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Considering the Limitations Breast-feeding
With all the good things known about breast-feeding, why doesn't every mother choose to breast-feed
Breast-feeding requires a substantial commitment from a mother. Some mothers feel tied down by the constant demands of a nursing newborn. Since breast milk is easily digested, breast-fed babies tend to eat more often than babies who are fed formula. This means mom may find herself in demand as frequently as every 2 or 3 hours in the first few weeks. This can be tiring, but it's not long before babies feed less frequently and sleep longer at night.
Some new mothers need to get back to work outside the home or separate from their babies from time to time for other reasons. Some of these moms opt for formula-feeding so other caregivers can give the baby a bottle. Mothers who want to continue breast-feeding can use a breast pump to collect breast milk to be given in a bottle so their babies still get its benefits even when mom isn't available to breast-feed
Other family members (dads most of all) may want to share in this most fundamental of baby care routines and participate in feeding the baby. When mom is breast-feeding, dad or siblings may want to stay close by. Helping mom get comfortable, or providing a burp cloth when needed, will let them be part of the experience. Once breast-feeding is established, other family members can help out by giving the baby pumped breast milk in a bottle when mom needs a break.
Sometimes a woman may feel embarrassed or apprehensive about the prospect of breast-feeding. These feelings usually disappear once a successful breast-feeding process is set. It's often helpful to seek advice and perspective from those who've gone through the experience. Most hospitals and birthing centers can provide in-depth instruction on breast-feeding techniques to new mothers. Your pediatrician, nurse practitioner, or nurse can answer questions or put you in touch with a lactation consultant or a breast-feeding support group.
In some cases, a mother's health may interfere with her ability to breast-feed. For example, mothers who are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and moms who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes AIDS) should not breast-feed. If you have a medical condition or take any medications regularly, or if you or your baby get sick, talk with your doctor about whether it's OK to breast-feed. If you have to stop nursing temporarily, it's important to continue to pump breast milk to maintain milk production.
In some situations, it may not possible to breast-feed, such as when a baby is sick or born prematurely. Mothers should speak with their baby's doctor about expressing and storing milk. Even if the infant cannot breast-feed, breast milk may be given via a feeding tube or bottle.
Sometimes mothers who have inverted nipples may have difficulty breast-feeding, but with the help of a lactation consultant this usually can be overcome. Likewise, women who have had plastic surgery on their breasts should be able to successfully breast-feed. Be sure to speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.
Avoid using pacifiers or bottles until after the first month of life. Introducing them before breast-feeding is known to cause "nipple confusion," and can lead to an infant giving up the breast.
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