I find it so encouraging that a higher percentage of moms are breastfeeding in the hospital. Hopefully more and more of them will stick with it.
I definitely believe that a lack of support, lack of breastfeeding education, and a lack of honesty is why moms stop. If girls were taught from a young age that breasts are for nursing, maybe it would catch on. If you ask 100 girls ages 6 - 12 how babies are fed, how many would just say bottles, without thinking?
Also, what I mean by lack of honesty is that so many people are afraid of offending people, that people aren't honest about how insufficient formula really is. All the ads for formula have to say that breastfeeding is best, but does anyone pay attention? I hear women reassuring each other all the time that bottles are just as good, and that way dad can do a night feeding, and we were all raised on formula and we're fine (no matter that alleriges, asthma, adhd, autism etc.,. are epidemic, we're fine). Women who bottlefed will always be around to tell other women how great it is, and no one seems worried about offending a breastfeeding mama. But I've both been a breastfeeding mama trying to encourage someone and heard others do it, and we get shot down, labeled as crazy liberals (is it political?), hippies, people unable to let our kids grow up, etc.,.
When women run into breastfeeding trouble - they assume they're not producing enough milk, or it's something they ate, or their baby is allergic to breastmilk, or their babies aren't getting enough. The simple fact that you can see how much formula an infant is getting is enough to make people switch. Why don't women trust their bodies?? There were plenty of times I wondered how much my babies were getting vs. how much they were just comfort sucking, but I had faith they knew what they were doing and so did my body. Why aren't all nurses and doctors committed to having moms continue nursing? Why aren't there more reassuring people in the medical field when a new mom is questioning whether or not it's working?
I had a nurse ask me, "Well, why are you still nursing her?" when I said I was nursing (an eight month old!) and couldn't take a certain antibiotic. Glad that nurse wasn't around when I was having trouble getting started and establishing a milk supply. In the hospital with my second child (for a long time, he was in the NICU) I can't tell you how many doctors and nurses seemed uncomfortable - disgusted that I was still nursing my daughter, in front of them. It's sad. She was just 2 at the time.
I am glad that Kelly (kerri?) is nursing her baby on the show. And I was glad that Rachel from friends did as well. That is a huge plus for getting the message to the young women.
My dogs are animals (obviously!) and family members. Are the two mutually exclusive?? I also hate when people say they own or have dogs. I always say I share my life with two dogs.
Take care!
