Do you know anyone who made up a false exuse for not breastfeeding?

Question

There's so many girls I know that are my age and have recently had babies. Out of about 5, I only know 1 that is breastfeeding. The others said they 'tried, but it just didn't work'. There were so many excuses...'He kept spitting up' was one. My daughter is gaining weight fine on breastmilk and spits up all the time!

Another thing one said was 'You have to eat healthy in order for the breastmilk to be any good, and I didn't feel like doing all that.' That's not even true...I don't understand why they feel that it's necessary to make up excuses that are obviously not valid.

I'm 19. And yeah, I'd rather them just fess up and say 'I just couldn't commit to it.' than make the people who really couldn't look bad too.

I'm not dumb, I eat like any other healthy person. And I don't smoke/drink. She meant you have to eat like all vegetables and fruits all day. Maybe YOU'RE feeling guilty because you fit in this category I speak of? You wouldn't have clicked into this question if you weren't. ;-)

Very well said josi.

Mrs. Rahi...wow, aren't you the angry one! I happen have no idea what you speak of, I have nothing like that on my page. Crazy person...

Mrs. Rahi...wow, aren't you the angry one! I happen have no idea what you speak of, I have nothing like that on my page. Crazy person...

Actually cherrybubbler...I am perfect! And you're a bad mother for bad-mouthing ME and getting on here instead of 'investing your time' in your own poor kid! Yay! You suck! (Great job gettin' knocked up again so fast!)

;-)

And Cotton Candy...I'm glad that you're so jealous of me that you wish you WERE me, but it's YOU who is the financially un-stable one. You live with BOTH your parents and recently posted that you don't have the money to pay them rent because your baby's father (not even the person you're with) won't pay child support. Get a life. ;-)

Answer 1

Well... I'm sure there are people that give false excuses. Honestly, I would prefer that someone just say they didn't want to or couldn't make the commitment than make something up about not being able to. (Because, as it's been pointed out so many times on here, very few mothers are actually unable to breastfeed.) There is a lot of misinformation and marketing out there, and everyone should have all the facts before making a decision. If someone has all the information, and still choses not to breastfeed (hard to imagine), just say so, don't make something up to try and make people feel for you.

Though, that being said, there is not enough support for breastfeeding mothers. When a mother thinks she's losing her supply, or her baby get fussy at the breast, or it's painful when nursing, or her breasts no longer feel full, and on and on and on.... Who is there to support them, help them through the rough patches, show them the proper latch, tell them it's normal, assure them the baby is getting enough? When some of these things happen and there is no support system, it can be easier to just give up. It's not right, and people should try harder, but we also need more education and assistance in place for breastfeeding mothers.

Answer 2

Why do you care? What is the big deal with you and breastfeeding? I mean seriously is your life THAT boring that you have to create drama to make yourself feel better? For godsake worry about your own life and take the time you invest in worrying about others' breastfeeding and invest it in your daughter. And you're wrong when you say "thats not ever true" about eating healthy while breastfeeding. If you really care about breastfeeding so much you WOULD eat healthy for your daughter. So you don't drink or smoke. How healthy is your milk if you barely eat or eat the wrong things??? Maybe think it through a little more before bashing others cause you are FAR from perfect honey.

Answer 3

I don't think anyone should have to make an "excuse" as to why they don't breastfeed.
I breastfeed my daughter, but that's because I choose to do so. There is no law stating that you HAVE to breastfeed your child because you have the milk.
If a woman doesn't want to breastfeed - she doesn't have to.
It's none of your business or anyone else's. Nobody has to explain why they feed their child formula.
Until someone tries to feed YOUR child formula, keep your nose out of their business.

**EDIT**
How funny that you are putting cherrybubbler down for being pregnant when her baby is 8 1/2 months old .. aren't YOU always in the TRYING TO CONCEIVE section when YOUR daughter is only 4 months old?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Anx4wOn0eEl1ROnPI.be6v1_7hR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071111191314AAlQOCc
(even your "About Me" section says you are TTC # 2 - and your daughter is only 4 months old!)
I've also read where you've answered questions talking about how you and your boyfriend live with your mother and pay her rent, shouldn't you get your own place and become financially stable before trying to have ANOTHER child? It doesn't sound like you can support the one you have!

Maybe all the negativity is just plain jealousy of all the mothers who CAN support their children and CAN afford to have more than one.

What's even funnier is you posted an answer before saying you are on the mini-pill, why would you be on the mini-pill and trying to conceive? Maybe just trying to pull one over on your boyfriend? Gonna say that pregnancy was an "accident" also?
Figure if you keep popping out them babies, he's eventually gonna have to get a place to put the babies because your moms house isn't big enough? ;)
Or is it because the Welfare Dept. will give you more money for another baby? .. maybe enough money to move out of your mom's house?

Answer 4

You didn't say how old you are, but the age might have something to do with it. If you are younger, it might be because they are having a hard time dealing with all of the pressure to breast feed, and feel inadequate. People in general become defensive when they feel like they are being criticized, and maybe it is easier for them to give excuses rather than tell how they really feel. It could also be possible that some did try and it honestly didn't work for them. Would you prefer for them to look you in the face and tell you honestly that they just didn't want to?

Answer 5

I don't really bother trying to figure out if they are making excuses or not. What they chose to do (or have to do) is their own personal decision. Just like I don't like to be judged because I formula fed my son (for medical reasons) - I try not to judge others on how they chose to feed their children. What works for one person is not necessarily the ideal for another. I hope that we can all respect each other as mothers and understand that we are all different.

Answer 6

I am 27 and have a 12 week old. I wanted to breatfeed. And decided due to the stigma that comes with NOT BFing that I would say I couldnt produce enought mile to get ppl off my back who had a problem with it.
Well, I tried to BF and I was really friggin hard!! I tried but I coudlnt get her to latch on (really small breast and nipples?). I asked for a lactation consultant in the hospital 3 times, no one came. I felt like i was starving her and I gave up. So while waiting for someone i decided to see if she would refuse a bottle nipple too. Well she took it, and thats what we stayed with. I'll tell anyone that. I tried, didn't work the end. No one seems to have a problem with that when they aske me.

Answer 7

Yes.
But I don't care.
It's none of my business whether they choose to breastfeed their child or not, and I am not going to judge them because they didn't.


EDIT:
In response to what you said to cherrybubbler, I just have to say that you seem like a dramatic, judgemental *****. How conceited of you to call yourself perfect and put down another mother. You don't even KNOW the woman, so why are you putting down her mothering skills?

Answer 8

My son was born disabled and we couldn't even hold him until he was 2 weeks old. I still pumped my milk and took it to the hospital to give him. When we were finally able to hold him I started trying to breastfeed, but I had trouble getting him to latch on. It took about 6 weeks, but I was finally able to breastfeed him instead of giving him pumped milk. It was hard, but I was able to breastfeed.

My sister-in-law refused to breastfeed her two boys because she said it was weird. I saw nothing weird about it, and when my husband and I have another baby, I'll breastfeed it as well.

Answer 9

yeah i know. a lot of people believe it themselvres though. my friends sister said she couldnt because she couldnt get him to latch and she only tried for one day. i tried for 3-4 days before i got it right. yes my son lost weight but thats normal he lost 9 punces. now hes 7 month old and very healthy and i never give him formula. what i hate the most was " oh i just could stand to have a baby sucking on my boob i felt gross"

Answer 10

Why? Because there are strange people that would tell them what a bad moms they are for not trying hard enough, although it is none of their business. It is easier to make up an excuse then trying to explain that they just really didn't like it.