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.