BBC Article!

[tireesix]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8443904.stm

Ok, get that some things affect breast feeding. I suffer from PCOS and I am one of the supposedly lucky ones who suffers from over supply. Not so lucky because it causes me loads of problems.

BUT, you have breast feeding problems and you just keep trying, right? I kept trying, it hurt so bad but I kept going and I see it here as well, women with all sorts of problems but they keep trying.

So, I accept that some people have problems, what I don't get is why some people give up so easily. I know there are situations where breastfeeding simply isn't going to happen so there is no point trying. I don't know.

Also, I get what they are saying about the health benefits for kids but breastfeeding isn't just about nutrition and its not just about the health of the child. What about the health of the mother, the reduction in cancer etc, surely that is just as important as well?

[HoosierDiaperinMama]

I think a lot of women give up because they are given so much misinformation. They are constantly being barraged by formula companies and the "convenience" of ff. They are swayed into giving the baby formula for whatever reason and they've already started down that slippery slope. And support is so important. Surrounding yourself with women who share your views on bf'ing, who have btdt, and who may have been through some bf'ing challenges themselves, is invaluable.

I was watching one of those baby shows on TLC last week and the mother admitted that she had planned on bf'ing but when her baby was born the dr. told her in the delivery room that her babe was big and she probably wouldn't have enough milk. WHAT?!? AND the dr. was a WOMAN!!! We shouldn't be doing this to each other. You probably guessed that that mother didn't even try after she was told that. That one dr. sealed the deal and that was it. The level of harm that can be done to new mothers and a potential nursing relationship is really disturbing to me.

Another important point to make is education. And that really goes for anything. There's that saying "when you know better, you do better." In regards to bf'ing, it's so important to be educated on the principles of bf'ing before you begin nursing your baby so that when your LO is eating every 2 hrs. but her ff'd peer is eating every 4 hrs. you KNOW why and can back up your defense with the facts (I've had that conversation before).

I think a lot women would give bf'ing a shot if there were more education, and more women that are ready to jump in and say, "We're here to help. Don't give up."

[rivkah]

"The team from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology followed 180 pregnant women."

This research should be examined in light of this number.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

after I nursed my son until he was three (through excruciatingly sore nipples the first six weeks) I fully believed that most women who chose not to breastfeed just didn't "try" hard enough or try for "long" enough. I was pretty judgmental about it, to be honest.

Fast forward to the postpartum period after having my daughter. I had been a Mothering/MDC reader for over 4 years. I know all the right answers, all the tricks. My baby lost over a pound of her birth weight. My milk barely came in. I did everything I knew, and still she lost weight. I saw three different LC's, went to breastfeeding support groups, pumped around the clock, made teas, downed tinctures, took homeopathics... I honestly wanted to give up. It was so hard to see my baby hungry. I was so tired. I will never, ever look at another mother judgmentally for giving up if she had an experience similar to mine. It was only by sheer determination and pride that I didn't give up. And a rocking support system in place encouraging me to keep up all the hard work. And being able to stay home longer than the standard 6 weeks. Another mama with a low supply without the support I had might honestly not be able to do it. So yes, if you have problems you should just "keep trying" but without knowing where to go for help or what to do, "keep trying" can be a lot easier said than done.