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

[*Elle*]

I think as soon as you book into any hospital you should be contacted by the ABA (govt funded) and receive an ABA membership, the ABA can advise you on local meetings in your area and suggest going along so that you can learn about breastfeeding BEFORE you have the baby. There should also be more BF'ing information in the antenatal classes. I think it would be really helpful for women to go along to ABA meetings when pregnant because often women don't go till either after having bubs or after they start having difficulties. Support should start BEFORE bubs is here. Maybe even have an fully qualified LC that discusses breastfeeding as part of hosptial visits? Not to mention education starting in schools way before people are even thinking about having babies. And also for boys too, so that when and if they become dads they know how to support their wives.

I think you said this perfectly Cailin, why not have it as a normal part of pg, I especially like your sugesstion of having a LC that discusses breastfeeding as part of your regular hospital visits,

I am going through an OB for this baby but I still have a couple of visits with a midwife so why not a visit especially for an LC that way it would be a regualr check up and incorperate BF too I think that is a fantastic idea and I hope that one day they do that, that will most certainly bring education up on BF.

I think advertising is also important, BF is not considered by general public as the normal thing to do, its supposed to be hiden in a closet or a room wayyyyy down a hall in the shopping centre, people are getting offended and making horrible awful remarks to the women who do BF and I think that this needs to stop, if BF was considered the normal thing by society and not a little secret you do behind closed doors then I feel more women would be comfortable feeding in public, I know when BF my DS I would never go out unless I knew he would not want a feed and even then I would only leave the house for a very short time.

IK I am guilty of stopping BF with my DD because it hurt to much, and I think it was because of lack of education as I did not know it was going to be like that, even after BF my DS for 2 months ( I stopped for different reasons ) I still thought it must have been 'me' and something I was doing and it probably was I dont think she was attaching properly, I just wanted to say that it broke my heart to stop with in the first week with her, and I had many abusive phone calls to make sure I didnt forget the horrible thing I was doing to my newborn child, it was not an easy decission for me, but in my case I felt it was better to stop becasue of the resentment I was feeling toward my baby girl, I so understand what you are saying and yes I think that some people do turn to formular to early but I think it really depends on the circumstances and reasons behind it, and again education is the key here in most cases, if I had felt that i was not taking up precious time and that I was in the way I may have asked for more help, and I think what Cailin said is spot on

ETA: I will be giving it my absolute best effort this time, I wont give up unless there is a medical reason of course, but you see having BB as a place of support and referance I am now more educated htan before I had the attitude that breast milk and formular were much the muchness and felt no need to force the issue with myself but now i do know and again its an education thing for me, I have learnt so much in the past couple of years, and i am really excited this time about giving it my all.