Overcoming "Booby Traps" to Breastfeeding

Pediatricians recommend exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months of life.  What they don't tell you is that most women are also set up to fail. In the US, only 12% of babies are being breast fed to 6 months, and many mothers stop breast feeding after only a few days or weeks. In fact, this same study also revealed that only 40 % of women reach their own personal breast feeding goals. Eh gads, that means 60% are plagued with that yucky mother guilt! Lets face it, there are a lot of barriers to success, which have been aptly named "Booby Traps" by the Best for Babes Foundation.  Their web site it full of resources that help moms overcome the hurdles that get in the way of breast feeding.  And, they also support mothers who choose bottle feeding too.  All moms have to feed their babies and no mother should feel badly about it.

Comments

[Teresa Bosco]

Thank you so much for writing this. It two me two weeks and help from several moms, agencies, books, and professionals to get my son breastfeeding. In pre-natal classes we were told there was no other option (but were not told about the pitfalls). My friends and I had always been so judgmental of women who chose not to breastfeed. I endured it because I thought it was best for my baby.After 5 months, neither my son, nor I could take it anymore, and we switched to formula. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders and realized how much my ordeal with breastfeeding affected my ability to enjoy my son as much as possible up to that point. Friends (the same judgmental ones!) noticed a complete 180 in my level of happiness and signs of stress. I still wish things had gone differently but I know I made the right choice. I will definitely consult this website if I have another baby!

[certification]

Thank you for sharing this article. really helpful