Comments on: freeSpeech: Lori Leibovich

Mother Speaks About Pressures To Breastfeed

[swalk52]

Thank you so much for speaking up for moms who are unsuccessful at breastfeeding. I had a 10 lb. 4 oz. baby early this year who I could not satisfy with the amount of milk I produced. In addition to that, he was a poor nurser according to my lactation consultant. No matter how much we tried, supply never equaled demand. He would nurse for an hour and still cry out in hunger.

I ended up, like you, having to pump exclusively in order to monitor his milk intake while also reluctantly supplementing with formula. I cried every time I considered quitting because I just felt so guilty about it. I am amazed that you were able to stick with it for seven months; I had had enough by 3 months.

I had also been given the impression that babies who are breastfed are always healthier than formula-fed babies. This is simply not true.

I also agree that mandatory paid maternity leave is something that should be provided. Luckly, I had enough sick time saved up to stay home with my baby for 8 weeks. Had I not had enough time saved up, I would have been forced to go on short-term disability.

Thanks again for speaking out on this issue. Maybe discussions like this will bring about positive changes.

[clark056]

Would you please do a story on the fact that breast feeding prevents breast cancer.

Docotor's families know this to be true.

[helenw4-2009]

Lori was perfectly reasonable and articulate until she made the utterly ridiculous statement about the government harping on moms to breastfeed for the health of their babies but not "providing mandatory paid maternity leave." Hey! Look again Lori! The government didn't "mandate" you breastfeed! And how would you feel about its "guilt trip" if it DID mandate it? Please, make up your mind or just be honest. You want the government to act when it suits you but lay off when it doesn't.

[katebeem]

Right on, Lori Leibovich. I've been waiting for 10 years for someone to say what you said in public. I'm so tired of women beating up each other for the choices we make. We should be sticking together instead of tearing each other apart.
When my first child was born I tried to breastfeed. It was painful, I was stressed and the lactation consultant at our hospital was too busy. When I called to tell her I was switching to formula, she told me I was quitting because of the pain. *** right I was. But I also quit because I wanted to hold my baby and not wince at the thought that he'd be latching on. I thought that breastfeeding is a part of mothering, but it's a small part. Yet I feel guilty that I didn't stick with it, even now.
I think there are enough parenting mistakes going on out there that society should leave formula-feeding moms alone.
Lori Leibovich, you rock!

[onerockinmom-2009]

Ms. Leibovich's opinions echoed my own thoughts. I too have felt guilty for not breastfeeding my child and I am an adoptive mother.

Although breastfeeding an adopted child is possible, it is not entirely practical and supplementation is normally required.

However, the government has made it very clear that, in their opinion, I am harming my baby because my body is not physically able provide my child with breastmilk. What I would like to know though, is have they considered educating the public about the effects on infants and children if the mother is putting potentially harmful and sometimes poisonous substances into their own bodies? In those cases, breast is NOT always best.

[moxxiemama]

I completely agree. After I delievered my second child, I had sepsis, but was unaware until I ended up hospitalized again. I breastfed my first child with no problem and intended to do so with the second. When my milk would not come in because of my infection, I was guilted by so many people-and found that I was having to EXPLAIN my health situation to others who had no business with that information. It really made me furious. Can't people just shut up about things that are none of their business?

[jagar5]

I am a mother and I believe breastfeeding is very important but I also found it difficult. When my daughter was only three weeks old I was told I didn't have enough milk to supply her for the entire day so I breastfeed only twice a day. I loved the connection and bond we shared from breastfeeding and was devastated when I had trouble. Part of my guilt could have been a result of pressure from doctors, books and government warnings. But is it really such a surprise? This is the same government that is trying to convince us that abortion causes breast cancer. A fact that is not supported by any medical institution. The government pushes it's political agenda by any means necessary. Using guilt tactics against women seems to be affective.

[jklevans]

I agree completely. When my son was born 17 years ago, he was unable to suck due to cerebral palsy. People made it out to be a horrible thing. He would be sicker and bonding wouldn't be as great.

The truth is he hardly ever had a cold or virus when he was an infant or toddler and he was in day care. Also I would like to see how many moms have the close relationship with their child that I have with mine. Karen

[lwag2]

Amen! I had planned to breastfeed also. When my son was born, the lactation specialist at the hospital told me his stomach would be the size of a marble and I would have exactly what he needed until my milk came in, and afterward. In actuality his stomach was the size of a tennis ball. He stopped wetting his diapers for over 14 hours after we brought him home from the hospital. I thought he was dehydrated, and we got him in to see the doctor immediately. She said he was just hungry and I could start supplementing his feedings with formula. I was so relieved! I had been up for 30 minutes every 1 1/2 hours since he had been born trying to feed him! Instead I was slowly starving him. The pressure to breastfeed is immense. But what is ultimately best for the baby is food and sleep. That's also a good prescription for a sane mother.

[jkdewey]

Thank you SO MUCH for doing this segment! I too feel the same way - bullied and guilted into breastfeeding. For my first two children, I spent HUNDREDS of dollars on lactation consultant visits, new breast pumps, expensive foreign medications, etc. I just had my third child six weeks ago and for the third time lost my milk very early. I have beat myself up the last two times and this time, decided not to. My child is perfectly healthy - even on formula. Adopted infants have to be given formula and they turn out wonderful! Not being able to breastfeed (or having challenges doing so) is not a new thing. In Bible days, they had wet nurses for women with children experiencing problems. Breastfeeding may be natural, but it comes with a great deal of pain and problems as well that many women experience. Thank you - from all of us who wanted to breastfeed and CAN NOT! I only wish this voice was heard more often.

[aimeelovan]

I agree with Ms. leibovich. I wanted to breastfeed tremendously when i was pregnant with my now 10 mth. old daughter. But i had a c-section and got a severe blood infection during the operation. I was ill for two weeks after delivering so couldn't breastfeed b/c i was in so much pain let alone all the strong antibiotics that were going through my system. on top of all that, i went back to work part-time after 3 weeks b/c i didn't have paid maternity leave. i could've opted for short term disability but that was only $350 per week. On average, my salary comes out to be $1,350 per week. I could not afford that much of a pay decrease. therefore, in order to get $1,350 per week i had to return to work part time as soon as my vacation days were used up! In conclusion, i felt so guilty and still do to this day b/c i wasn't able to breastfeed, if the gov. offered mandatory paid maternity leave i would've made a stronger effort to pump while i was ill following the c-section.