were in the delivery room! For those of you who think that brestfeeding hurts or is work, its not. It only hurts if you are doing it wrong. Its a lot easier than having to make a bottle in the middle of the night or carry, pack, wash, and prepare bottles. As a well-educated woman and a biologist, I know that breastmilk is best. Truth be told though, I would have breastfed anyway, I'm too lazy to bottle-feed, I would never want to bother.

Answer 4

I chose to swtich to formula because in the hospital my baby was jaundiced and the nurses told me he needed extra fluids until my milk came in, to supplement with formula. I did that for three days in the hospital. When I got home, it still took 4 days for my milk to come in. So after a week of breastfeeding and formula supplementation, when my milk finally came in, my son was not having it. I tried for 2 weeks, and it was the hardest thing I ever did. He would take it, spit it out, take it, spit it out. He would cry, then I would cry. We tried 2 lactation consultants, and he would do alright for a day or too, and then back to spitting it out. I finally just gave up when he was 3 weeks, but I wish that i hadn't. I think if I had known before that it really is a difficult process, I could have been more prepared. I came into it thinking it should be easy, and therefore felt like I was dumb for not being able to get the hang of it. Just my two cents.

Answer 5

I have no problem with breastfeeding at all! I wanted to badly and tried very hard but didn't succeed. I ended up having a unexpected c-section and geting knocked out for it so my son couldn't have me right away, he couldn't have me until 12 hours later because I wasn't alert until then. Sure I woke up out of surgery but couldn't open my eyes and my whole body was numb not to mentioned feeling heavily drugged! Anyway I think him having the bottle right away had some reason to do with him not being able to latch on to me. I did try to just pump because I couldn't get him to latch on but didn't have a very good one. And when I look back I wished I would of rented a hospital grade pump! Hindsight is 20/20 when your a first time mom, I realized that as time went by. So I couldn't breastfeed because it wasn't successful. I do agree and don't understand why a women would choose not to for small reason's or just because they don't want to. It made me feel horrible too but I got over it and my son is still happy and healthy.

I'm hoping to be successful next time because I do feel like I missed out on something......

Answer 6

I bottle fed my first child. So why didn't I?

One reason is a lack of education on the issue. Society teaches us it's not popular. It hurts, it's tiresome, fear ...

I breastfeed my second child (8 years later):

Best decision I ever made. Did my first child lack that bond that a mother/child get? Nope, not in the least. We are best of friends. My son and I also share that precious bond.

The best piece of advice I recieved about breastfeeding in the beginning was if it hurts, it's not right. Meaning if it hurts the baby isn't latched on correctly. Carefully use your finger to release the suction, and reattach the baby.

I'm thankful for those words, they saved me a ton of pain. There is that zone that is right ... if you find it each time it'll save the pain.

Answer 7

My sister just gave birth on Jan. 31st and she is breastfeeding, my coworkers daughter gave birth the same day and she is breastfeeding. My entire family breastfed their babies, I was breastfed, my boyfriend was breastfed, his brothers were breastfed. I am definetely going to breastfeed my children when the day comes...I just cant imagine why anyone would not want to breastfeed their children, it's a mother/child bonding experience that is truly unexplainable! I can't wait, plus breast milk is good for baby so I am all for it.

Whoa...to butterflyangel...she never said she was better than anybody, she never put you or anyone else down for bottlefeeding. She was simply curious and asked a question, that is what yahoo! answers is for after all...take a chill pill hun.

Answer 8

Personally, I am a bfing mom. I nursed my son for 14 months and am currently nursing my 9 month old...
I do have friends that chose not to breastfeed and some of their reasons are...To let the dad feed baby, they are afraid it would be "sexual", just plain uncomfortable with the idea, they don't feel formula is inferior in anyway, they think it will ruin their breasts, their husband is uncomfortable with it.
I know there are many other excuses...these are just some I have heard personally from friends. Honestly, it's hard to bite my lip sometimes. (especially when they put down breastfeeding to me.)

Answer 9

I think mostly for convenience. And I can't blame some moms, who are going back to work very soon or something. But there are other people who have bought into society's oversexualization of breasts...no, they're actually NOT there for men to oogle in porno mags (though that can be fun too, I suppose), they're there for babies to get nourishment from. If only they knew that scientifically the only reason men are attracted to big racks is because in caveman days more boob meant more milk, which meant baby wouldn't die and the caveman could populate the tribe with his seed.

Answer 10

With my first child I tried to breast feed, but it hurt so bad cause I was so tender that I could not handle it. So instead of putting the baby to my breast, I actually pumped for awhile and that worked, but then I had a uterine infection from not having all the amniotic fluid out of me and could no longer feed my child like that. My second child was born with really hard gums, and he actually had ripped me open when I first tried to breast feed him. The nurses was amazed cause they have never seen that happen before, and now I am expecting my 3rd child, and this time I plan to formula feed because of everything I have been through. Different women have different reasons, and it really is alot of work considering most women do not pump, it takes a toll after awhile. Some women just decide that its not right for them i guess. My reasons was cowardly to not continue to do it, but it was a choice I have made, but as long as the baby is getting the right nutrition, then that's all that matters.

Answer 11

I did feed for years ( and was criticised for feeding too long )but I believe in free will and in not criticising others .I had a friend who breast fed her first child but something was not working right and her baby was starving ,she nearly died ,even tho the mother had milk it just did not work for her ,I think the baby was not sucking hard ,any way so when she had her next baby she chose to not even try to feed as she was still upset from her first experience.
She was given a hard time by people who think they know more than her about her body and children.The important thing is that mother and baby both are happy.Breast feeding is not allways easy