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

[Pandora]

I voted for Health Professional influence, but I think its really a combination of things, probably these 4 would be the main ones in my experience.

Lack of education
Health professional influence e.g. MCHN, Paed

Lack of education, both on the part of the mum and contributing to the health professionals "advice".

I know of one OB who frequently tells mums to stop breastfeeding at their 6 month check if he decides their weight gain is not up to scratch, when often its fine for a b/f baby.

A lot of mums have no idea. Most in my mothers group did not know that the charts (until recently) in the baby books were based on white, middle class American FF babies.

I have also met a lot who are scared of the ABA. I mean it, the term "breastfeeding nazi" was used, and they thought that they'd be frowned on for having problems.

I was very, very lucky that all of the midwives when my son was born were supportive of me breasfeeding, and that he was a big baby.
My milk did not come in until day 5, and until then we were hand expressing and catching it in syringes to feed DS. He didn't attach properly, breastfeeding DS was extrememly painful for me and frustratig for him.

The oncall paed wrote him up for comp feeds.
The midwife and the LC discussed it with me, and we decided that he didn't need them just yet, he was getting enough, albeit barely.

I stayed in an extra day at the Breastfeeding day stay (not enough of these available IMO. I have been 2 two different hospitals for them, it was great) and had another 5 or so visits after we went home.

I was lucky to have a supportive MCHN, who could recommend a pro-b/f paed. for me to see.

Unfortunately not everyone else is as lucky as I was.
I think all mums and babies deserve to have this care and these opportunities.
It shouldn't come down to the luck of the draw.

[Eugenia]

I can't pick just one! I think they're all very important. ANyway, here is my list in order of what I think affected me the most.

Health professional influence e.g. MCHN, Paed
Family &/ friends ideals/advice/expectation
Lack of continuity of care
Conflicting advice after birth
Lack of availablility/affordability of support
Lack of education
Interventions at birth
Accessibility of artificial milk
Marketing of artificial milk

I probably should have put lack of education higher as I really didn't bother to educate myself about breastfeeding as much as I did about pregnancy and birth, I just assumed it would be easy because it's the natural thing to do. I also wasn't the only one amongst my friends who thought that. I know others who stopped breastfeeding because they had an unsettled 5 day old baby and just assumed they didn't have enough milk and that was the reason for the crying. One friend even told me that I too would give up bf just like she did once I had to be up at 3 am with a crying baby.

Which brings me to family/friends/society expectations. I found that in our society ff is seen as the norm by just about everyone and as soon as you have any trouble the advice is, "switch to formula". People think you're crazy to choose to persevere with bf despite having massive problems. Even a so-called LC told me that. There should be some sort of standard to make people have real qualifications to work as LCs, and not have just anyone do it.

Enough of my ranting. Good luck, Kelly. I hope you can make them see some sense!

[bigbird2girls]

For me personally it was conflicting advise after birth. I was told one thing then another. I basically self taught myself and read books. I was lucky though that my DD new how to do it and i had no problems. I only got mastitis once which i had no idea about either no one told me anything, it was like they thought i had already had about 4 babies and it was not my first!

I also found that not one of the midwives were trained the same way and i found that the older midwives obviously did not go to regular updates in training to be in line with the now times, it was always back in the old days etc etc. The new young midwives were trained well though and were helpful no negative advice was given from any of the younger girls at all it was the older girls who gave negatives and did not support you.

HTH

Jen

[annef6722]

hi
1. conflicting advice after birth/lack of continuity of care
the nurses all had their own methods of breastfeeding - makes it too confusing. most of them seemed to query my ability to feed, and seemed surprised i'd been able to feed my first son. even though i fed him for 10months, and am now sucessfully feeding my second.
only one of about ten nurses made me feel competent about feeding my baby.
so more consistency needed among nurses, and more reassuring advice.

