Breastfeeding insights in a new survey report

[meganmarie]

The organization Childbirth Connection just released a report on 2 surveys of mothers about their postpartum experience - they did a "Listening to Mothers" survey of 1500 women in 2005 - it focused mostly on birthing experience, but asked some questions about the 2 months post-partum. Then they went back to those same women 6 months later, and about 900 of them responded to a follow-up survey called "New Mothers Speak Out" - it was entirely about the post-partum experience including ppd, breastfeeding, etc. The results of those 2 surveys together are really interesting.

If you are interested in the entire survey it is here
http://www.childbirthconnection.org/...e.asp?ck=10413
You have to register with the site to download the whole report but since they are a non-profit supporting better maternity care, why not.

This data seems sound - its a national survey, weighted for a representative sample of US women in terms of demographics. Here's an excerpt:

[QUOTE]We asked the 10% of mothers who intended to but did not breastfeed at all the reasons they didn’t, and “formula more convenient” was the most common response (42%), followed by “too hard to get breastfeeding going” (38%) and “baby had difficulty nursing” (37%), “I had to take medicine and didn’t want my baby to get it” (24%), “I changed my mind” (18%), “I tried breastfeeding and didn’t like it” (14%), and “I didn’t get enough support to get breastfeeding going” (13%).[/QUOTE]

I was kind of surprised by this. I always believed lack of support was among the biggest obstacles to bfing, but this would suggest otherwise.

Reactions? What do you all think the implications of this data might be for lactivists?

[soso-lynn]

Originally Posted by meganmarie

We asked the 10% of mothers who intended to but did not breastfeed at all the reasons they didn’t, and “formula more convenient” was the most common response (42%), followed by “too hard to get breastfeeding going” (38%) and “baby had difficulty nursing” (37%), “I had to take medicine and didn’t want my baby to get it” (24%), “I changed my mind” (18%), “I tried breastfeeding and didn’t like it” (14%), and “I didn’t get enough support to get breastfeeding going” (13%).

I was kind of surprised by this. I always believed lack of support was among the biggest obstacles to bfing, but this would suggest otherwise.

Formula can be seen as more convemient when there is a lack of support.
Baby having difficulties results in weaning if there is a lack of support.
Taking medicine requires the support of HCPs to choose suitable medication.
Why did they change their mind? Lack of support maybe.
Some tried, did not like it and did not have any support to find out why or to be told that it gets better.

In the end, it is mostly about support and information. I think it is relevant that most women do not phrase it as such. I guess that if you are capable of articulating that the reason you are about to give formula to your child is 'lack of support', you might be more likely to go out and find support. It is also much better for self-esteem and talking with other people to say there was difficulties with this or that than to say they did not feel supported or were not given good information.

[ErinsJuneBug]

I still believe that lack of support is the #1 reason - of course the reasons the mothers listed are perceived reasons. IE - formula more convenient. Well if they REALLY had the info and support formula obviously isn’t easier. Or..baby had difficulty nursing. Well if they had an LC and were surrounded by people who knew about breastfeeding this may not have been an issue.

Id like to see the same study done with a group of women who all had friends that were breastfeeding, who all had NCB, and had easy and free (insurance paid) access to a great LC.

[snowbunny]

When you think of it, though, a lot of those reasons for not breastfeeding (too hard to get going, difficulty nursing, medicine) all can be counted as lack of support.

[marrymeflyfree]

Originally Posted by meganmarie

... “formula more convenient” was the most common response (42%)

I can't wrap my mind around the idea that formula is more convenient. I think for those moms, it comes down to what you know. If you have little or no exposure to breastfeeding and have heard only negative stories, it may seem that way I guess.

I can understand, to a point, that moms who have no choice but to return to work asap may feel this way. They may not know much about pumping or think it will be too hard. Money may be an issue, I suppose. (I know WIC provides formula, but do they also provide pumps and storage supplies?)

But it really does come down to support (and education) in all those situations. When I think of moms who must go back to work right away, it really burns me up. So many other countries in the developed world make it really easy for moms (and dads!) to stay home with their babes if they choose, some for a considerable amount of time. For a country whose political machine is so wrapped up in 'family values', you'd think the US could do better.

[Mama~Love]

“formula more convenient” was the most common response (42%)

Just HOW do they figure THAT? Washing bottles & nipples, the mixing & pouring, etc. seems a LOT more of a hassle to me than just sitting down & pulling my shirt up & unfastening my bra.

I guess it might be "convenient" to them, because then they could just get on with their lives, and not be so tied to the baby. Sad, but probably true.

[gcgirl]

Originally Posted by mommyofmany

Just HOW do they figure THAT? Washing bottles & nipples, the mixing & pouring, etc. seems a LOT more of a hassle to me than just sitting down & pulling my shirt up & unfastening my bra.

I guess it might be "convenient" to them, because then they could just get on with their lives, and not be so tied to the baby. Sad, but probably true.

My SIL only bf'd her kids for three months each because she always felt she had to go in a back room somewhere. That would make it decidedly inconvenient, and also can be a lack of support issue. If women aren't comfortable bf'ing pretty much anywhere, anytime, then bf'ing = not convenient.

[meganmarie]

I think you guys have all hit the nail on the head. The top reasons the moms gave are the "symptoms" they feel, but the underlying "diagnosis" is lack of support. And the moms themselves don't even realize it.

Remember, this question was asked not "why didn't you bf" but "why didn't you bf even though you intended to" which makes it even sadder. These moms were at least considering bf, so they are really the ones who should be getting the support. But they don't even know what they are missing out on. In fact, as pp's have pointed out, support like maternity leave, more flexible pumping policies, and less stigma for NIP would make bf "more convenient" and support from family, bf'ing friends, LC's, LLL etc. would make bf "less difficult."

Thanks for helping me think this through!

[MaryJaneLouise]

Thanks for that link.

Yes, I think just about all of those reasons can be interpreted as "lack of social support" or "lack of social normalcy of bfing". One of the main reasons for thinking that "formula [is] more convenient" is the fact that OTHER people can feed the baby. Other people (grandma, dad, etc.) are always eager to feed the baby a bottle -- so that mom can "take a break" (and/or go to WOH, many times). If the rest of the family would pitch in with taking over chores previously seen as the new mom's, then I think she would feel less overwhelmed.

[suzywan]

In the first few weeks postpartum formula feeding would be way more convenient than breastfeeding. How soon we forget cluster feeding After that, though, BFing is, by far, the easier route.

It definitely (mostly) boils down to lack of support from health professionals; more harm than help "lactation consultants", ignorant family members who FFed, and partners who are anything but.

Of course, there are probably women who just don't want to be bothered.

[krystyn33]

Originally Posted by suzywan

In the first few weeks postpartum formula feeding would be way more convenient than breastfeeding. How soon we forget cluster feeding After that, though, BFing is, by far, the easier route.

:

My mom and sis who FF were bewildered by DS's constant need to nurse at the beginning--they told me babies should only need to eat every 4 hours... Fortunately I had a god midwife who set me straight.

ITA about the real issue being lack of support, despite the perception otherwise. The inconvenience of BFing compared to FF at the start might be alleviated if we had an actual lying in period where moms with newborns only needed to rest and nurse--all other demands, including meal preparation were taken care of by others. Or even most of them? Or not having to worry about returning to work or the financial cost of being on leave or losing health care for yourself and your child? Or having friends and family around you who were successful BFing--that it was the norm--so much so that for most minor common BFing you found effective, accurate solutions from them and only needed to see a lactation consultant for rarer, medical concerns?

I could go on.