Yes, breastfeeding is a good thing. We should encourage women to do it when possible and practical and when it works for them.
Laying societal pressure on women that they are a failure as a woman and a mother for not managing to breastfeed, for whatever reason, is not a good thing.
The Pressure to Breast-Feed Is Hurting New Moms With Postpartum Depression
No one knows exactly what causes prenatal and postpartum depression. It’s a complicated dance of hormones, predisposition to depression, and other factors. A new study, presented at the 109th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association this week, explores the cultural pressures that new moms face—also dads, but I’m going…
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The best worst thing about the lactation consultant sent in after I was having latch problems with a newborn L was that she had freezing cold hands. (It didn't help me in the end, but I thought about them when I had a blocked milk duct a few weeks later and had a fever over 104.)
Ugh! My wife and I are struggling through this right now. We have a preemie with IUGR that is not getting it. And holy shit have we tried. Multiple lactation consultants, doctors, nurses, online stuff, etc. Not to mention the pressure I have added. But be damned trying to explain the situation to anyone.
Our baby will get breast milk, but likely in a more stable way for the whole family.
+Melissa Gutierrez, are you sure you didn't get mastitis? http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastitis
Apparently happens from time to time to breast feeding mothers. My sister had it which is where I learned about it.
+Jon Weber My provider chose to treat me as if for mastitis. I was lucky to have someone that recognized my symptoms while I was too out of it to be concerned. I've never had many "mommy friends" because I feel out of place among the whole "parenting has been such a joy" vibe but there aren't really support groups for cumulative low-level challenges. (My kiddo is in high school now and I still wouldn't say it's been a joy, although it has been an interesting journey.)
+Melissa Gutierrez that is lucky of you. I feel as though mastitis isn't well known by the general populace. But I feel the same for most baby/pregnancy complications.
Interesting journey is our experience right now too. But we are very lucky that our little one is doing well. Other NICU parents aren't as fortunate.