What do you think is the biggest barrier to breastfeeding In Australia?

[Berry]

Hi Kelly,

Interesting thread and quite a topical issue to me personally.

I have always been very pro-breastfeeding and always intended to be a breastfeeding mama, and so (having easily breastfed my first baby for 14 months) it was hard having a hospitalised 27-weeker and having all sorts of obstacles which led me to abandon breastfeeding attempts when she was 4.5months old. I am now a consumer rep. on a hospital Committee (mainly comprised of neonatal medical staff) which is forming extensive guidelines for establishing feeding of hospitalised babies. I have been advocating to my best ability for the hospital to encourage every possible avenue, within funding constraints, to support breastfeeding of prem babies.

So for me the first barrier to breastfeeding has been baby's early hospitalisation which caused unavoidable maternal separation (would have LOVED to room in with my baby at the hospital for the 3 month stay but unfortunately that just doesn't happen with NICU/Sepcial Care), and baby's immature development causing physical difficulty latching on and sustaining the energy to feed.

From your list, I would say Conflicting advice after birth has been a significant barrier following both my birth experiences - particularly nurses differing in their beliefs / patience / assessment of mum's breastfeeding success and baby's sucking ability. Can't generalise as I have had some absolutely amazing nurses assist me with breastfeeding. However, after my firstborn arrived and I felt I was doing a great job with him latching on and feeding well from the start, my mum overheard a particular nurse say to another nurse that I "still hadn't learnt to breastfeed my baby". The same nurse insisted that I return to the hospital after discharge to have my baby weighed, as she felt he couldn't be getting enough milk. He had put on well more than expected and as his mum I always knew he was a content, great breastfeeder. That is one example of an experience where a first-time mum could have been put off by the unfortunate attitude of a nurse. All the other nurses were great with my firstborn though.

With my second baby (prem), when she finally began graduating from tube-feeding to suck-feeding, me and some of the wonderful nurses were delighted and rated the initial attempts as successful and despite what this 27-week-born-baby was up against, she sustained some pretty good sucking (and was then topped up with EBM each time). I desperately wanted to hear that me and my baby were doing a good job and that there could be hope for successful ongoing breastfeeding. I felt really deflated that one nurse had to say "your baby is a poor sucker", and pointed out that other babies in the room were doing a lot better. That broke my heart and I wish all prem mums could be told that they are doing an amazing job just getting anywhere with breastfeeding.