Breastfeeding being downplayed

Seriously thought about this thread yesterday. In durbanville there was a grouo of women at the robots doing a pro breastfeeding campaign. All holding posters about breast is best and having boobie babies, while wearing huge fake boobs. Was interesting to see.

I liked Bronz' earlier comment:

I have no problem with what each person chooses to do, you know what is best for you and your baby.

I personally breastfed, and did not really struggle - and when I went back to work, I managed to introduce formula in a bottle when I was not there and breastfed when I was.

It worked for me.

Of course I think breast feeding is the right way, and I do agree that many moms are mis-informed.

And I think they get a bit of a shock when they realise it is not as easy as it looks, and is a bit on the painful side to get started - yes we do find the technique and the pain does subside.

But I think a hormonally soaked mom, who has a tired screaming baby and who is not latching well, and the mom whose nipples feel like someone is cutting them off with a razor blade does start looking at the tin of formula rather fondly.

I definitely feel that everyone should try breastfeeding, but I totally get that it is not for everyone.

I know there is a lot of crowing about "my baby's weight is perfect and he/she is never ill because I breastfeed" but there are many many formula fed babies who are healthy and who do not struggle with weight.

The issue always comes down to an informed mother, making informed choices.

Hi ladies

I am a mommy who decided not to breastfeed.

Firstly, I had an Breast reduction years earlier and therefore I was advised rather not to breastfeed (there can be complications), but regardless of this, I just had no real urge to breastfeed, so it was a personal choice that I made.

My baby Riley has been on the bottle since birth and even though she is small & petit is doing exceptionally well, in fact she started crawling just before 5 months and she is already starting to show signs of getting ready to walk and all this at 6 months. What I am trying to say is that she is very healthy, happy and 100% and she is a bottle baby.

And I do believe that it is more convenient to bottlefeed, of course it is, BUT that being said, I agree with you guys that mommies should be empowered with the right knowledge in order to make the best choice!

I feel that mommies should breastfeed as long as they feel is right and no one should tell them otherwise.

At the hospital where I had my baby, they are very pro breastfeeding and I was aske numerous times if I did not want to rather breastfeed etc. etc. and it was just a choice that I had made beforehand, and I stuck to it. I am also happy that they respected my decision not too breastfeed as sometimes moms that decide not too breastfeed can be bombarded by comments and looks that are also unnecessary We are almost made out to be almost less loving mothers?? Weird indeed!


I do applaude you mommies who still breastfeed and I think you guys are great!! It was something I decided not to do, but that does not mean that bottlefeeding should be a choice of convenience at all

We all know breast is best for baby. However we all need to remember we all had different birth experiences and even though we had good advice and support, we still weren't totally successful at BF. I wanted more than anything to BF exclusively and then express when I started work-heaven alone knows how you find a sterile environment when you are on the road, all day everyday.. But my birth experience was everything but what I imagined. LO ended up in NICU and only came out on the last day of us being in hospital. I only got to hold him more than 36 hours after birth. He had Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and being first time parents, we really just put our trust in the NICU staff and our Paed. You really cant let your needs take preference on the health of your baby. They helped me try express, even before baby could latch-he had feeding tubes and oxygen etc..I used the last day of being there, when baby was out of danger finally and they helped me get him to latch etc. BF definitely doesnt come naturally, you need help and good advice. I had to top up feed, my milk just wasnt enough. I was on espiride for 3 months and did BF and formula. No I didnt do it because I was lazy and wanted to sleep at night as some say, I did it because I just didnt have enough. Granted I guess I could have got more help, but with a content baby that had bit of a scary start to life- I didnt see the point of unsettling and stressing us both out. I fought with everything I had to feed as long as I could. By three months I barely had enough for a full feed once a day. I know that they say once formula is introduced you can kiss BF goodbye. But my paed fully supported me doing both, and she encouraged even the little BF I was doing. And he never had nipple confusion and took both bottle and breast. His dad could have the beautiful experience of bonding time at feeding time as well.

So I dont think it makes us any less of a mom if we cant BF exclusively, or that we have to use a bottle. My baby is now 5 months old and he is a healthy baby, has been content from day one, never cries etc. I have never followed a rigid feeding schedule, also basically demand fed, though you do settle into a sort of a routine eventually. I miss BF so much, even two months down the line I regret not being successful at it. But I know I have a happy, healthy baby and thats all that really matters.

Kyle_17 it sucks that Companies dont cater for breastfeeding Moms.

that bond when ur LO stares @ ur face while feeding is just priceless.

I express in the bathroom at work, luckily it is a the disabled bathroom so at least no one is walking in on me. But still, it sucks. I use a spray cleaner to wipe down the counter before I start. I only pump once a day, at lunch, so I just sterilize everything when I get home and I keep my milk in icepacks in a cooler bag at my desk. All this can be discouraging & I have been tempted more than once to just put Kyle on formula, thanks to my mother for encouraging and supporting me but constantly reminding me about the nutrition and benefit breast milk has on my baby, most companies don’t cater for breastfeeding mothers cause a colleague of mine expresses in her car which very uncomfortable. I live for the time I get to spend with Kyle when he is feeding, he has started holding my breast and he looks into my eyes and my whole world is alright and makes all this crap I have to go through on a daily basis to keep my milk flow

Thanks ladies, Julz, I think the homeopath is the best answer. I have been to my docter about this, but his answer to my problem was cotrizone cream that works like a charm for a week but then makes it worse. And the other thing is antihistamines, I must say this works great as long as I'm taking it but as soon as I stop taking it, the ecsema returns. And the continuing with the antihistamines makes my milk less, so that is not really helping with breastfeeding.

Claudia, I don't really have a problem with milk supply, its just that my body is not coping with breastfeeding... My mother and grandmother had the same ecsema problems while breastfeeding so it is a genetic thing and defnitly gets better once you stop breastfeeding.

I just don't know if its wise to stop now, just before the winter...