Breastfeed or else

Nurses General Nursing

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as for the dads who push the moms to bf, go get a fake boob like in meet the fockers and go to town. :lol2: ;) it isn't your body and if mom feels she can't do it, then that is her choice.

just because someone doesn't bf doesn't make them a horrible mom.

yes!!!!!!!!

bless you, bbg!

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Specializes in LTC.

I just finished weaning my 16 month old 5 days ago. :monkeydance:

About a year ago I was in Wal-mart and a young mother got in line behind me with a little girl about the same age as lil' E. So you know the whole "oh how old?" conversation started and she asked if I breastfeed. I said yes and her demeanor changed she said she bottlefed. That she tried to breastfeed but it hurt her too much. I just felt like crap because she was trying to explain herself. :( This article has some good points but come on??? a warning label.....as if warning labels ever stopped anyone in the past.....""""Well I was going to buy some cigarettes to smoke and saw that warning label....Wow I'm glad I read that!"""" :lol_hitti Puh-lease!!!!! What a waste of time and money. How about putting that money to good use....like buying diapers and formula for families that can't afford it! :idea: Geez.....

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
I'm so sorry you had to experience that from nurses. It's bad enough when the lay public says things like that, but when someone who is supposed to be compassionate says those things.....sheesh! Those people are what I've heard referred to as "breastfeeding Nazis."
I've heard them refferred to as "nipple Nazi's". I breastfed my 3 daughters, 1 for 4 months, 1 for 6 months and the next for 8 months. But, they also had no problem taking a bottle at all. (Once my 3rd had 8 teeth at 7 1/2 months, I started to wean!) They drank formula, too. I feel sorry for the moms whose babies won't take a bottle at all and their own husband can't even feed the baby. I really think most babies will do both, I don't believe in nipple confusion. If they're hungry, they'll eat!

I'm a NICU nurse, too and I was thinking about taking a Lactation Educator's course, but I'm worried about how anti-bottle they will be.

I think breastfeeding is great, all moms should at least try it, but if it doesn't work for them, they shouldn't feel guilty about it. I know it is especially hard to pump for a premie, but usually moms produce some milk even with just pumping.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Oh, and I agree breastfeeding is not all that easy...especially in the beginning. I had a lot of shooting pains and engorgement...it took me about 3-4 weeks each time to feel more comfortable physically and emotionally about breastfeeding. Most of us older than 30 were probably bottlefed and we lived to tell about it! My mom thought her neighbor breastfed (in the 60's) because she was poor! It just wasn't done much back then.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
That was what I was implying. That is my professional opinion and will remain so until proved otherwise. But, with all actions, it has to be taken in context.

The proper answer is to do whatever is in your power. If it is not a possibility, then don't worry about it. The problem is many people claim that a certain course of action is not a possibility just because it is an inconvience.

Same answer as above.

Why? Most sensitive topics are sensitive for a reason, but that doesn't mean they should be ignored. My perception is that the logic behind not breast-feeding [minus the previously mentioned restrictions] is the same as not exercising, feeding your kids fast food on a regular basis, smoking, drinking alcohol [in excess, mind you]. The problem might be a lack of information, but if that is not the case, then at some point doing the proper course of action is breaking down. This happens, we are all human, and we all have time restrictions.

But because of those time restrictions, we often have to prioritize. Saddly, it is often the activities that are most beneficial that get replaced by things like sitting on the couch watching TV all night instead of going to the gym, or stopping at KFC to buy food instead of taking 15 minutes to prepare a wholesome meal.

From my [limited] perspective, these disconnects are all due to the same cause - justification of another course of action, which normally starts with "...I know I should do this but..." If you have a legitmate reason, then you can answer your own conscience. If you don't, at least be honest about the reason.

But there is a rebuttal to my point that uses the issue of priority: if we accept that breastfeeding is better, how important is it compared with all the other factors that go into being a parent? Is it better to breastfeed if your going to be upset the entire time you are nursing - which will negatively impact the child more? If you have to breastfeed for hours (happened to my ex-wife), is it better to do that as opposed to working on everything else that you need to get done?

Josh, I understand your concerns, but until you grow some breasts and try to breastfeed, you should be very cautious on this thread.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Call Center RN.

Congrats on never letting your child hold a bottle. It is rare, even though you did it. Most people do allow the child to hold their own bottle and so on. It happens, but it is definitely rare.

I think that what you say here is untrue. I never let any of my children hold their own bottle. When they were old enough to hold a bottle, they were using a sippy cup, and NEVER did they walk around with them. I don't think it is as rare as you say it is. Look how many of us here have not let it happen. Most mothers I know consider that special time with their baby and would not give it up until they had to.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
And who are you to determine that a decision is made to avoid inconvenience? Until you grow breasts and have a baby and try to breastfeed yourself, I (as a woman) would not put much stock in your opinion about breastfeeding problems.

