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

[Phoenix]

Hearing the Committee for the inquiry speak they are very keen to recommend the establishment of milk banks Australia wide. It does make me wonder about how many women are opposed to giving their babies donor breastmilk but have no problems feeding their babies something from a cow. Perhaps because it is a fairly new thing to get used to and in time people may get used to the idea. The WHO lists FF as 4th way to feed a baby after your own milk or expressed milk or donor milk.

We aren't even warned to watch out for the 6 week mark where baby can be a bit fussy, that is the time when most of the people I know give up because they think they have not enough milk, or baby is too hungry, or something silly like that. Why aren't we warned of this time, and told how to get through it?

It is sad that you weren't told about this. As a CE/trainee counsellor for ABA I give antenatal talks at my local hospital. This is one of the points I really try to bring home as it is really common especially at the 3mth mark for women to stop BF because they think they have no more milk.
I just read a very interesting submission that was put up on the website yesterday. It is from a lady in Victoria who strongly believes that BF rates would increase in Australia if women were encouraged to bed share. It was a very interesting read and a lot of what she said made perfect sense.

[beckles]

wow i think that all of this things can contribute to a failed breastfeeding relationship. i believe that some women just don't think it is a priority to breastfeed. i believe that some women are embarrassed to breastfeed as they are not comfortable with their breasts and it is not seen as the norm. toys are sold with bottles for babies normalising bottle feeding. i had to buy a breastfeeding mother and baby from overseas! i believe that artificial milk should be prescription only - not just available at the corner shop. this would ensure that a (Correctly and suffeciently educated) health professional discussed all the cons of artificially feeding a baby and to ensure that the mother's issues have been thouroughly discussed and education to rectafy the problem. i think that confidence needs to be given back to women that they do have enough milk and can breastfeed their baby. it is distressing how many mothers stop breastfeeding because they were 'starving their baby' - if baby's have free access to the breast 24/7 this is very uncommon. health professionals need to be made accountable to breastfeeding failure rates - this would encourage them to learn more about breastfeeding and how it can be successful.
beckles

[MoonJo]

Goodness - to pick just one? I think they all have their place in becoming barriers to breastfeeding. I chose lack of education in the poll, but to add to that, lack of community role models - we don't grow up watching women breastfeed their babies. Girls aren't raised with knowledge on how to and how not to. Boys aren't raised with the idea that bf is the norm, so can find it more difficult to relinquish temporary sole 'custody' and support their women in bf.

Next up IMO would probably be the availability of artificial milk. As we have all mentioned, bf is a learned process. When we don't have all those wonderful years of experience surrounding us as we're learning, difficulties are more likely to occur. And when you're in incredible physical and emotional pain, feeding your hungry babe is your priority. Again, with lack of trusted experience around us, to help us through the feeding difficulties - artificial milk becomes the fastest option to feed a hungry babe.

Conflicting advice from professionals and relatives comes in at a hot third. Our society is relearning the art of bf because it has been lost to us for so long - so in the last 50 to 100 years, many theories, techniques and 'experts' have surfaced in that time. Not everyone is up to date (health professionals included) on what has been discounted and what the latest schools of thought are.

Interventions at birth certainly play their part. Narcotics in the bloodstream of both Mother and Babe have effects; physical and emotional trauma if they occur can impede. Going back to work - for sure! A girl in my mother's group felt obligated to her workplace to return when her babe was 4 months old, so she introduced artificial milk 'just for the 2 days she'd be away'. A week in, her babe was exclusively artificially fed, because, in her opinion, it was easier.

A personal rant, if I may. TV personalities have a big impact I'm sure. Channel 9's daytime "The Catch-up" presenter Libby Gore, unashamedly referred to breastfeeding women as "Nipple Nazi's", while in the same sentence remarked how women should be supporting each other in our choices. Not surprising, their chat forum had crashed by the time I got on there to voice my thoughts!

I don't know where the solution lies. But perhaps, because feeding our children with human milk is so vital to the myriad of proven societal and health factors - we need to place utmost importance on the correct information given to all women having children (if not before). Perhaps a body of government funded lactation consultants with the most continous, up to date information from around the world be the only recommended professionals to give advice on breastfeeding.

[shell_l_d]

I was in a private hosp & the midwives were all very lovely, but I found the advice different/conflicting from each midwife. Also, they'd usually just come in & put her on, but I'd still be none the wiser on how to do it myself properly, my daughter would clamp down with her gums & it was very painful, I had to go to a clinic after I got out of hospital to get more advice, however still didn't feel I got adequate advice, then bought a 'nipple shield' & persisted (despite cracked/sore/bleeding/grazed nipples) & eventually got there but it was extremely hard I felt.

