If women were more educated about the benefits of breastfeeding, and had more support with the difficulties...

Question

... would more women breastfeed?

Many women give up. If they were told that a lactation nurse at the hospital can help them with any problems for free, would it help?

If they knew the vast benefits for mom and baby, would it help?

some benefits:
reduces chances of SIDS, asthma, diabetes, obesity, etc.
healthier weight gain for child
they get immunites from mom
breastfed children are more confident
have higher scores by 5-10 pts on IQ tests
mom loses weight faster
mom has less chances of breast and ovarian cancer

There are just a small list of the benefits of breastfeeding. I know there are moms who's bodies or hectic schedules dont allow them to nurse, but if everyone was more educated on the subject, do you think it would help moms nurse longer, give up less, or decided to nurse instead of formula feed? Ive even heard some women say they think that formula is just as good as breat milk! Even the can of formula says its not, and should only be used if it HAS to

http://medicalreporter.health.org/tmr0297/breastfeed0297.html

http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html

PS; I breastfed my daughter for a year. She never got sick once in that time, and was really healthy in all other ways. After doing even MORE research into the subject, I discovered that childrens bodies are made for mothers milk even LONGER than the first year. Up to age 3 or even 5. I now wish that I would have at least continued to pump my milk for her. It bums me out to see friends or family members give up on nursing just because its "too hard", or they want daddy to have to do some of the feedings.

Answer 1

I believe that many would, though there would still be some that would be too selfish to even try it. (and I'm not talking about the few women who can't breastfeed, for a real medical reason). My (former) best friend still gives me grief for breastfeeding, and she is going to school to be a nurse! She bottlefed her son, and thinks that breastfeeding is "gross" and "such an inconveniece". No matter how much information I give her on the issue, she just won't budge.
One of the most daunting things to some new mothers who choose to breastfeed is nursing in public. Our CULTURE must change for more women to breastfeed. The general attitude of Americans is VERY unsupportive of breastfeeding, especially in public. I mean, come on people. You bottle-feeding your baby is offensive to me, but do I ask you to "cover up" or "do that in the bathroom"? Absolutely not. Not even a dirty look is given. If your baby wants to eat, then no one should give you grief for that, no matter where you are. For god's sake, what the hell do people think breasts were intended for in the first place?

I'm stepping off my soapbox now.

Answer 2

Yeah, I gave up on breast feeding because I felt like there was a lack of support. I actually had more of my questions answered after I quit breastfeeding than what i could get an answer to while I was still trying. I have coached friends through breastfeeding on the knowledge I learned after I gave up. It was really hard, and I felt like for something that is SO good for your baby there should be more support out there. The nurses at the hospital were helpful while we were there, but once we went home and I got engorged, there seemed to be no help to find. I stuck to it for 2 weeks and my daughter still hasn't had an ear infection and hardly ever gets sick and is now almost 8 years old. I still wonder how it might have been if I would have had more knowledge. Breast milk IS the best thing for your baby. No way milk made for a cow can be better for your baby than milk made for them.

Answer 3

Ugh, I'm so sick of this whole argument.

Look, women do what they feel is best for them and their baby. Live and let live. Perhaps there would be more women who breastfeed longer if it was more supported, but some still won't, and that's their choice.

Formula isn't the exact same as breastmilk, but it is the best it has ever been, and many, many babies have been just fine being raised on it. The formula made these days is way better than what babies were given a hundred years ago, which was usually either animal milk, or gruel. At least what babies are given today instead of breastmilk is better formulated.

For myself, I breastfed for two weeks before stopping. I had no problems with support or with latching on, etc. But I did have many other issues, such as constant drops in blood sugar which would leave me sick (no matter how much I ate), migraines, pure exhaustion, and post-partum depression. With all those things adding up, I just couldn't take it anymore, and I had to deicde between being a healthy mom so I could properly take care of my son, or feeling like total crap and being a bad mom. So I chose to formula feed, and my son is a healthy, happy eight month old. He's only gotten *one* cold this season, and even that was simply a stuffy nose. Sure it's expensive, but that's what works for us.

