Baby Parenting Guide

Do you think that all mothers are capable of breast feeding successfully?

I don't think so, but I am curious to know your opinion. I am a breast feeding, bottle feeding, pumping mom of 2. I am not talking only about biological or medical conditions. I am talking about life experience, time spent struggling, lack of time or money, other kids to look after, not being easy with lactation consultants, and so on the list is long.

Public Response to Do you think that all mothers are capable of breast feeding successfully?

1. no, my mum could not breast feed me, some can and some cant
2. Oh here we go................
3. most of them, if they still have breasts, like if they lost them from breast cancer no
4. not all. i would say most mothers can. just like not all mothers conceived natuarally.
5. Nope. I'm proof positive. My mother tried to nurse me but couldn't due to a medical problem.
6. No I did everything right and when my 3rd child was 4 weeks my milk production ceased completely in one day
7. It was a struggle for me. But I successfully nursed my son until 11 months. I wouldn't judge anyone who decided it wasn't for them. It was a huge sacrifice and there were times that I thought it wouldn't work. I just made the decision not to quit. But sometimes I think there are medical reasons why a mother can't produce milk. Other times certain medications the mother is taking prevents them from breastfeeding. If someone is having a difficult time- check these out... http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/breastfeeding-devices/158/24mm-contact-nipple-shield Without these I would have probably quit.
8. No I don't.
9. Given that not every woman is capable of even having a child (infertility), it would stand to reason that for biological reasons, some women's breast will not properly work to allow them to breast feed.
10. Yes, unless you have a medical condition that affects your breasts or milk supply. Statistically only about 4% of women cannot breastfeed. Think of it this way - how did the population grow before there was formula - women breastfed.
11. No some women do not produce enough milk back in the old days they had something called a wet nurse that if you couldn't feed your baby they would(it would be someone who had a baby around that time or someone who was able to nurse their baby and they would nurse yours too)...No I don't think that everyone can...but if you can do it, it saved me a ton of money :)
12. no i don't think so. some mothers milk never even comes in and sometimes cracked and bleeding nipples get to the point where it's not healthy for the baby to feed because it's gettingg more blood than milk then there is problems that the mohter could have where she has to take certine medicines that could be harmful to the baby if she breastfed (cancer is just one of many). I have never had any of thoses problems, but it happens and i don't think any mother should feel bad or guilty about formula feeding whatever the situation.
13. No cause I couldn't since my milk wouldn't come in. So I had to bottle feed.
14. i do think so I cant wait to try I heard its hard at first but dont give up
15. I think with the right support almost all women can breastfed successfully. It can be really hard the first 2 weeks, but after 6 weeks it is so much easier than bottles!!! I think that if you really want to, and you have a supportive family ( HUSBAND). IKnow plenty of ladies who thought that they couldn't breastfeed their first child, but when the second came along and they had the proper education and support, they had no problem. It is very rare for some to be completely unable to breastfeed. It takes patience, education and understanding.
16. honestly? yes. with the right amount of education and support, there is no reason that a healthy mom can't breastfeed a healthy baby
17. I think since we have other options (bottles and pumping) we don't NEED to be capable or as persistent with it. But, if we didn't have those options, we would have to be, wouldn't we? I mean, there would have been a LOT of babies starved to death before formula was invented if as many women weren't capable of breast feeding back then. But personally I think pumping is better than formula if someone can't breastfeed for some reason or another.
18. i think it is possible i mean when you think about it, what did mothers do before formula was invented?...ok there were wet nurses but not readily able to the masses...so my answer is yes to about 99% of women can but not enough women know how difficult it is to get started and they get scared and concerned that the baby is not getting enough, or that it hurts or they are doing it wrong...so the easy alternative is formula...
19. I think with the right support and help then yes, they can....I had NO support from either my husband or anyone else. I desperately wanted to breastfeed and I tried but it was so hard and everyone around me was saying to just give up, its no big deal...I have regreted that more than anything else Ive ever done. I think that if I would have had support and someone there to help me and show me how and get me through the tough days then I could have done it.
20. With the proper support, resources, and eduction, I believe at least 95% of women could nurse their children, yes.
21. No, for some it is medically/physically impossible. Otherwise I'm sure a lot more people would do it. I think everyone should try, at least for a couple weeks.