[jgal]

I wished I could have picked a few answers.

Initially I think EDUCTAION is a big one. When my milk first came in it was the most painful thing ever and something I was totally unprepared for. Noone told me about that in the lead-up to birth and the only pain I knew about was that I would experience in labour. I can see why it would scare a lot of women into stopping BF without giving it a propper shot. Luckily I didn't have huge problems with attachment, but for those women who experience extreme pain with engorgement AND attachment issues, I can understand that they would jsut want to stop, especially not knowing how long the pain would last for and when (or IF) it would ever settle down. Once someone has had bad experinces BF (generally form not knowing what to expect) it makes it harder to want to do it again with subsequent babies.

Once you're over those initial issues, then ADVICE OF FRIENDS/FAMILY would be the big issue. I remember starting a fitness class with mums and bubs when my sone was 6w old (and alot of teh woment tehre had abbies teh same age). A couple of them were talking about giving formula to make babies sleep through, so quite a few dropped off breastfeeding and switched to formula because they were sick of broken sleep. Many found that their babies still woke up anyway (they were still so young!) but once they had stopped breastfeeding, there was no going back. I also agree with PP coments that everyone telling a breastfeeding Mum to stop and FF instead to eliminate the issues with tiredness/soreness is quite influencial. It would be much better if friends and family SUPPORTED the BF mum by perhaps offering to help out around the house while she fed or rested (BF does take longer to do than FF), or instead of telling them to stop, offered solutions of things she could try to help elliviate some of the problems. The problem is that so many people have FF and it's hard to find someone close to you that you trust and can be open with who has successfully BF.

Finally when you get past all of those issues and are still BF, you go back to work, and there is nowhere to BF baby (or bub isn't allowed on your worksite for a feed), and the only place you can expres milk is the toilet! Makes it hard to keep up the supply when you don't have access to a comfortable and private expressing area.

[jgal]

I just read one of the other comments above (re: men reliquishing "sole custody" to let Mum feed)and have to add:

There were times that I regretted my choice to breastfeed because it meant I was trapped. My husband works afternoon shift and wanted to spend the morning with his son every day as he couldn't see him at night. Fair enough. But that meant I wasn't able to leave the house. Where the baby was, I had to be. I sometimes felt like I was just a milk bar and nothing else. My relationship suffered because I was angry about not being able to get out. If I did go out to say mother's group, I felt relaxed and happy while I was there, and got home smiling, only to be grumbled at because I'd taken his son away from him. While breastfeeding, I couldn't stand to be away from my baby, as I was worried he'd need my milk as soon as I was gone. I think next time it should be easier as DH now knows that while breastfeeding, I need the baby with me. And for my sanity and our relationship, I also need time out occasionally (which means I TAKE the baby!) Perhaps Men need a bit of eductation when their wives are pregnant on how to SUPPORT a BF mum. We both went to the BF class run by the hospital, and I don't recall any mention of this. Husbands need to know what to expect too.

[lermshell]

I have successfully breastfed my four children up to the ages of about 17mths. The biggest problem I had was the availability of artificial milk. Whenever they were fussy I was always told 'give him a bottle' most of my friends gave up very early as 'bottles were so much easier', In hospital it was suggested to give them top up bottles till my milk came in...I was sent home with bags full of artificial feeding sachets and advertising. The breastfeeding stuff was a single photocopy (hardly able to read it). Also the work problem is a farce! I had to express in a toilet and use my meal time too!

[BellyBelly]

We actually had a poll some time ago when the WA milk bank opened and it was 50/50 as to who would be happy to use it and those who did not feel comfortable. I think the main issue was how the milk was sourced, worrying about what was in the milk they didn't know about... but I do know they have treatment and screening processes for that. It's change, will take a while for people to warm to I think, without it being out there and explained about safety. Quite a few who said no mentioned they would if it was from a friend.

[LG]