You took the words righ tout of my mouth, Tazzi!;)

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Specializes in OB.

I breast fed my daughter until she was 8 months old, then stopped when she decided it was fun to latch on and then see how far she could pull away from me to look around the room while having her dinner. and that stopped that!!! I totally believe breast is best, but not if it doesn't work, and sometimes it just don't !!

On the other hand, I have seen some so totally against it that they have put their baby's health in jeopardy.. my husband's family included. His niece had a preemie who had stomach surgery about 5 hours after birth. They then tried every type of formula/goats/soy etc.. and he kept hucking it up. They are extremely closed mouth southern, you dont SPEAK about anything, and to say the word BREAST.. om goodness.. but this good ol girl from up North got that Mama on the phone and asked if her milk had came in and to give that a try. It worked, and he started turning around.

Seems to me that some women get bombarded with either one way or the other- the breast nazis and then the bottle pushers. go figure. I have always thought it should be what works best for both the mother and the baby

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

I think we may have veered away from what the article said. I went back and reread it twice and I saw nothing in the article about not bonding in formula fed infants.

I will agree that the stance may be a little drastic but I cannot agree that formula is "just as good" as breast milk. It is a substitute for babies that do not have the availability of breast milk.

I breastfed 3 of my 4 children. The 3 breastfed children did recieve some formula supplement. I also let my kids eat Happy meals occasionally. Is that the best nutritional choice? Nope. Does it mean I love my kids less than the mom who goes to the Health food store to buy only organic wholesome foods for her kids? Nope.

Sometimes we all will settle for second best. It may be because that is our only option. If you cannot/will not breastfeed then formula is obviously the best option for your child. I would rather see your baby fed formula than watered down skim milk.

The fact is simple enough, breast milk was made for babies. It contains substances that cannot be reproduced. Formula has been modeled after breastmilk with the best of intentions, but it will never be breast milk.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

Yes, many people did live to tell about it, but we also have skyrocketing rates of obesity, type II diabetes, and many other things that are associated with artificial feeding.

I think the women who are trying to denigrate and discount the benefits of breastfeeding are doing themselves no favor.

If you didn't want to nurse your child, then say it, own it. Know that it was better, but you had your reasons for not doing it, so you didn't. I know giving organic food always is better for my kids, but I don't. There. I've said it. You're not going to make me feel guilty about it, because I know why I don't and I'm ok with it, you do what you have to do.

But the problem is most women who fail at breastfeeding do so from lack of support, or lack of good support (because not all support is good). And the moment they have a problem, people swoop in and say "here, formula is just as good, you tried, now give up because you can't do it."

Think of it like learning to walk. When a baby falls down time and time again, even when they cry and are frustrated, we don't swoop in and put them in a wheelchair because we've made so many advances in wheelchairs and don't you know, all buildings are required to have ADA entrances, and you'll be able to park wherever you want because of it. I know plenty of people who were in wheelchairs and lived full and happy lives!

Of course, some children for whatever reason, may truly be physically incapable of walking and need a wheelchair. But, like the numbers of women who truly cannot breastfeed, they are not very common. But everyone knows how to walk. Everyone knows how to help the baby learn. It's just expected and natural, as nursing should be.

And btw, formula is associated with higher death rates, especially in preemies, where the rates of NEC are much higher with babies who have been fed artificial milk.

The more educated you are, the more money you have, the more likely you are to breastfeed. But it's the lower socioeconomic kids who need it the most and just buying more formula for them, instead of trying to influence the nursing rates is almost prejudicial.

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I think that what you say here is untrue. I never let any of my children hold their own bottle. When they were old enough to hold a bottle, they were using a sippy cup, and NEVER did they walk around with them. I don't think it is as rare as you say it is. Look how many of us here have not let it happen. Most mothers I know consider that special time with their baby and would not give it up until they had to.

Actually it is pretty uncommon, at least in my region. People thought I spoiled my daughter by not making her hold her own bottle. I've seen babies as young as 4-5 months having their hands wrapped around a bottle by their parents in an effort to teach them how to hold it.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.
I think that what you say here is untrue. I never let any of my children hold their own bottle. When they were old enough to hold a bottle, they were using a sippy cup, and NEVER did they walk around with them. I don't think it is as rare as you say it is. Look how many of us here have not let it happen. Most mothers I know consider that special time with their baby and would not give it up until they had to.

No one but you ever held a bottle? You always fed your child, never anyone else?

I will stick to the fact that it is rare. 98% of the time I've ever seen a child given a bottle once it was older than 6 months, they've held it themselves, no matter what was in the bottle. Three people on allnurses that have always held bottles does not a majority make. Again, don't do yourself a disservice by claiming these things never happen and that you aren't an exception. I'm not doubting that you are an exception, but I am doubting that you are the rule.

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