If you're pregnant and planning to breastfeed for at least the recommended six months, good for you. You're probably not going to make it, but good for you for thinking you will anyway.
That's the harsh-but-true reality according to a discouraging new report about breastfeeding. It found that while more than 85 percent of women say they intend to breastfeed for three months or longer, only 32.4 percent actually do. Basically, researchers found that the road to a formula-fed baby is paved with good breastfeeding intentions.
Furthermore, the study found that moms who are obese, are smokers, or had the longest breastfeeding goals were the least likely to succeed. Single moms were also found to meet their goals less frequently than women in committed relationships.
Overall, the numbers are pretty depressing, and, unfortunately, I understand all too well how one can fall short of her breastfeeding goals. I too had great intentions of breastfeeding my children for the first year, but I didn't make it more than a few weeks without supplementing with formula and another month or two before I gave up altogether.
My son was a different story as he was a 27-week preemie and wasn't able to breastfeed in the beginning, which presented problems later. I pumped as long as I could. With my full-term daughter, however, breastfeeding was just too hard for a number of reasons. The bottom line is that it wasn't working for us. I regret now that I didn't try harder, and looking back I wish I'd been more prepared and more determined to stick it out.
I don't think this study should be used by those of us who failed to meet our goals to beat ourselves up, nor do I believe that formula is the devil. We do, however, know that breast milk is best for our babies if we can provide it, and this study is a harsh reality check for women as to the odds we're up against and how difficult it really can be, especially when we're not well prepared and don't have adequate support.
So how can a mom better succeed at her breastfeeding goals? WebMD provides a list of tips that can improve a woman's chance at meeting her breastfeeding goals. It includes things like:
Start breastfeeding right away. Breastfeeding in the first hour after birth can have a long-term impact on success.
Don't swaddle right away. Skin-to-skin contact is best.
Ask for help. This is the MOST important one as far as I'm concerned. For many women, breastfeeding is not as easy and idyllic as it's made out to be, and there are people who can and will help, but not if you don't ask.
Did you meet your breastfeeding goals? What do you feel like got in the way if you didn't?
Image via Jerry Bunkers/Flickr
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Comments 38
But I met my 6 month goal with the others.
I never have a goal time saying 6mo at least. I just want to feed him until he has teeth!! I don't have a problem with pumping and giving breastmilk through the bottle. With my first son my milk didn't come in as good as it is with the second. With my first my milk dried up at four months, the Dr said it was stress due to my husband being deployed. With my 2nd I hope to go 6months but I wont stress if I don't go that long.
What does being overweight have to do with anything, I wonder? I tried for weeks to get my daughter to BF, but I just never made any milk....Unfortunately the doctor I had at the time wasnt very enlightening as to why this was, but with the second baby arriving in just a couple months, I do intend on trying once more but if I cant I certainly am not going to beat myself up over it.
I think too many women are uncomfortable with it and don't stick to it long enough for it to become comfortable. There is a learning curve for baby and mom. Not many seek help or are well educated on it to know what's going on or to tell a pushy nurse/relative no formula and so on. Plus in the united states the maternity leave sucks! I took 12 wks but many only get 6 wks. It Took every bit of 6 wks to get comfortable brainy the first time. Many employers don't allow ample time and space for pumping. So it's easy to see why most babies are on formula these days. So many things working against nursing moms... It's sad.
i did still strong at 9 months and counting but im one of the few 21 year old sahm! easy i couldnt imagine making all those bottles let alone buying them, plus i lost all prego weight and more!
Bella Grace,
I get where you are coming from, but sometimes it just doesn't work, so telling people to just give it time can be dangerous for the baby. My body barely produced any milk, and I was almost dried up by six weeks. I had to start supplementing with bottles at three weeks because she just wasn't getting enough sustenance. My gyno, the la leche league, and everyone else I went to for help agreed. Sometimes you just have to supplement with a bottle and some people just don't produce much milk. So, unfortunately, it doesn't always get easier, even with time.