i never considered not breastfeeding. I really believe having a true belief in myself and my body helped me to start and continue feeding (i think same applies to birth). I only found i started to doubt myself at the antenatel classes of all places where they talked about all the problems etc etc. I'm not advocating that this information isn't given to expectant mums, i'm just sharing my experience.
When i was pregnant i think my aim was to feed exclusively for 6 months and then wean. As i did more reseach into the benefits of continued breastfeeding and the very real risks of formula (which aren't well publiciced) I decided to continue on to the 12 month mark. In this time i found ABA which was a HUGE support to me and my breastfeeding relationship with my son. I was able to do away with the "guilt" of feeding to sleep, comfort feeding etc etc! Suddenly i realised that all these things were normal and natural. The way we were designed! I have since started (nearing completion) training to become and ABA counsellor. I have a huge passion for getting the correct information out there to women. At least if they have all the information women can make and INFORMED choice about the way to feed their children. i think far too often people believe they haven't got 'enough' having been told this by ill-informed health professionals or well-meaning relatives. And lets face it, any new mum is extreamly vulnerable especially if they are told their baby is "not thriving".
Which brings me to another point, doctors, and other health professionals (including some midwives and CYH nurses) just haven't got the current relevant information on breastfeeding. Often their initial training doesn't cover much breastfeeding information, and often their skills are not up-dated regularly.
Breastfeeding can be very difficult for some women, and in these cases they need support. Not just from professionals but also from family and friends who understand the importance of breastfeeding - not just nutrientionally, but also emotionally and for the bonding process. I have often heard that partners seeing their wives in distress or pain through breastfeeding want to offer a "solution" eg ABM - and they are being helpful and supportive in their own way, but a man can't fully understand the desire to feed their off-spring, and what it does to a mother who feels 'failure' over weaning from the breast.
by the way, i went on to feed my son for 23 months, and weaned recently due to pregnancy and because i was finding it 'too much'.
Apologies if most of all this has already been said - i haven't had time to read all the responses.
Good luck tomorrow Kelly! What you are doing is so so so so so important!! The government DO need to recognise the benefits of mothers caring for their children in the best possible ways in order to create a generation of productive and emotionally well-balanced people. Not to mention the benefits for the health system (healthier children and adults).

[Bathsheba]

How true Michelle! The only literature about breast feeding in my first information pack (with my first child) was a crookedly photocopied brochure that was so grainy from repeated cost-saving printing that it could hardly be read. How does that compare to the glossy warm fuzzy feel good brochures from the formula companies? The reason why the information is presently differently (I think) is because there is obviously no money to be made if women choose to breast feed. When women are at their most vulnerable and emotional they are easy targets for this kind of marketing. We are so isolated as mums these days that I suspect most of us are watching TV and reading magazines more frequently than talking ammongst ourselves. So what has happened is that methods of raising our children such as feeding, nappying, playing with etc that are in line with the advertisers desired outcomes are now considered the "norm" whilst non-money making methods (BFing, cloth nappies, home made games such as digging in the garden etc as opposed to expensive educational toys) are all being turned away from as we are seduced by the marketing companies. And a lot comes back to marketing masquerading as "information"! How many times are you told by your friends and family that "You're a GOOD mother"? not daily?... but this is exactly what the advertisers say and imply in their ads (if we purchase their product that is).... no wonder we lap it up! Because nothing introduces as much self doubt into the average woman's mind as motherhood!

Anyhow... here's me stepping off the soap-box LOL BTW I do use formula, disposable nappies, and buy expensive toys LOL but in a limited way... but people shouldn't be made to feel like they are giving their children anything less than the best from advertisers for refraining from purchasing their products more regularly.

[*flower*]

In my case, I was on medication that could have been harmful to baby if passed through breastmilk, so I could not breast feed. I am sure I am not alone in this.

I know another lady who was sexually abused as a child and found breastfeeding v traumatic as a result and could not do it. I was reading that about one in three girls will be victims of child sexual assult. The difficult thing is that if something like that has happened and as a result you can't breastfeed, its not something you want to tell people openly, so this poor woman found herself being judged for not breastfeeding and not being open as to why.

Hope this helps

[EmnM]

Hi,

I put lack of education as my first choice but as some other mums said they are all connected. I had a wonderful 'textbook' breastfeeding experience (until she was 11mths) with my daughter and fed her until 21mths although from 11mths I started experiencing problems with my 'let down' reflex because of the stress of moving to a very hot rural town with no family/friends support. Unfortunately this tainted the whole breastfeeding experience. through this experience I at least had some understanding of the role that stress and lack of support has when you are trying to establish breastfeeding in the early days and for me, maintenance in the later stages. There was no ABA in the town I lived in and I just struggled on in a state of anxiety until I stopped breastfeeding 10mths later.

Education before you have the baby would be a good start to tell you about all your options eg how to breastfeed, attachment, problems you can have, services available, how to pick a good LC and also counselling services because it is an emotional investiment for ourselves as well as a physical one. And when you think about it, if you don't know what you are doing you get stressed and negative comments freak you out then supportive counselling is something lots of mums would probably benefit from.

I don't understand why women are discharged before breastfeeding is established, often without followup. follow up should be mandatory for I think at least the first 6 weeks.

Women need to know that it is good to keep breast feeding as long as possible. I breastfed the longest out of my group of friends and most started weaning at 6mths.