Here's a novel idea: Instead of only offering support to women who breastfeed, why don't we all support each other no matter what our feeding choice? As long as our babies are happy, healthy, and well fed, who cares *how* they're fed?

Answer 4

I wish it would help, I breastfeed both of mine until almost 2 & will do the same with the one on the way.
However a common prob that I see with women is they think of their breasts as a sexual organ rather than the real purpose to feed their offspring! Also so many woman hear & think that things like mastisis are common & a every day occurance. As well many woman won't listen, I am a avid pro breastfeeding mom & try to get many moms to at the very least give their babies the culustrom, however i get called a breast nazi! I can not believe that any man made product can be near as good for our children as natural, as well if for some reason I could not I would deff. look into goats milk asI have read that it is the closets to human breast milk.

Answer 5

Well, if I had a child, I would prefer to breastfeed. That creates a bond that no one else can have with your child. I agree with you, but women have to choose for themselves. Breastfeeding is painful and hard. Some women don't want to go through that.
Also, some women can't breastfeed. When I was a baby, I had to have a combination of the bottle and breast (the hopefully uninformed nurse gave me sugar water every time before she would take me to my mother to be breastfed). My mother used a breast pump and had to bring her milk production up.
I know another woman who could only breastfeed for a month because her son wanted to nurse constantly. After she gave him a bottle, he went right to sleep. Apparently her milk was not as potent as it should have been.
I also know a woman who got mastisis from breastfeeding (her son had a yeast infection of the mouth), so she had to quit.
As I said before, I personally think that women should breastfeed, but everyone has a right to their own decision.

Answer 6

My mother was not able to breastfeed my sister and I because she had severe infections and was not able to. My sister and I are extremely healthy, never get sick and we are in our late 20's. I am 27 weeks pregnant now and while I intend on breastfeeding, if something happens that prohibits me from doing so, so be it. At least I tried. I realize the benefits of it but I do not think it is for everyone. You have your opinion and while I respect it, you should respect other woman's decisions not the breastfeed.

Answer 7

I think the biggest problem is the advertising by formula companies. Most women are of the impression that formula is comparable, most don't even realize that the companies add things every year because it isn't right. My sister actually believe it to be better. They are nurses! (I'll grant you, they aren't exactly the brightest, actually one of them makes blond jokes look understated.) Many countries have adopted the laws the WHO recommends prohibiting advertising by formula or baby-milk compaies in media, hospitals or clinics.
America is lacking in education in a lot of ways, breastfeeding is no different.

Answer 8

the only reason I am sick of hearing about his is becasue as much as I wanted to i was unable to breastfeed, because i do not produce milk. I am on my 4th pregnancy and I have never made any milk whatsoever at all. So while formula may not be the best thing for a child, I am goddamn glad it is available and as good as it is becasue without my children would have starved. My first did actually, for two weeks, because I was so intent on breastfeeding that I didn;t realize she was not getting a thing from my breast. Some breastfeeding moms need to realize that there are often times more reasons for not breastfeeding then simply, not enough support or its to painful.

EDIT: and i get a thumbs down because i am physically unable to breastfeed, you breastfeeding nazis are a hoot and a half.

Answer 9

adding my 2 cents....I think there should be more support....working through the pain of initial breastfeeding was one of the hardest things I've done....I remember dreading/crying at each feeding, I had to go back to the hospital and make an appt. with the lactation consultant to make sure I was latching on right....no family members had any experience...but I did it, with both kids and was happy that I did.

Answer 10

You are not telling me anything I don't already know...

there is more to each decision than what you write. I do both. My son is healthy, happy, strong and thriving.

And for the lactation nurse... yes she was there, but I had a hard time getting her to my room, and by the time I checked out, she never came. Luckily, my son is a natural! He loves to eat. Nothing phases him. He also took well to the bottle and is taking well to his rice cereal now!

Let's stop criticising each other and be glad that we all have healthy options.