Did anyone warn you?

Tania - posted on 05/16/2010

I knew all this but breastfeeding was never an option for me.

*Lisa* - posted on 05/16/2010

I was told about this in our ante-natal classes by the midwife. She covered why breastfeeding is best for not only the baby but mum too.

Becky - posted on 05/16/2010

I don't remember discussing breastfeeding with my doctor at all before my sons were born, which is a little odd, because the health region I live in is actually very pro-breastfeeding. But I did know the benefits to both my baby and to myself from books and friends.
When my first son was born, the nurses didn't even ask me if I was going to breastfeed him (that I can recall anyways), they just assumed I was going to and said, okay, let's get you feeding him!

Shannon - posted on 05/16/2010

I knew all that. My midwife told me all the benefits to breast feeding & the downsides to not.. I chose to breast feed & luckly for me it came easily.

Amy - posted on 05/16/2010

I agree with you Melissa, I feel the same way. I was dead set on breastfeeding, got tips from all my friends on how to produce more milk so I would have an ample supply to feed my daughter. Then when she was born, we discovered she was tongue tied, and could not latch properly at first. I had to supplement and pumped around the clock to try and get my milk supply up but it was 10 days before it even came in and then she started latching but I was only able to produce an ounce per feeding. It became too frustrating for both of us to keep trying, and I still have the biggest guilt for not being able to provide "the best" for my child. But she is smart as a whip at 3 months already so advanced...I'm going off on a tangent here.

Thing of it is, some women just cannot nurse, due to whatever reason. Maybe it's because I'm already predisposed to breast cancer because it runs in my family? I guess I'm doomed :(

Stina - posted on 05/16/2010

I think it would be more effective to educate people about the benefits of breastfeeding to both Mom and Baby than to warn about the possible risks of not breastfeeding.

If a doctor were to tell me- Breastfeeding lowers the risk of you getting cancer, helps regulate your hormones after child birth etc, I be more receptive to breastfeeding (imagining me back at my first pregnancy again) than if the doctor said "If you Don't breastfeed, you are at higher risk for...."

Better to educate positively than to put that negative "don't" in front of something we ultimately hope people will choose.

I was already set on breast feeding my first baby so when the doctor asked if I was planning to, I said Yes and she congratulated me and told me a few of the facts that made my decision a good one.

I don't know what she may have said if I said no.. I hope that after asking me why I didn't want to breastfeed, she would have said something to the effect of "While ultimately it is your decision, breastfeeding has many benefits to Mom and Baby.... (fill in with a few facts and the recommendation to try breastfeeding)" then hand me some fact filled pamphlets for me to read on my own.

Cathrine - posted on 05/16/2010

My midwife pushed breast feeding and all the possible benefits. I have 2 children both of which I couldnt breast feed and I was really shocked with my first when that happened. I think midwifes in the UK dont give a clear picture of breastfeeding.

I was traumatised when I could feed my first child myself I would have liked someone to say before hand that a very high percentage of first time mums cant I suffered real guilt with my first even though we persevered and it was her choice.

Amy - posted on 05/16/2010

My doctors didn't tell me the benefits but that's probably because I didn't ask them the pros and cons of each I decided on my own that I was going to breastfeed.

Ericia - posted on 05/16/2010

No...I was never informed about this (and I have 3 children)...and Yes, I believe it is an issue that should be addressed to any expecting mother...if health care providers are only going to talk about the pros and cons for babies, it should be addressed in that form at least...I mean, isn't it equally bad for a child to grow up w/o their mother b/c she wasn't informed of the risks to her health?

Amanda - posted on 05/16/2010

I was told breastfeeding reduces the risks of these cancers, and each time you breastfeed it up the % that you are protected againsts theses things, as well as the longer you breastfeed the better it is for your body. Unfor a doctor never told me this stuff, my mother, and the books gave me this information.

Melissa - posted on 05/16/2010

That was mentioned in our nursing class while I was pregnant. It was phrased differently. They were giving us the benefits of nursing, which included the reduced risk of the listed health conditions. I think everyone knows that 'breast is best'. But like you said, not everyone can. My son would not nurse, he would latch on, suck a couple times, then give up. He didn't want to work for it. After a month of pumping I wasn't producing enough and had to switch to formula. I have to say that when I read the posts about the negatives of formula feeding I can't help but feel offended and hurt. It wasn't going to work for my son and I, I blame myself for my son having to be on formula and feel bad that I couldn't nurse him.

Meghan - posted on 05/16/2010

um I don't think anyone actually told me that (which is shocking seeing as most medical professionals are so pushy about breastfeeding) but I had read it in all the baby books.