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

[Kirsty77]

With Gemma is was lack of support from health professionals who told me it should come naturally and had me sobbing one night.

With jasmine she had problems sucking and latching on so lack of support again to help me with teaching Jasmine how to latch on properly. The Midwive tried to help me but after a couple of hours on and off of Jasmine crying she told me to just ff.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Caro, it's on page 9
Kelly, I read it and I think it's very effective. I'm also pleased that they would like a copy of this thread - it will be like listening to a conversation of women who are disappointed, confused, surprised, encouraging...all the things they need to hear to know how far-reaching are the implications of allowing breastfeeding to become a lost art.

[MantaRay]

After reading more of these posts, I am changing my vote. Yes, lack of education and conflicting advice and lack of continuity of care and availability of artificial milk etc all play a huge part. But the fundamental problem is our culture. Most people in our circle of friends, playgroup etc will ff (at least by 6 months anyway). Most of the babies we see being fed on TV, elsewhere in the media and in real life are given a bottle. Most of us that do bf feel uncomfortable to do so in public so we hide away in feeding rooms or try to avoid feeding outside the home. And this just contributes to the problem. Also, the symbol for a feeding room is usually a bottle. And when you look at the baby section at any pharmacy or supermarket, what is the largest and most noticeable item - formula tins! Just try finding bulk packs of breast pads, reusable breast pads or breast milk bags. Believe me, I know how hard that is. A new pharmacy opened near me a couple of weeks ago and when I checked it out, it had all those items. I bought some and congratulated the pharmicist for stocking bfing friendly items. Another lady at the counter then said, "yes, thank you for saying something. I have so much trouble finding the breast pads I use". I felt so good to know that it's not just me that thinks shops are against me bfing. Others out there are having the same experiences as me, traipsing from one pharmacy to another until we find one thing we want at one and one thing at another. Pity I don't use formula - I could get a choice of 10 brands at any shop I walk into. Well, this new pharmacy is going to get a lot of my business.

I also make a concious effort not to contribute to the problem. After initially feeling very uncomfortable about feeding around people, now I do it quite freely. If a feeding room isn't convenient when I'm out, I'll sit anywhere. One day I sat on the floor in the supermarket to feed Jack and a staff member brought me a chair. I also talk quite openly about extended feeding and how disappointed I was that Jack self-weaned before he was two. I ignore the "looks" I get and talk about how it's recommended by WHO etc. Maybe I can make just a small amount of difference. After all, it's not that long ago that my friend was feeding her daughter who was nearly 2 and I thought that it was weird. Amazing how some education has completely changed my mind on that!

Now, how to change the minds of the rest of the world?!?!