Who thinks that La Leche is a cult?

Question

I have read some really ridiculous stuff about breast feeding.
1. you won't bond with your child as well if you don't breast feed.
2. your child won't get enough nutrients if you don't breast feed.
3. pumping doesn't provide the nutrients that breast feeding does.
4. If you meet with a lactation specialist, you will be able to master breast feeding, too!

Some people get so worked up about this that it seems as though it is their religion (or cult). Why can't some of these women accept the fact that women who bottle feed CAN have a perfectly close and wonderful relationship with their babies? Why can't some of them accept that some women cannot breast feed - for whatever their particular PERSONAL reason is? I'm not opposed to breast feeding. In fact, I think it is wonderful. I'm just tired of people getting hysterical over it.
Have any of you run into these rabid women on here? What is your take on this?

I agree that breast milk is better. My argument is that breast feeding isn't the only way. some women can't breast feed for whatever reason - pumping can be very good. My arguement isn't with breast feeding, it is with the over-zealous attitudes and methods of la leche.

There was another good point about the hospital staff pushing and pushing and "terrorizing" women into it. I went to a hospital like that. I had a very large child who was always ravenously hungry and too impatient for breastfeeding. I chose to pump and add it to his formula since I never quite produced enough to keep him full. I'm sure the more fanatical people would tell me that it was my fault that I didn't produce enough and that if I had stuck with it...... They have all the answers. I wanted him fed and happy. I accomplished that.

Answer 1

I agree, they are definitely a strange bunch.

I am all for breastfeeding, but not when they get off of the bus and can ask for a drink!

My Mom has a weirdo friend that was a LaLeche member.
She was scolding me in the hospital after my c-section for taking drugs for the pain.
I pretty much told her to mind her own!

Answer 2

You won't bond with your child as well if you don't breast feed???? What the......? Total rubbish. I breast fed and didn't bond straight away, I did love her but the bond wasn't there for some reason. Took me 2 days to really accept she was mine. As if a breast is going to determine if you'll bond or not.

I do agree (a little) with the nutrients thing. They will get nutrients from formula, just not as much and the real nutrients as breast milk.
Pumping breast milk and letting your baby suck them self has the SAME nutrients in it. Expressing it can reduce the supply, but not the nutrients in it.

And NOT everyone can breast feed. Even if they meet with a lactation specialist.

Geez. These people just want to freak new mothers out. And no wonder when some can't breastfeed they feel useless and let down. That is what they make them feel.

When I was in hospital after having my daughter (in there for 9 days) I saw LOTS of women basically being pushed and abused into breast feeding. Even one lady had a very tiny son that couldn't latch on as she had inverted nipples. They tried and tried and tied some more. This poor women was in tears every time it was feeding time. They would express her colostrum and suck it up in a syringe and feed it to the baby. She was in SO much pain. I'm all for breast feeding, but not every one can for some reason or another. Instead of pushing these women they need to focus more on showing them how to formula feed correctly, including sterilizing etc.

Answer 3

Well, there are some fanatics out there for sure, but it's kind of like anything, they are everywhere. I do know alot of people who have been turned off to breastfeeding because of some pushy people. It is a personal choice, I think we all know breast milk is the best for your child, but you aren't a bad mom if you can't or choose not to for whatever reason. I think it is sad women are just not supportive of each other period. I had a really nice lactation specialist in the hospital and I complimented her on not being pushy or rude. It was a great experience working with her. Unfortunately once i got home, I had no support and bfing did not last long. My family was pretty negative on it, from others being pushy about it. I really feel if women had better support and could rely upon each other more, bfing might work for more women.

Answer 4

I think a mother probably should breast feed if it works for her but it's not for all women. I do know breast milk is thought to aid some children with some health problems and in that case a mom should try her best to do it, I also relize some women aren't able to produce much milk but like they say " You don't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need" Good Luck Moms, :)

Answer 5

1. Is this what La Leche League is saying?? That's nuts. There are tons of ways to bond with your baby, not just by breastfeeding. I breastfeed because it's easier and cheaper but I personally don't feel a bond with my baby by doing that. I find that co-sleeping with my baby is more bonding than breasfeeding.

3. How can pumping not provide the same nutrients as breastfeeding?? You're baby's drinking the same milk.

Answer 6

I agree that some women who breastfeed are vigilantes about and are very intolerant of women who formula-feed. Some women can't breastfeed, others chose not to. It's a personal choice and not anyone else's business. I hate the way La Leche and some mothers who breast-feed berate women who feed their babies formula.

Answer 7

I don't care, I breastfeed, my friends formula feed, and they think I am weird... So it's kinda cool for me to see that I am not alone, but at the same time, I don't like that people are so crazy about it we all get to choose what we do with our own children, I breast feed plenty of people don't it's not the biggest issue. There are people who are shaking their babies, some lady stuck her baby in the oven, those are the women we should be against, not divided over something as trivial as breast V bottle.

Answer 8

Thank god Im not the only one! Breastfeeding is way to touchy of a subject!!!!! I tried to breastfeed my twins, it didnt work(mouths were too small to latch on). My lactation consultant scolded me for giving them pacifiers and told me that i would have to take them away. I laughed...sorry have you ever had twins, no? Well then don't tell me that the only thing that brings me any peace AT ALL, i have to take away! I also pumped for a couple of months but the double feeding./...then pumping every 2 hours...ha I couldnt keep up, and I definitly wasnt sleeping. I gave it up and bottlefed with no regrets and people on here gave me thumbs down when I answered a question!
Sure breastfeeding is good for your baby, trust me i have heard it...please stop jumping down my throat

Answer 9

I agree totally with you. I hate when they say the baby won't bond, that is ridiculous. And they are way to pushy on here about breastfeeding, I mean it is the mothers choice not theirs. My daughters bonded with my just fine and i formula fed. You can still be a wonderful, caring mother even if you dont breatfeed, but unfornutaly some people just dont get that. Thank you for posting this....

Answer 10

There are women who are overzealous about breast feeding, and overly judgmental about women who don't. But most of the women in La Leche are kind, caring, helpful and well-meaning. No, it is not a cult.

Answer 11

I pump... so i guess I'm giving my son the equivalent of formula!

I think it's a personal choice... one way or another the baby is getting fed.. and is nourished. Some people just need to get over it.. and worry about their own children, and quit raggin on what other mothers do for their kids.