Thanks for sharing! Its so sad how many people dont even consider breastfeeding, for whatever reason. I'm currently pregnant with my 2nd, first was breastfed until just over 2yrs old. There are two girls at my work right now pregnant, and they both just kinda have a look of disgust, and say no when asked if they're going to breastfeed, and they're nurses, so sad.
I believe that, besides the media, I mean all baby comercials, adds, movies, etc, show babies being bottle fed, many moms to be don't get advice from their family. My mom stopped breast feeding me at 2 months because she didn't dare do it in public and because she says it hurt. So when I got pregnant, my mom never gave me any advice or motivated me. I had to learn on my own. I'm grateful I found a great lactation consultant that helped me get through it and now my daughter is 7 months old and still being breast fed, she's never had a bottle. Women today are not informed, not educated on this. In school I remember when we had to play parents for health class they would give you a doll with a bottle. Breastfeeding wasn't even mentioned. I can't believe it's still taboo. Hospitals don't help either, they take the baby away and stick a bottle filled with formula, instead of advising mothers. But it's just part of the whole medical business, from giving birth and on, Docs love c sections, love formula and sick babies, that's what pays the bills.
The only reason that should prevent a mama from breastfeeding is if she cannot physically produce milk. People are so brainwashed by the formula industry. It is sad.
Wait, maybe I have to admit this: I'm a BF'ing fanatic. Inwardly I really cringe w/some of the lame-o excuses not to breast feed. I have had my challenges w/it, I've bled from the nipples trying to get that colostrum out (long story), ...but in my mind there was never another option. It's not always a piece of cake either, I have to consciously maintain the right balance of flow or here come the green poopies... W/my 1st he BF until I got preggers w/ the 2nd , and w/the 2nd need a little support to tweak my form, I forgot the difference between a nursing newborn and a nursing toddler (ahem...preschooler...)... but here we are again happily chugging away! My goodness...I've met Mama's BF adopted babies!
Ive been on both sides of the fence. I have 3 kids (and 1 on the way). I've always tried to breastfeed but with the first ended up switching to formula due to his special needs (unable to adequately suck therefore breastfeeding was impossible.. we had to use a fast flow nipple and practically pour the formula down his throat). I pumped for awhile but never was able to get more than 1/2 ounce at a time and thus I was forced to supplement from the beginning. By 2 months I was compltetly dried up With #2 I breastfed her until she self weaned at 17 months (I was pregnant with#3). With #3, he was born at 32 weeks so I pumped from the beginning and fed him the pumped milk. FINALLY at about 12 weeks old he mastered nursing but we quickly realized he was aspirating (the milk was going into his lungs when he ate) so I had to stop and go to exclusively pumping and feeding him thickened breastmilk from a bottle. I continued pumping until he was 10.5 months, although we did have to supplement/fortify with formula for added calories due to his prematurity/low birth weight. With #4 I fully intend to breastfeed for as long as possible (preferably at least 2 years) but it depends on the child and whether they turn out to have special needs as well (good chance considering both boys are special needs). If need be I will again pump for as long as possible. I certainly think breastmilk the the superior choice, but formula definately has its place too.
I breastfed all three of my children. I briefly nursed each immediately after birth, right on the table. I squeezed out the colostrum and they latched on pretty quick for a few moments before I was attended to. I had a few problems with the first, he didn't like my left breast for some reason so that was a struggle for a while. I had to go right back to work, so I would nurse a bit when I got him up and then nurse for 1/2 hour at the sitter's before work and then right after work. I also pumped at work and brought that back to the sitter when I picked him up and she saved it to give him during the day. She still had to augment with a bottle here and there. I had to give up with him at 3 months when I had an accident and was hospitalized. #2 slept so many hours, I was in physical pain. Then he would wake and hoover me out in 10 minutes, both side. I couldn't keep up with him. So, more augmenting and then he eventually refused to nurse, preferring the ease (I'm presuming) of the bottle. So breastfeeding ended at 2 months. #3, I nursed almost exclusively until she was 10 months. She was easily distracted and would bite me and turn towards the noise she heard, even in the nursery, with the door closed. She just wouldn't settle down, so... It never occurred to me not to nurse. I read a book about it when I was a teen (in the 70's). My mom tried with my sibling, but the doctor brow beat her out of it. I nursed, with discretion, where ever I was. It's natural, full of good stuff babies need, convenient, and it's cheap! I can't believe how much formula costs now. Man made formula cannot possibly replicate all the goodness that comes from mother's milk and it's criminal how much they charge for it.
I'm told my brother was bottlefeed and that I was breastfeed. My brother has various food and environmental allergies,digestive problems and gets sick easily. I have no allergies, no digestive problems, and I rarely ever get sick.
it is so scary, how companies greed, can turn women to doubt what they have been capable of for hundreds and thousands of years, to seriously choose what is second best. So sad and so scary
Another problem was that in poor countries,mothers were watering down the formula so as to make it last longer. Caused serious problems for the babies.
