Although estimates suggest that only about five to 10 percent of women are physiologically unable to breastfeed, many more say that they're either not making enough or there's something nutritionally lacking with their milk that keeps the baby from thriving.
Canadian and U.S. surveys have shown 10% to 32% of mothers never begin breastfeeding and 4% stop within the first week of life. An additional 14% of mothers stop nursing before their baby is 2 months old. Fortunately, there are safe and nutritious alternatives to human milk.
Frequently cited problems with breastfeeding include sore nipples, engorged breasts, mastitis, leaking milk, pain, and failure to latch on by the infant. Women who encounter these problems early on are less likely to continue to breastfeed unless they get professional assistance.
The majority of Australian women (96%) initiate breastfeeding [11] however rates of exclusive breastfeeding dramatically decline in the following months with only 39% of infants being exclusively breastfed by aged three months [1, 2, 11, 12].
69% of babies are receiving some breastmilk at 4 months of age. 60% of babies are receiving some at 6 months. 28% of babies are still breastfeeding at 12 months. Only 5% reached 2 years of breastfeeding.
While about 80% of babies are now breastfed at birth, by three months less than 20% are exclusively breastfed. The official recommendation is that babies are exclusively breastfed – having no infant formula or solid food at all – for six months, but in reality only 1% of babies are exclusively breastfed by this point.
Reasons some mothers choose not to breastfeed
One, they don't feel like they're making enough milk. There's a lack of education about the first couple of days. There is something called colostrum that comes out, which is very important for the baby. It's drops full of nutrients and disease-fighting antibodies.
“The first four to six weeks are the toughest, then it starts to settle down,” says Cathy. “And when you get to three months, breastfeeding gets really easy – way easier than cleaning and making up a bottle.
Breast engorgement is when your breasts get too full of milk. They may feel hard, tight and painful. Engorgement can happen in the early days when you and your baby are still getting used to breastfeeding. It can take a few days for your milk supply to match your baby's needs.
As a group, breastfed infants have less difficulty with digestion than do formula-fed infants. Breast milk tends to be more easily digested so that breastfed babies have fewer bouts of diarrhea or constipation. Breast milk also naturally contains many of the vitamins and minerals that a newborn requires.
Most parents of newborn babies have heard that 'breast is best'. But although 96% of children are breastfed soon after birth, only 15% of mums are still breastfeeding exclusively 5 months later.
Breastmilk or infant formula should be your baby's main source of nutrition for around the first year of life. Health professionals recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, with a gradual introduction of appropriate foods in the second 6 months and ongoing breastfeeding for 2 years or beyond.
Breastfeeding is tough. It is physically gruelling. A majority of the women who answered the large-scale Infant Feeding Survey in 2010 reported that they experienced breast or nipple pain at some point when breastfeeding. Even these days, it can be socially bruising.
Infant formula is still a healthy choice, and your baby will get all the necessary nutrients. If you choose to feed your baby formula, there are some benefits: Anyone can feed your baby. Grandparents or babysitters can feed your baby while you work or get some well-deserved time with your partner.
But they say this crankiness in babies is normal and just their natural way of communicating their needs to their mother and is no cause for alarm. For example, some cries will be down to tiredness not hunger.
It's best to feed your baby only breast milk for at least 6 months. This means no water, formula, other liquids or solid food — just breast milk. But any amount of breastfeeding is good for your baby's health and development. Even breastfeeding for a short time is good for your baby.
Breastfed babies cry more, laugh less, and generally have "more challenging temperaments" than formula-fed infants, a study has found. But such behaviour is normal, and mothers should learn to cope with it rather than reach for the bottle, according to researchers.
There are some moms who just don't want to breastfeed. These women are not selfish monsters who should have never had children. In fact, there is even research on their side that shows that some benefits of breastfeeding may have been exaggerated.
Disparities and Barriers
Lack of knowledge. Social norms. Poor family and social support.
Many women cannot afford adequate child care and may need to leave their children with friends or family members who are not supportive of breastfeeding. Low-income children, who are at greatest risk for obesity, are also the least likely to be breastfed.
Breastfeeding, even just once a day, is worth it.
Your body is regulating your hormones and your endocrine system with stimulation. Second, the baby receives that contact, that transfer of energy from the parent, and being skin to skin continues to support heart rate, respiration, glucose levels and temperature.
If your baby takes a bottle but not the breast, try a bait-and-switch. Start by bottle-feeding in a breastfeeding position and, while baby is actively sucking and swallowing, pull out the bottle nipple and insert yours. Some babies will just keep suckling. Use breastfeeding tools.
The bottom line
Many women find breastfeeding to be an enjoyable way to bond with their babies. There is certainly no evidence that breastfeeding is any worse for a baby than formula. And maybe there are some early-life benefits in terms of digestion and rashes, which you may or may not think are important.