Breastfeeding mothers feeling the pressure

Email
Print

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 7:00p.m.

The Ministry of Health says it's crucial for the nation's well-being that more women breastfeed

The Ministry of Health says it's crucial for the nation's well-being that more women breastfeed

Today is the last day of breast feeding awareness week. It's an opportunity to promote the "breast is best" message adopted by the World Health Organisation, our own government, and pretty much every health professional you'd care to ask.

The fact we have an awareness week for a process that's been part of human existence since forever, shows just how political the issue's become.

The Ministry of Health says it's crucial for the nation's well-being that more women breastfeed, and for longer, but Campbell Live has also been contacted by a group of mums who say sometimes breastfeeding just isn't worth it, and the pressure put on new mums is too great.

Reporter Ingrid Hipkiss went to meet them.

Watch the video.

Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

10 Aug 2011 10:01p.m.

Anne wrote:

I was lucky and able to successfully breast feed my first two children for 16 weeks. With my third it was a different story - plenty of milk but still he lost weight. We switched to bottles - in spite of being advised by a midwife to abandon bottles and try feeding more often - it was my husband who stepped in and said "this is ridiculous why would you do something that is not working and do it more often?" So we stopped. My son is a healthy, bonny boy, no more viruses or illnesses than the others. I question this pressure to feed for longer - how are mothers supposed to do that when there is an even greater pressure to return to work? I often hear people complain about paying for other peoples kids etc etc, mothers are often relegated to menial jobs that no-one else wants for lower pay, prices are going up and up, just how does the WHO expect mother's to breastfeed their babies for a year (or more) and pay the bills? It's contradictory and causes un-necessary stress. Get real!

08 Aug 2011 08:39p.m.

jennifer wrote:

I breast fed my 1st baby for 3 weeks until my doctor told me not to anymore as my midwife could not, even thou she was the one watching me cry in pain. My second child had 3 days breastmilk and so did my third. My fourth didn't have any, but what I hated the most was the midwifes at the small local hospital, as I had to have a c-section I was still very sore could not walk very far but I had to go and wash and make the bottles up myself in the middle of the night because 1. as I had no 4 baby I new what I was doing and 2. the nurses were to busy helping the breastfeeding mums! but what about me I was just has sore and tired.I loved bottle feeding, my family loved bottle feeding the baby. All my children are happy healthy babies and me, I was the happiest of them all !! So a happy Mum is the best Mum and what best is for Mum best is for baby!!

08 Aug 2011 02:03p.m.

Angela wrote:

I tried so very very hard to breastfeed my first who was born early and seperated from me - I tried drugs, I fed and expressed 3 hourly (plus walked to the NICU in between) and the list goes on and on... in the end she was losing weight she couldnt afford to lose and I'll never forget the day I decided to suppliment and eventually switch to formula - any mum that looks into thier starving babies eyes and chooses NOT to feed them??? I could never do that, in fact in the same situation I would have switched earlier....Despite all this, I still had to face other mums who would look down thier nose and say things like "oh I had trouble too but I worked through it.." or "yes it is more work in the beginning.." and then go on and on about how wonderful it is and how much 'better' than bottle feeding... most people just don't have a clue. My second was a big baby (11pound) and I have had absolutely no problem breastfeeding.. although i have read the research and believe in the benefits of breastfeeding, to be honest my bottle fed baby has had far fewer viruses and coughs and colds, I also find it extremely unfortunate that alot of the information is based on old style formulas, therefore leaving out the benefits and the issues that no longer exist with the newer formulas. I am not pro one or the other - I have bonded the same with both of my babies, and both are thriving, when I meet mum's who (like I used to) almost appologetically say they are bottle feeding - for whatever reason I tell them to look at my two and pick which was fed how - no-one can tell - although some guess that the bigger one was bottle fed (when in fact he was breastfed). As for requiring a prescription for formula that is just plain ridiculous - if people are put in that situation and babies are denied food - isnt it obvious what will happen? - particularly if you are required to pay a doctor to get the script...

07 Aug 2011 10:34p.m.

Racheal wrote:

I didnt breastfeed my first 2 children because i didn't want to. They are healthy primary school kids and im glad i didn't breastfeed them. With my third (7years after the 2nd)the pressure to breastfeed was ridiculous. Since i had matured alot I decided to start to breastfeed. The best thing for a baby is not breast milk its a happy mum that can nurture a baby. I found breastfeeding more demanding then the bottle feeding it really opened my eyes to postnatal depression.

06 Aug 2011 02:17p.m.

Kylie wrote:

You need to change the title - it is "bottle feeding mums" - not breastfeeding mums - that are feeling the pressure!

06 Aug 2011 12:35a.m.

Danica wrote:

I am a young mum who could only brestfeed for the first 10weeks as my son was not putting on the weight he needed to, before i put him on just the bottle he was having bottle and breast. For me to have the beast milk for him i had the take 3pills of Domperidone 3times a day, given to me by my midwife. so there are times when woman can not breast feed, and yes ok breast milk is good but so is formula.
why are poeple quick to jump on woman who don't breast feed when they have no idea on why they can't or why they are not breast feeding?

05 Aug 2011 10:03p.m.

Emma wrote:

Thanks for telling this side of the story. It's true that breastfeeding isn't always possible. I've shared my story, "When breast isn't best" at Craving Fresh: http://www.cravingfresh.com/2011/08/when-breast-isnt-best.html

05 Aug 2011 08:39p.m.

Maggie Rainbow wrote:

Breast feeding should never be underestimated for it's protective effects reducing illness in infantcy, chilhood and into adulthood. Having other species protiens (cow, goat, soy etc) introduced into the newborn gut reprogrammes the gut fauna and flora producing detrimental changes.it is time to highlight the specific benefits not just the general "Breast is best" message.
It is also true that the children in New Zeland are dying due to a lack of being cherished. As one of the mums in your story pointed out love does not only come from the breast.Breast feeding can assist in bonding and cherishing with the right support. It can also drive a wedge when it isn't "working".
As a neonatal intensive care nurse and lactation consultant I see my role to support mums in their feeding choice, which includes safe formula feeding.