http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/why-women-stop-breast-feeding/?ex=1219723200&en=b7d49348a8d2d13d&ei=5070&emc=eta1
A new study by Brigham Young University has found that although 75% of mothers start breastfeeding, only 36% of them continue for at least six months. Some reasons suggested for the decline are that many women don't anticipated the physical discomfort because they're told regularly that it's a natural process. Another concern is that the swing back to breastfeeding is a relatively recent phenomenon, and our society hasn't built up a supportive network for women to continue breastfeeding even though they may be required to return to work.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Most Women Stop Breastfeeding By 6 Months
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3 comments:
Another reason why women might quit breast feeding before 6 months is because it's overwhelming. In the first couple of months the child eats a lot. It feels as if the mother has to do everything for the child while the husband / partner does very little. There are other things the mother has to take care of as well...other than herself, there are house hold chores, shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.
I'm a new mother. My son is 4 wks old today, he eats all the time...yes my nipples are SORE! Still, I breastfeed during the day, over night my husband supplements formula. I'd pump but I don't have time as my son is always hungry. I get frustrated on a daily basis because when I'm not breatfeeding...I have to find time to walk my dog, shower, pick up after my dear husband, comfort the baby when he screams, clean up a little here and there, do the dishes and laundry, etc. I finally gave up cooking and grocery shopping...if my husband wants to eat he can make something. I won't go grocery shopping unless my husband goes with me, no matter how much he complains that there is no food in the house. I can't shop and care for my son at the same time yet...not by myself.
This is why I feel like giving up breastfeeding everyday...but I continue because I know it's good for my son and I want to do what's best for him. Everything I do since his birth is for him...
Why doesn't anyone reach out on TV or in magazine ads and tell all the men out there that mothers can't do it all! We need more than their help...we need their patience, enthusiasm, support and love!!
I agree completely with army wife. Breastfeeding is made out to be such a "natural" thing which, while it is, it comes along with very sore nipples, exhaustion, and no time to pump. If you are one of those women, like many are, who have a hard time keeping up your milk supply it is even more difficult. No one talks about this common phenomenon either. My son is now 8 months old, though, and it definitely gets easier and has been the best thing I could have done for him. He's been very happy and healthy and I think breastfeeding has contributed to that.
I have been exclusively breastfeeding my daughter for the past 6-months and could not have done it without the support of a lactation consultant and other moms that I met through a mom's group, not to mention, my wonderful husband.
I can honestly say that I had no idea how hard breastfeeding could be. I experienced incredibly sore nipples for the first 2-4 weeks and then got a yeast infection in both breasts (I didn't know I have the yeast infection until I had been suffering with it for 2-weeks). The yeast infection was incredibly painful and the treatment protocol was very labor intensive. I pumped when it was too painful to nurse and my husband stayed off work to bottle feed our daughter the expressed milk.
Through all of this however, I was determined to keep going with breastfeeding as I knew that the benefits to my daughter far outweighed any discomfot I was feeling. There were times when I was in so much pain that I literally dreaded nursing, but I worked with a wonderful lactation consultant who helped me through it all.
We are not 6 months on; I am still exclusively nursing, and am loving every minute of it! There is nothing quite as rewarding as knowing that you are providing your child with all of the nutrients they need to grow big and strong while forming an indescribable bond at the same time.
My advice to anyone who is suffering with breastfeeding, either due to pain and discomfort or from the sheer feeling of being overwhelmed would be to contact a local support group and/or lactation consultant. Just talking through your problems with other moms and professionals is such a big help and makes you realize that you are not alone in all that you are going through. Get as much rest as you can and rememberm that while it may seem that this time/discomfort/whatever you are feeling will go on forever, that in fact, it passed by so quickly. It DOES get easier!
Good luck to all the new mom's out there.
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