2. women feeling "funny" about breastfeeding - as if their breasts were designed for sexual purposes only. i don't understand this, but it is common among my friends.

thanks
anne

[Debi77]

From reading what you have all said, I think a continuity of support and education throughout the process is very important. Changing people who are the first point of access for information would make it very difficult if they are all giving conflicting information. Ideally breast feeding is clearly the best option, however, sometimes there are obsticles which cannot be avoided which hinder the process. Ultimately the most important thing is the health and welfare and the child and mother, and whilst breatfeeding should be promoted and vigourously encouraged, if it is not the most viable option, a mother should not be made to feel bad for taking the formula option, especially when it may be in the best interests of the child.

That said, I was extremely fortunate, I breast fedd my first child to six months, when I returned to full time work. I worked part time for 4 months before that, and because I work for my inlaws, I was able to bring my son to work with me and breastfeed him there. I never had a problem with breast feeding, we both took to it straight away, with no medical complications or otherwise. From the sound of others experiences, it would appear that I was in the minority, and I certainly hope that my next experience is as good as the first. (I dont want sore boobies for Christmas LOL)

[nelly]

I too think that they all contribute in some way.

I am one in a group of eight friends who had babies last year of whom only myself and one other are still breastfeeding. My son is 6m3wk and hers is just 6mths.

I remember when I was in hospital how every midwife would have a different form of advice, a different way to attach and everytime all bar one very kind woman came in and I was feeding (or trying to) when they left I felt totally useless and that everything I was doing was wrong.

When I got home a friend who is an ABA member lent me a video and book she borrowed from their library and invited me to some meetings. I also utilised the ABA email counselling and after about 4 weeks I finally felt that I know what I was doing. I didn't help that I had a reflux baby - but that's another story.

My best friend's sister was diagnosed with PND and anxiety, a lot of which my friend thought was attributed to how her sister felt "consumed' by breastfeeding and she consequently gave it up after maybe 4 wks. After that everytime I saw her or my friend it was to comments like "oh you are still breastfeeding, goodness when are you going to get him on a bottle to make it easier".... etc ....

My sister in law was ejected from a regional public hospital after a caesar on her 3rd day and her milk hadn't even come in. She is now having feeding problems and is about to quit. This is aggravated even more by a narrow minded mother who bottle fed her babies and disliked BF telling her to wean now and it will be easier later.

Another friend who gave away feeding because of ongoing attachment problems, "milk problems" and the fact that she didn't enjoy it. She was also diagnosed with PND and attriuted a lot of it to breastfeeding and being "consumed". Once again more pressure about how could I still be breastfeeding...

I love feeding my son and find it extremely easy now but at the time the pressure was amazing...

My son was a big nine and a half pound baby and loves his booby feeds. When he was going through his 4wk growth spurt he was feeding every 2 hours and I was constantly innundated with comments like " my god are you feeding him again" and " maybe you don't have enough milk" and "your milk might not be very good quality" - they followed me everytime we sat down to our feed.

It was enough to make me quit BF.

I think there is a lot of support out there but it isn't made easily accessible from the start if you don't know where to look or have someone around you who can help direct you. There are health providers / friends profligating the beliefs that is your baby is feeding 2 hourly you don't have enough milk etc. There are also too many conflicting areas of advice when you are in hospital, and women being sent home before they can even feed their baby and with little or no support once they get home.

I also remember being in hospital and constantly bombarded with BF is best message. Now I know it is and I did then as well, but when you are trying to get started and it doesn't come easy and you are too scared to ask for help you struggle with the message. I remember feeling like I had failed as a woman and mother because I couldn't just do it easily straight away and all the literature told me it was natural, it was best and you had to do it.

I think the blame lies in so many areas - midwifes / nurses not having their training updated, women being sent home too early and with little or no support, poorly educated friends and family who know no better and think they know best, women too scared to ask for help for fear of looking like a failure, over zealous BF advocates and literature etc.

Sorry to go on but I feel quite passionate as I was one of the women who really wanted to BF, but was stuck in the middle of BF nazis and those telling me it was too hard and to get on the bottle. I am glad I stuck to it now as it is just the most precious thing and will hopefully still be BF when Jake is 12mths and beyond.