Comments on: When to give up on breastfeeding

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:47:25 +0000

Robyn:

Those first few weeks can really be rough. I had a really rough time at the start, but I’m so happy now that I kept pushing myself and kept going. If you are only able to get help every few days right now from the LC, it might help if you could get some more regular support. Have you checked out some reputable breastfeeding support boards? The kellymom.com community is a wonderful place to get support from women who are very knowledgeable about breastfeeding and about those challenges that so many women face during the first few days.

The decision about whether to keep going and whether it is worth it is entirely yours. But if you do think you want to keep going, do give the message boards a try to see if you can have more consistent help in between your meetings with your lactation consultant.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:39:47 +0000

I am three days shy of 2 weeks postpartum and I have been thisclose to giving up breastfeeding several times, but then someone just keeps me going. I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I don’t even LIKE my baby because all I feel is dread every time he wakes up and wants to eat. I’m not sure if it is worth continuing since it is damaging my relationship with my son. I am so exhausted, and it hurts so much. I’ve seen an LC three times. Each time it seems like it has helped, but a couple days later, I’m back to being desperate. I want to switch to pumping at the two week mark, but I am afraid of letting everyone down and being branded a failure.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:39:35 +0000

I’m 15 weeks in and still struggling. After 10 weeks of exclusively breastfeeding, my baby still hadn’t put on her birth weight. I went to countless professionals but although the pain and bleeding nipples were resolved my milk supply had diminished greatly. I’ve had to top-up with formula ever since. I also pump 1-3 times a day. I’ve been to a number of breastfeeding support groups and they seem to have this rose tinted view of feeding (I guess it went fine for them) and can’t understand why I’m topping up. I’m taking fenugreek but I can’t see how I’m going to stop the pumping and topping up. I’m still not 100% confident in my latch.
It’s now that I’m contemplating giving up breastfeeding or at least continue to top up until we reach the 6 month mark.
I just wanted to say that it’s not always a happy ending however much effort is put in. I reckon I’ll persevere until 6 months but it’s not the wonderful experience I’d hoped it would be.

By: My Picks for Best Breastfeeding Blogs and Posts | PhD in Parenting

My Picks for Best Breastfeeding Blogs and Posts | PhD in Parenting — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:57:32 +0000

[...] When to give up on breastfeeding [...]

By: kittenpie

kittenpie — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:08:26 +0000

So true. I struggled with both, and each time ended up giving up and pumping exclusively for a year. I’ve been trying to find time to write about this with my little guy last year, and haven’t found it yet! But the nub and gist of it being – I asked people about their experiences with pain and discovered nearly everyone I knew had gone through between 4 and 12 weeks of pain before they settled in. I know two people who had no problem. I don’t know how women keep going through that kind of pain, because I could not. I don’t know if it’s heroic or insane, but they do it anyway, and I’m blown away by it. So yes, as you say, telling someone to give up? Not helpful. They might anyway, as I did, eventually , but at least they will have given it the amount of trying they feel they can give. (I gave it between 5-6 weeks to try, since I was told it could take 4-6 weeks to get it right, right off the bat, so I hung in for a while)

By: Six Week Check-Up « Childbearing Canada

Six Week Check-Up « Childbearing Canada — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:10:32 +0000

[...] to do it. They could all use encouragement and support now. As PhD in Parenting says in her post on When to Give Up on Breastfeeding: “tell her that you know how hard it is. Tell her that you are proud of her for trying so hard. [...]

By: iFeedYouRead.com » Blog Archive » The Case Against Doing It All

iFeedYouRead.com » Blog Archive » The Case Against Doing It All — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:05:06 +0000

[...] Breastfeeding RatesRosin goes on to wonder why every woman she knows “has become a breast-feeding fascist.” Apparently Rosin only associates with a very slim percentage of the population if every woman she knows is a breastfeeding fascist. In the US, only 17 percent of babies are still breastfed at 6 months. Rosin quotes the breastfeeding rates in the States triumphantly: “breast-feeding is on the rise—69 percent of mothers initiate the practice at the hospital, and 17 percent nurse exclusively for at least 6 months”—as if to say “How much higher can they really go?” I personally find these numbers shockingly low, especially when you consider that those women who initiate the practice in the hospital may not even stick it out past a week or two. [...]

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:31:06 +0000

@Tory Ann: There were 265 people that responded to the poll. It was posted here on my blog and I don't know what the demographics were. You are right that her post was just one person's view and my post is just one person's view. But both of our posts have the potential to influence other people. As I said in the post, each person needs to decide for herself when or if to give up on breastfeeding. No one should be pressuring you to give up at 2 weeks if it isn't working out. Everyone should be be supported in HER decision, whatever that may be. I wrote more on this topic in When it is Not Breast. With regards to how much time I have on my hands, well, I guess I could watch "So you think you can dance" or something instead. But I'd rather blog.

By: Tory Ann

Tory Ann — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:19:49 +0000

You need to understand that was just one persons views, and this is just your views. How many people took your poll. Where was it posted and what demographic of mothers took this poll? I’ve been unsuccessful in breastfeeding for three months now. only about 40% of her diet is milk. I pump on all my breaks and rarely have time to eat or even pee at work. Often times I have to chose between a shower when she naps or pumping. Clean or pump, Sleep or pump, exercise or pump, anything or pump. I’m miserable and all daddy does is through health percentages at me. My nipples still crack and bleed and my daughter only latches in the morning when shes half asleep. Also it takes time away from her when I pump on time and She hates the whole thing anyways. At two weeks it was just as hard as it is today! I think we would all be happier on formula but then I’m a bad mom right?
So why are you so mad about a post? It wasn’t a scientific article. I think you have to much time on your hands if your so easily distraught. Not every one is you, and I wish I had stopped when I wanted to. However if I had another child I would at least try again every situation is unique.

By: Let me provoke you…and beg for your votes | PhD in Parenting

Let me provoke you…and beg for your votes | PhD in Parenting — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:04:34 +0000

[...] women be successful at breastfeeding and will stare down people that stand in their way. Like in when to give up on breastfeeding or what gives you the right? Or posts like sabotage or a slap in the boobs by Dr. Sears. It means I [...]