To ask why some women don't attempt breastfeeding?

[Lottle]

Just being nosy. Perhaps too nosy....

Just wondered why some mums don't give breastfeeding a try. I totally get why people may not do it for long, just curious as to why some don't try at all.

One friend happened to mention (I didn't ask) "it wasn't for me" but I wasn't sure what that meant but of course I didn't probe, so probing you lot instead. Don't know if it's too cheeky to ask though!

My baby physically couldn't.

Because I/they didnt want to. My choice, not yours. Not even sure why how/what you feed a child is such a subject of discussion, finger pointing and controversy TBH. We all know how this thread will go. BF isnt compulsory.

Because they don't want to.
Because they don't have to.
Because it is perfectly possible to provide your baby with everything it needs for optimum growth and development without BF.
HTH.

The one friend I know definitely didn't give it a go was in the 'I just don't want to' camp which is fair enough.

Almost everyone else I know tried, cried, struggled, and stopped due to lack of support. Me included.

What you are doing , is asking women to justify their choices.

What time does the judging start?

I never wanted to. I still don’t want to. It’s something I will categorically never do or pretend to want to do. End of.

I think it’s just because they don’t want to which is enough of a reason. No one owes you an explanation and it’s such an emotive issue you’ve been sensible not to ask in real life.
I breast fed but off the top of my head reasons why people don’t could be:

• They find it animalistic
• they prefer being able to share feeding responsibilities
• they worry they can’t do it
• they’re scared it will hurt
• they’re scared it will ruin their boobs
• they don’t want the faff of special bras/tops
• they find it embarrassing

All valid reasons if that’s how they feel.

My boss and quite a few colleagues have said the thought repulsed them.

Mind boggles.

Because I have mental health issues.

Because formula companies have so cleverly marketed their products to make people think there is no difference in breastfeeding and formula feeding them what’s the point in struggling for a few weeks when you can just boil a kettle?

Guess it was unreasonable to ask. I'm not sure I understand still but thanks anyway!

I am on medication for my epilepsy and I didn’t want DC to be subjected to that a minute longer than necessary.

Despite women don't want to. 🤷‍♀️
I tried with both but found it to draining.

Why are some women so obsessed with breastfeeding their babies end up in ICU due to lack of fluids and low birth weight. ?

Why can't some women just accept it isn't working and.find another method ?

Why do some women persist in making both themselves and their baby miserable rather than cave in ?

Why do some women end up with PND because they feel like failures over something so ridiculous ?

Why can't other.people keep their beak out and concentrate on their own families ?

For what it's worth I breastfed (( extended )) one baby and bottle fed one (( because it just didn't happen )) and I'm so glad I didn't have strangers on the internet discussing my choices. Fed is best. So long as.a baby is being cared for the rest doesn't matter. And is absolutely no one else's business.

Didn't want to. It never appealed. I liked the fact that baby's DF could get up in the night and no faffing around with breast pumps, nipple shields, leaking etc etc.

I'm really not sure why you wouldn't understand that some women JUST DON'T FANCY IT.

Didn't want to. Don't really make it thinks any difference tbh. Women shouldn't have it shoved in their face. Women have a choice.

I was gonna write my own response but gibbonlover got it spot on

Really op?

I literally had no desire whatsoever to do it. My reasons were: hearing it was difficult to establish/painful, being the only one who could feed the baby and therefore very tying, the thought of feeding in public, the thought that the baby might not then take a bottle and I would be 'stuck' breastfeeding.

Now whether these reasons are valid/true I don't know, but I didn't regret my decision.

*think it makes

I think there's a difference between being interested in people's motivations and judging.

OPs post doesn't have judgement in it. You are feeling judged where there is none.

Some women just can't stand the thought of bf, although I think it is worth trying to overcome for the obvious differences in benefit to babies, and mother's.

There isn't a formula out there that can replicate the complexity of health benefit of breast milk. There is even a component that doesn't feed the infant but feeds a particular gut bacteria!

Breast milk works differently to formula also, very differently, and is the most easily absorbed as the gut was designed for it, and vice versa.

These are arguments for trying out bf, but not judgements against others that haven't been able to.

Choose, by all means, but know the consequences of the choices.

It's very sad that some have been unsuccessful due to lack of support. Shocking really.

I suppose I just wasn't sure what they didn't fancy. Personally I do find the idea of a baby sucking on my nipple a bit weird. Didn't know if I was the only one.

With my first 3, I never even tried as the thought of it went through me a bit, as I had always thought of boobs as sexual 🙈

With my 4th I regretted not trying with the others, and I guess my thought process had changed. I breast feed her and love it, and will continue breast feeding for as long as she wants to.

I think I was just a bit younger and less inclined with the others, but equally I don’t think it’s done them any harm

One baby was forceps and they damaged his facial nerves

He couldn’t latch on

Hope that’s clear

For whatever personal reason they choose. See also: abortion, adoption, sexual preference, style, etc etc