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!

While I think the differences aren’t particularly earth shattering, they do exist.

And while the data can be hard to interpret, we have to put some store on the fact that all major health bodies in the world (I believe) recommend bfing (not just for the third world) and put money behind supporting it.

This is a much more powerful indicator than an individuals quick googling and reading the abstract of a few studies.

I only used the 'STAPO' as read a who barrage of 'lazy'....'neglectful' 'selfish' etc aimed at those who choose to FF.

I also think they're are some amazing BF advocates on the boards who I would respectfully take advice from should I wish to take that path.

There are also a few hardened quite odious pieces of work, who quite obviously lack the empathy and the intelligence to look out of their 'Breast' boxes.

mustard it's absolutely fine to believe breast is best and promote that viewpoint. It is not fine to make a woman feel bad for FF. Someone who actively choose to do that ( as some people on this thread have) is absolutely disgusting and should be ashamed.

Mustard Why does anyone need to "advocate for breastfeeding" though?

People can do as they choose with their own baby. I'm sure the NHS are happy to advise for women who aren't sure.

It's pretty standard though that people choose to advocate for the benefit of babies.

Solicitors and barristers advocate to help, lots of people don't it lots of arenas, should bf be excluded as exempt from promotingthe benefits to health and wellbeing, for DM and baby? That seems odd.

There has been a lot of money thrown at promoting very poor alternatives.

It processed over real.

Chemically reproduced vitamins don't act or get absorbed in the same way in the gut as the real thing, for instance, there are other factors involved that processing cannot recreate.

Processed versus real

I’ve said this on the thread already and it’s been conveniently ignored. Formula cannot replicate breastmilk. But the outcomes for FF babies are almost as good as the outcomes for BF babies, so it clearly doesn’t matter to the extent that it’s being made out to. The outcomes are what we should all care about, not the inputs for the sake of it.

I refuse to believe that my daughter is “less than” or “not as good as” she would have been because she hasn’t had breast milk since she was 4 weeks old. She’s perfect.

@TruthOnTrial - if course there is no problem with people advocating for babies regarding bf but people are also entitled to advocate for babies and ff. Babies are lucky they have two very good options available to their parents.

Agreed processed cannot replicate real. Absolutely, processed has an extremely valuable place in feeding babies! Saving lives where bf is medically not possible.

Women throughout this need more support, or just even support!

The stats speak for themselves, and its a choice.

Interesting to see what influences that choice, there's obviously been a lot about medically not possible, but also around don't fancy it to it makes me feel like vomitting.

I was surprised to hear that voice quite strong, and such a violently adverse reaction to such a natural process.

I did feel quite the opposite about putting processed stuff into mine, I just wonder what that extreme reaction is borne out of.

@GibbonLover - you summed up my views exactly. I don’t know what support was available to me for bf as I didn’t look for that support. Thankfully I don’t have any guilt as there is no reason for me to have any. My ff DC’s are perfect.

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.

@Passthecherrycoke why do people write articles on anything - to understand the truth about what's going on. The data is hard to interpret - really? Again where is the evidence and the research to prove breast is best. Best in which way? It's all energy at the end of day. Food. Sure , it's been done for years and it's not natural. But neither are antibiotics. Shall we all just die of infections?

I fed the first 2, 3rd one i couldnt because of the heparin and warfarin i had to take, it would have killed my child. Is that a fair reason for not trying ? Dont feel superior because you breast feed.
All of my children are as loved and as healthy as each other, dont believe the shit that you dont bond as much with a bottle fed baby as you do with a breast fed child

I don't think there will ever be a sensible conversation about this, people are very defensive.

What I don't get is all the people who couldn't breastfeed because their milk didn't come in, why does this happen to so many women in Britain but not other countries?

If there was clear evidence then noone would be defensive. The facts would be there in black and white.
What's happening is rumour that breast is best because it contains everything. Women finding it difficult to breastfeed. Women discovering formula...and finding it's convenient and in some cases better for the mum. Then they're shamed for not doing the best for their child - pro breastfeeders get annoyed because they suffered and won't dispute the pros they've been led to believe.

@catony no people write research papers because they have been given a grant to research. Or they can further medical care etc. Have you read any science papers? People dont just write them as a hobby to see what’s going on

So how do people claim breast is best?

What do you mean how do they?

I love how this question is “innocently” asked “I was just wondering”. Posters trying to insinuate that mothers that have ff have not done as much for their baby as the ones that bf. As if knowing the answer to why they didn’t is going to make any impact at all to their lives!?
Some stats that do speak for themselves are that 20% of y6 children are obese . It’s there in black and white . I doubt very much that all of this 20% are ff babies .

How can people say breast is best when there is no evidence since
People don't write papers on the subject?

@catoney Formula companies are trying to replicate breast milk. Even they say they can’t make their formula as good as BM. Why would they say that if they could make a product that was superior?

The government make them.

I tried but hardly anything came out and it just made me feel really icky! Can't explain it but I just got no joy from it.

If their product was superior that wouldn’t happen. You’re being obtuse and tbh showing so understanding of scientific research.

What a load of judgemental crap. Fed is best end of.

I’ve breastfed one for 12 months and hated. I’ve now so far breastfed another for five months and am hating it again. It’s destroyed my bonding again and probably will until he’s weaned like the first. I unfortunately have a bottle hater and am desperate to give up but can’t: I wish I’d started on formula now.

Reasons don’t matter. It’s a bit like wondering why someone drinks or eats meat as an adult; they have a choice and they make the one right for them or out of necessity and sometimes like in my case they get it very wrong!