I also think for those women who can't continue to breastfeed for whatever reason need to be told thats okay and that they did their best and understand completely the reason's why they stopped. I wonder if some women are fully informed, lots of my friends said 'my milk supply was low' because they could 'feel' the milk wasn't there. Often their milk supply was fine but it was just changes in their breasts as the engorgement finally settled down. Once again, lack of education.

Education and help should really be ongoing for all stages of breastfeeding.

Thats my say anyway,

Mich

[lekala75]

I think that there is a real need for more information and support on breast feeding. In hospital you get so many different bits of information, it is so confusing. I breast feed my first daughter quite successfully, until she was 14 months old, (she is now 3) I am now feeding her sister, who is 6 months. Although I had no real problems I didn't have any real support, most of my friends who had babies bottle fed and were a little anti breast feeding, I think mainly because they didn't have success. It can be really difficult in those first few weeks and I think not having support is why so many women give up, its also a very lonely job in the wee hours of the morning. If it wasn't for my stubbornness I'm sure I would have given up also. It is a beautiful experience for both you and your baby and a wonderful way to bond with her. I suffered post natal depression with my first daughter, I truly believe this special time with my Zoe was what got me through to the other side. I have nothing against those who chose to bottle feed it was just what I decided to do.

[carls]

I found that the midwives just didn't have the time to have one-on-one time with me to ensure that I was BF properly. The last night I was in hospital I was looking for a midwife to help me and they were all in delivery and they had a staff member from a different ward looking after the desk!!!

I believe to overcome any BF issues early on you need the education and support and in my experience I was definately lacking the support. Even when I got home I was told to ring the community nurse regarding a visit. They rang me back when my son was 4 months old to book in the visit! By this time I had given up with the BF and a screaming son and taken up the bottle. I didn't need them 4 months down the track, I needed them straight away.

[SweetPea]

I voted lack of education, but think alot of the other options are important as well. I think it would have been useful to have more specific education about bf in the prenatal classes. I actually did do a bf class before my baby arrived but all they talked about was how to attach the baby, they didn't even brush upon any of the problems you may encounter and how to recognise them, such as mastitis (which I ended up with! not fun at all!), nipple thrush, cracked nipples, attachment problems and what to do if you encounter problems, the list could go on!
I also think it would be great that as part of your postnatal care that you have a visit to a LC once a week, luckily the hospital I went to has an outpatient program for patients to visit the LC once they leave the hospital, but it would be great if this was enforced more!
I've also found that the advice I've been getting is conflicting, everyone seems to have a different idea!

[NattieB]

Family and community attitudes is a huge one for me

Still BFing my 12.5 month old and talk about ppls attitudes towards me (like Im doing something WRONG?!?!?!?!) and my family (who think she should be weaned now so she can spend large amounts of time with them without the tie to me).

I generally dont tell ppl that i am still BFing unless they are close friends. The comments from ppl really annoy me alot....

[Plagued]

the biggest problem i have had is the lack of information i have to search to much to get help when i am having problems.
the other problem is the lack of facility to breast feed my baby. i went with a friend to a mothers day lunch at a club and they had no wear for us to bf our babies except a disabled toilet!!!! we ended up around a corner on the floor across from a bar

[Heath64]

Hi,

I hope I'm not too late to send this in so I thought I'd give you my ideas.

Having now fullybreastfed 3 children and now another baby having arrived. I've been priviliged that I can breastfeed with success. I know there are other women out there that find it difficult and yes the first 3 weeks it is. I have found it to be painful and you wonder if it will get better but it does, just stick it out. It's easy to comp feed and I see others doing it who are first time mums. This will help decrease your milk supply by doing this. If your baby is feeding frequently, he's trying to get your milk production up and running and obviously is hungry or going through a growth spurt, I know mine is.

Once you get through the first couple of months it does get easier. Keep in mind that each child is different and some will sleep through, some won't and you will either be feeding through the night for ages or not. Mine varied. Currently I'm up twice an night, sometimes for 20 mins sometimes for 1 - 2 hours at a time at 5 weeks old. Some nights this will change and he only feeds once, which leaves me with very full breasts, but he makes up for it during the day.

I breastfed my first child for 18months, second 2 years and third (once or twice a day finished at 3). Never dream't that I would feed for that long but it did help my kids immunity against all sorts of bugs. I did feed the 3rd for the longest time as we moved over to China to live for a while. I wanted to give her the best and didn't know what it would be like over there.

Here's hoping this will help anyone out there. If you have any questions feel free to ask away. I'm not a guru but have had plenty of experience in all manners of ouchy breastfeeding and then the easy part of it too.

Heath64