My daughter(baby #3) turns 2 months old today. And I am a membe of another online community which isgrouped by birth month, so I am presently privy to several "new mums" and their journeys with breastfeeding experiences, plus myown experiences and general awareness since I became a Mum in 1999. With the "other forum" I participate in (March 2007) I am surprised/saddened at the number of Mums giving/given up feeding already.

I had various signicant early feeding difficulties with my 1st baby (recently turned 8) and despite the advice of midwives to bottle feed (while still in hospital) I refused to supplement with formula and went on to breastfeed him for 2.5 years, and he gained weight beautifully too. I think what got me through the early weeks of difficuly was my absolute desire to breastfeed because I knew if was best - by far. I had had a difficult birth, and there was no way I was going to muck up breastfeeding as well.

So I would have to nominate lack of education, purely because I think just about all women are aware "breast is best", but despite this awareness many, many women also believe that artificial feeding is also 'fine'/'almost as good'/'better for their sanity'/'beats sleeplessness'/'okay to do when breastfeeding is hard'. We often hear "I was bottlefed and I'm fine" etc. And, "He had three days/weeks/months of breastmilk, so that's better than nothing." And while it is better than nothing, it would be great if mothers were highly motivated to breastfeed long term.

I also think that health professionals, when faced with a tired, tearful, sick (mastitis the third time) mothers often 'take pity' despite their training. Goodness only knows I probably would too. It must be hard to say "Yes, I know, but in three more weeks everything will be fine, these days of cracked nipples/poor weight gain/bouts of mastitis will be a fading memory" to a woman presenting sick/tearful/afraid/exhuasted.

Here's my list of reasons in order...

Lack of education (inspiration)
Health professionals
Accessibility of artificial milk
Family and friends advice (esp grandmothers and partners)
Conficting Advice/Lack of continuity of care (though this may be a blessing depending on care)
Lack of availability/affordabiilty of support
Interventions at birth
Going back to work bf support
Marketing fo artificial milk

Thanks for the opportunity to contribute.

Regards - Jo
Mother of three, long-term breastfeeder and since March '07, a homebirther too!