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

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I really hate the fact that people who give up on BFing and wish they had continued think that people who do BF have it easy. Tanby, Cailin and Flowerchild's posts show that is not the case! For the first four weeks of Liebling's life I was kicking my feet in pain every time he started a feed, but knew I'd not be able to live with myself if I gave up so quickly. In fact, I had a very pushy midwife in hospital so DS was topped up with formula, but we were able to eliminate that quickly (well, it did help that he hated the formula and vomitted it all up). One of my baby buddies was having to express every feed for a few weeks because of a problem - it takes a lot of perseverence to breastfeed and women who do BF shouldn't be told that we have it easy.

I would rather have formula than a stranger's breastmilk - and it would be expressed, not from the breast - but if I needed a friend's breastmilk I wouldn't hesitate to ask.

Another pet hate, which may seem odd, is the use of the word "boob" or "booby" to do with feeding - I dislike the word anyway, it has a sort of adolescent boy feel about it - but I do think that it sexualises breastfeeding. But "baby likes booby" just sends a shiver down me; if anyone commented on me "boobyfeeding" it would put me right off. I know I'm in a minority of one here, but even women who do breastfeed can be put off or made to feel they are getting some sort of sexual kick from feeding, which you just don't. The word "boob" has been used to me to put me off feeding or to explain why someone doesn't want to BF - "it's my boobs" or "how can you use your boobs like that?" Well, because they're my breasts and designed for breastfeeding, that's how!

BTW, has anyone else been told that if you BF your son he will turn out gay? I fail to see how thinking breasts are great makes a bloke gay LOL.

Anyway, I don't bag anyone for picking formula so long as they don't push formula on me or tell me I find it easy to BF - everyone is individual, but this thread was to find out why people quit on BFing so quickly.

[Eugenia]

WOW, when I posted my reply many pages ago I didn't realise this topic would become so popular. I haven't read all responses, only the last few pages, but I feel I need to say a little bit more.

I was also one of the people who fought to get breastfeeding happening. For 5 weeks I struggled with breast refusal, poor attachment, cracked nipples, low supply, pumping every 3 hours day and night, lack of support from everyone except DH, and a very bad LC who didn't know what she was talking about. But in the end I persevered and DD is still being breastfed. So I take offence at anyone who suggests that I breastfeed because it was easy for me and that they had it so much harder. I don't judge women who formula feed and I'd appreciate the same consideration back.

[Jack]

I voted for Lack of Education but this lack of education starts before we even have our bubs. I (luckily) had a natural, drug free birth but I was never advised of the risks of having an epidural (if I chose to have one), induction (which was booked for the following day after I had DD as I had mild pre eclampia) or other intervention during labour and how that may affect my ability to breastfeed, which was not portrayed as that important to begin with.
After I had DD, we struggled for 6 weeks before the problems with attachment were sorted due to a great Lactation Day Stay in our closest large town which was 45 minutes away. My MCHN was (and still is) great and has always been very supportive and well informed and a member of ABA herself. However, many mothers in my little country town don't breastfeed at all due to the lack of education and support in rural areas. I had massive oversupply issues and DD was getting way too much foremilk, was gassy and cried constantly for weeks. MCHN saw me every week to help me through it and the ABA was fantastic for support and information in this area.
Thanks to the ABA, my MCHN and Day Stay DD is 18 months and still BFing.
Our ABA group is slowly dwindling as mums just aren't breastfeeding here. Many mums don't understand how their body works and makes milk and most of the time it seems to be a competiton as to whose baby gained the most weight or sleeps though at 6 weeks of age and my slow gaining poor sleeping BF bub just didn't compare. The amount of times I heard, "just put her on the bottle and get a good nights sleep" or "Just top her up with 40mls formula and she''ll sleep through" was astounding. My friends gave me bottles, packets of formula to try, and advice re bottle feeding but had no idea about breastfeeding. I was made to feed DD in seperate rooms at family functions as to not embarrass the men (and women) and still hear, "Are you still breastfeeding that child?"
If our govt wants more mothers to breastfeed they need to start increasing their funding to support the ABA, education for mums, MCHN's and GP's and offer more trained LC's, especially in rural areas. New mums should also be offered a lengthier stay in hopital after having bubs to ensure that feeding is established and offer education about breastfeeding whilst in hospital.
The more information out there and education women, MCHN and other health professionals receive the more breastfeeding rates will increase, correct information will be shared between friends, more support will be offered from all areas of our lives, including work and family.