22. Of course not, just like not all women are capable of getting pregnant. I have friends who were physically not able to breastfeed. My mother also got bad mastitis so had to bottle feed me and my brother. Edit: These people who so smugly say "What did women do 200 years ago when there was no formula?" make me so cranky. Do you not realise that 200 years ago, if a woman could not breastfeed and she could not find or afford a wet nurse then her baby would DIE. It is a fact that some women just can't do it!!
23. Statistics show that in actuality, very VERY few mothers are incapable of successfully breastfeeding due to medical/biological reasons. That's a fact, despite what it appears on message boards. Now for being prepared, armed with information, having the desire, and having the endurance, that's another thing altogether. If a mom really doesn't want to, no amount of help will change that. They will convince themselves they aren't making enough milk, or any other plethera of excuses. I'm a breastfeeding mom, but I certainly don't judge those that choose not to. But some make excuses, when all they need to say is "I don't want to!"... :D
24. I think most women can given the right support, rest and adequate fluids and diet. however some women do not produce much milk and some babies are too lazy to feed properly, as was the case with my daughter !! I fed every 15 minutes for 6 weeks until I was physically exhausted. I beilive that it is best to breast feed but not when it may cause PND or severe stress and exhaustion.
25. I think that most mothers are capable of breastfeeding successfully - although there are a couple of reasons why they can't - breast surgery, breast cancer, breast underdeveloped or unevenly developed. As far as low milk supply - there isn't truly that many women who have low milk supply permanently. There are some times when there wasn't enough stimulation so the milk supply is decreased but with a very determined routine you can bring it back up. I do believe that a lot of breastfeeding run into 2 problems that they lead to not breastfeed - 1) wrong information of the pediatrician 2) not enough support or educated personal to help them.
26. I would say about 97 -98 % are.
27. Nope. My mom was successful witih my brother but when I was an infant, I refused to eat, it's easier to force-feed a bottle than a breast (my pediatricians words). Also, my best friend was unable to breast feed her son as she wasn't producing enough milk for a feeding. Then you have the working mom who even if she wants to breast feed, can't do it for more than a few weeks and resorts to either pumping or formula. Also, Elyse's mom - those who couldn't either found a wet-nurse or their children died. Not a pretty thought but it happened. Side note: I've always hated the "super breast-feeding" mom's who make it sound like child neglect when someone can't/doesn't breast feed without knowing the reasoning behind it.
28. Yep. Even premies can later breastfeed.
29. no. my mom couldnt breastfeed me or my 2 sisters and 1 brother. she had destational diabetes i think and it kept her from feeding us like that. there are also other things that can keep mothers from breastfeeding their baby
30. i think most could if they wanted to,, but not all babies are capable of breast feeding, my 2nd child could not feed properly because she had no suck reflex and an oddly shapped pallet and small jaw. i was capable of breast feeding but she was not.. with some mothers the milk just does not come in, maybe it's hormones or milk duct problems
31. I think more are physically capable of it than what they say. PHYSICALLY capable. But a lot factors in as to your success of nursing. I have succesfully nursed 4 babies to 9-14 mos basically halfway thru the next pregnancy. I get irritated when someone looks at me and says, "you are so lucky, I wasn't able to breastfeed very long" I have heard this more times than not. Yes, I did nurse my babies but people don't understand it was not always easy and there were many sacrifices involved, that I was willing to take. I had the luxury of being a stay at home mom, if I were a working mom too I don't believe I would have had the luck or energy. Pumping is HARD, if I would have had to rely on that to keep my milk supply up it would have never happened. Yes, I had bouts were I didn't feel I was producing enough, but my baby slept through the night. So I got up to pump twice a night regardless to boost my supply, among other things and I don't think most people realize this. I gave up ALL alcohol. I think too many people worry & get all anxious about something we were really equipted to accomplish. Baby's go through growth spurts when they eat constantly and you constantly feel empty but riding the storm out is the best option. I think moms nowdays always have the best intentions to nurse and it just doesn't work for them whatever the reasons are. They don't need to blame it on not having enough milk, like I said, if we are capable of nursing a baby the way it was meant to be done it will work 99% of the time. BUT life factors in, a working mom is at a huge disadvantage. Some can despite this, many can't it doesn't mean you are a failure. I just wish woman would revel in the fact they DID nurse their babies at all even if it was only 6wks!
32. Everyone pretty much answered your question, and everyone is right. No everyone is not capable of breastfeeding, but some don't think they can when the really can, they just didn't try hard enough, or the baby wasn't latching on properly. Here is a site, that I found extremely helpful, it gives you the proper techniques of breastfeeding and also myths of breastfeeding. Check it out.