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reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 1st 04, 02:31 AM
Shena Delian O'Brien
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Default reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding

The mind boggles. I understand choosing not to breastfeed if you don't
have proper supply and can't get it, if your baby isn't thriving, or you
have to take medications to live which would go through the breastmilk
and harm the baby, etc... but some of the reasons I've heard lately just
floor me.

For example:

1) dh doesn't want me to (he thinks sex would be awkward with lactating
breasts, etc)

2) I don't like looking at my breasts (!!?)

3) it's just *icky*

Those seem to be the top three ?!

  #2  
Old March 1st 04, 03:14 AM
Chotii
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Default reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding


"Shena Delian O'Brien" wrote in message
news:Knw0c.89544$4o.113481@attbi_s52...
The mind boggles. I understand choosing not to breastfeed if you don't
have proper supply and can't get it, if your baby isn't thriving, or you
have to take medications to live which would go through the breastmilk
and harm the baby, etc... but some of the reasons I've heard lately just
floor me.

For example:

1) dh doesn't want me to (he thinks sex would be awkward with lactating
breasts, etc)


To which my response might well be, "Oh? Funny, I thought they were YOUR
breasts. Not his." Aw, for crying out loud. Sex is inherently a messy
process. It's frequently awkward. Sex while pregnant is even more awkward.
But we somehow manage to get through that (or we go without, which is
another option.)

2) I don't like looking at my breasts (!!?)


Boggle?

3) it's just *icky*


See, I don't get that either. But I *always* knew I would breastfeed. It
never once occurred to me to do any differently. Not once. Even through the
difficulties I faced at the beginning each time.

I don't get the whole 'icky' part. (Of course, heh, I think if you THINK
about it, sex looks pretty icky too. But that doesn't stop most of us.
Obviously, or we wouldn't be here.

--angela


  #3  
Old March 1st 04, 04:19 AM
Marie
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Default reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding

On Mon, 01 Mar 2004 01:31:22 GMT, Shena Delian O'Brien
wrote:
1) dh doesn't want me to (he thinks sex would be awkward with lactating
breasts, etc)


If the man is going to be a father he really should get over it and
want the best for his children!

2) I don't like looking at my breasts (!!?)


Ok that's just an odd excuse. I think mine are unattractive but they
sure make the babies grow.

3) it's just *icky*


Sex isn't? Giving birth isn't? Changing diapers isn't? I think any
excuse is selfish. There is no reason not to breastfeed if you are
able to. I don't see how any mother could just choose not to out of
some stupid reason like "it's icky". I was in classes with a girl who
was going to be an RN in an OB's office, and when we were discussing
breastfeeding one day she said "I ain't never lettin' no baby suck my
titty!" Like it's something disgusting!

Those seem to be the top three ?!


Many women don't bother to try when they failed with the first child.
That's probably the excuse I hear the most.
And I did quit with my first, I got mastitis and was ignorant and
stupid and there was no excuse for me to make her do without
breastmilk. I went on to nurse my next two for a year and a half each,
still going with #2. I'll always regret stopping with my oldest
daughter.
Marie
  #4  
Old March 1st 04, 05:01 AM
DeliciousTruffles
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Default reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding

Shena Delian O'Brien wrote:

The mind boggles. I understand choosing not to breastfeed if you don't
have proper supply and can't get it, if your baby isn't thriving, or you
have to take medications to live which would go through the breastmilk
and harm the baby, etc... but some of the reasons I've heard lately just
floor me.

For example:

1) dh doesn't want me to (he thinks sex would be awkward with lactating
breasts, etc)

2) I don't like looking at my breasts (!!?)

3) it's just *icky*

Those seem to be the top three ?!


The top three for me a

1) I didn't have enough milk

2) The baby had colic

3) The baby was lactose intolerant

Ya.......okay.......

--
Brigitte aa #2145
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/j/joshuaandkaterina/
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrow...elected=782084

"Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare."
~ Harriet Martineau

  #5  
Old March 1st 04, 05:11 AM
Shena Delian O'Brien
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Default reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding

DeliciousTruffles wrote:

2) The baby had colic


I thought breastfeeding reduced colic. I know a girl currently
breastfeeding her 12 week old. The baby had colic for a while; she was
able to figure out that the reason was some of the food she was eating
that didn't agree with baby. She has been avoiding it and all is well.

Supply issues are tough to work through but there are a world of
remedies out there to try before giving up. I think a lot of moms (I'm
not referring to you, I don't know your situation) give up too soon
because they run out of ideas. I think it's sad that more doctors and
nurses aren't out there giving them better ideas.

  #6  
Old March 1st 04, 05:17 AM
New York Jen
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Default reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding


"Shena Delian O'Brien" wrote in message
news:Knw0c.89544$4o.113481@attbi_s52...
The mind boggles. I understand choosing not to breastfeed if you don't
have proper supply and can't get it, if your baby isn't thriving, or you
have to take medications to live which would go through the breastmilk
and harm the baby, etc... but some of the reasons I've heard lately just
floor me.


