Why does everybody pressure women to breastfeed ?

Question

I’m so tired of hearing it some people don’t enjoy it they absolutely dislike or can’t breastfeed but you get All this pressure when it’s women’s Choice on how to feed their child.

Answer

You can never make anyone happy. People will pressure you to breastfeed and then turn around and judge you if your child breastfeeds past 1year. Do what makes your baby and you happy.

Answer

I did not enjoy it because I was in excruciating pain, bleeding and my son wouldn’t latch properly... The lactation consultant at the hospital told me to keep breastfeeding or else my son would reject me, not bond with me and have health issues.. my milk wasn’t coming in and she told me that was fine- he wasn’t getting anything and becoming very lethargic. I was so beaten down over trying to make it work that I cried every time I had to pump or breastfeed. I finally caved and chose to do what was best for me, my mental health, and my sons health.. I am so glad that I did!

Answer

It makes me so angry too! Personally I want to EBF but I can’t I have insufficient breast tissue so I can’t make very much milk. I get told all the time to drink more water but that doesn’t work for me it takes me 4-5 hrs to make 2oz. Not everyone can or want to breast feed.

Answer

Though I never felt personally "pressured," (more like "strongly encouraged" and they weren't going to suggest bottle feeding unless I asked...) I definitely see this a LOT. Even with a few of the nurses in our hospital. Not until I had a complete breakdown and was sobbing while my baby was screaming and I said "I HATE breastfeeding and she knows it!" Did anyone even talk to me about bottle feeding. And it was the pediatrician who suggested it! Go figure. She was the one who said to me, "just get her fed - that's whats important! If youre not happy feeding, she will know it! Fill the belly however you BOTH prefer!" From that moment on, she was formula fed and i have NO regrets! 
I get that breast is "best," but hey, there's a lot of things out there that are "best" that we as humans don't do, eat, etc. We do what we need to do to keep baby (and mom!) safe, happy and healthy!

Answer

Yet the same people putting pressure to breastfeed have a problem when you still continue after baby turned a year, people will always have their unwanted opinions, its so annoying😭. A fed baby is best, no matter the method

Answer

I wanted to breastfeed but I’m two weeks postpartum and I literally
Produce only 5ML per breast per pump session. It’s taking over my life and making me and my son miserable. I want to give up but my husband keeps saying ‘ try this try that’ and I’m feeling pressured to keep going. Sometimes when your instincts tell you to stop they are right. He’s not going to take it well Though. I can tell.

Answer

I never breast fed my first two and was constantly told Liu professionals that I should be now this time I thought I’d give it a try and breast feed and I’m being told now why am I not using formula and stuff like that like if I do one thing I’m wrong and for trying to do right I’m now doing wrong also trust me do what you feel is best 
A fed baby is a happy baby 
Who cares where the milk comes from wether it be noon or bottle all that matters is that mum is happy doing it and not feeling like your letting yourself and baby down you should feel comfortable and not scared anxious or depressed with the option you chose 
I loved formula feeding my first two as I felt uncomfortable with the idea of breast feeding and I loved that anyone could help out when I needed a rest 
And I now have a love for breast feeding I love the bond and just how relaxing it is .... but I mean you can get the same bond feeling by doing skin to skin with bubs too

Answer

It annoys me too.  With my daughter I combo fed and felt horrible for giving her formula because it’s strongly encouraged at my hospital.  This time around I really wanted to EBF and I felt a lot of pressure from the staff at the hospital.  The day after he was born, we came home and he wouldn’t stop crying so my husband convinced me to give him some formula and afterwards his body completely relaxed and it never did that when I tried feeding him.  I couldn’t stop crying bc it felt like he was probably hungry that whole time I was in the hospital.  I still feel bad giving formula now, but I feel a lot better combo feeding.  My mental health has improved so much bc I was fucking miserable trying to EBF and being awake all hours.

Answer

It just wasn’t for me; I didn’t enjoy it at all. But I did it with my first baby bc I had all the time to do it but with 2nd baby I have no help so breastfeeding,pumping and chasing a toddler is too stressful. The nurses at the hospital actually said the SAME thing you wrote in your post. They were supporting my decision to not breastfeed and it took my mom guilt away!

Why does everybody pressure women to breastfeed ?

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