Well, proper supply is rarely a *real* issue, people just don't think they
have adequate supply because either the baby is nursing all the time (which
they are supposed to) or because they are only able to pump small amounts
(babies are MUCH more efficient suckers than even the best pump money can
buy).

It's just so clearly better for the baby to nurse, as well as for the mom.
I lose my patience with people who "try" nursing for a week but then end up
supplementing so they could sleep more or for some other reason that seems
lame. Of course the medication issue is real and there are few medical
situations that make it difficult, but in just about every other case, it's
a matter of stick-to-it-iveness on the part of the parents.

Just my $.02

- Jen, who never thought before becoming a mom that I'd be such a
breastfeeding advocate


  #7  
Old March 1st 04, 05:23 AM
Shena Delian O'Brien
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Default reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding

New York Jen wrote:

- Jen, who never thought before becoming a mom that I'd be such a
breastfeeding advocate


LOL I'm with you there

I've found myself the champion of quite a few issues these days that I
never even spent one moment thinking of before. My husband is *SO* tired
of hearing about all this girl stuff.

  #8  
Old March 1st 04, 06:26 AM
CY
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Default reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding

Ah, Shena, I am so with you...

When I was pg I said "I would "try" to breastfeed" as my mum had told me
that she "couldn't" and that I'd probably have a hard time (which I now know
is totally bogus and there were many reasons she had difficulty, not least
because she found it "icky". Grrr). After I tried it, I couldn't believe
that I could be so ambilivalent about it - it was such a great feeling to
know I was giving the best I oculd to my beloved child. I have a hard time
when people refuse to even *try* breastfeeding, and imo, a lot of people
quit for selfish reasons.

The top 3 reasons I hear:

1) It's inconvenient (HELLO! What's inconvenient about a food that's always
exactly the right temperature, always there, perfect in every way and GOOD
for your child?)

2) Formula fed babies sleep through the night sooner (ha, try telling that
to my mum - I (formula fed) didn't sleep through the night till I was around
2)

3) It's icky/I don't (or won't) have enough milk. That's because or culture
makes breasts only a sexual thing and these women think somehow that it
would be sexual. PLEASE!!

It's amazing how passionate you can be about something you had NO idea would
mean so much to you until it happens. I am a "lactivist" in every sense of
the word!!! This is mainly because my DD is so robust, smart and
affectionate, which I largely contribute to breastfeeding. She is rarely
sick, and when she has been sick, she bounces back quicker than her formula
fed counterparts. Sure, breastfeeding was a challenge the first weeks, but
when has anything worthwhile been easy? You don't hear (many) women say
"You know, pregnancy makes me have morning sickness, have round ligament
pain, give me uncomfortable scars and labor is painful, so I don't think
I'll do it again", or "It's takes too much time to brush my teeth and shower
every day, so I'm not going to do that". Things that are good for you take
effort and some think that bottle feeding is "just the same" as
breastfeeding only out of ignorance and lack of education (please don't
flame me, anyone!). anyone that doesn't give their baby a chance at the
best is cheating not only their child, but themselves.

My favourite websites on the subject:
http://www.promom.org/101/
http://www.cs.colorado.edu/~kolina/a...f-formula.html

OK, I'm done! Thanks for your post, Shena!!

CY
Mama to the 2-year-old-who-still-loves-mama-milk!
"Shena Delian O'Brien" wrote in message
news:Knw0c.89544$4o.113481@attbi_s52...
The mind boggles. I understand choosing not to breastfeed if you don't
have proper supply and can't get it, if your baby isn't thriving, or you
have to take medications to live which would go through the breastmilk
and harm the baby, etc... but some of the reasons I've heard lately just
floor me.

For example:

1) dh doesn't want me to (he thinks sex would be awkward with lactating
breasts, etc)

2) I don't like looking at my breasts (!!?)

3) it's just *icky*

Those seem to be the top three ?!



  #9  
Old March 1st 04, 06:36 AM
DeliciousTruffles
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Default reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding

New York Jen wrote:

- Jen, who never thought before becoming a mom that I'd be such a
breastfeeding advocate


LOL! Me too! :-D

I think the one comment above others that always upset me when I was
nursing the twins was, "Oh! You couldn't possibly have enough!"

--
Brigitte aa #2145
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/j/joshuaandkaterina/
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrow...elected=782084

"Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare."
~ Harriet Martineau

  #10  
Old March 1st 04, 06:37 AM
DeliciousTruffles
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Default reasons I've heard for not breastfeeding

Shena Delian O'Brien wrote:

DeliciousTruffles wrote:

2) The baby had colic



I thought breastfeeding reduced colic.


It does.

But I still hear that excuse. Sigh.

--
Brigitte aa #2145
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/j/joshuaandkaterina/
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrow...elected=782084

"Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare."
~ Harriet Martineau

 




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