Some mothers still quit or choose not to breastfeed at all even though it is known that breastfeeding is the better choice for a baby. Mothers are usually encouraged to breastfeed for at least 3 to 6 months before continuing until one year if able to. But why do these mothers quit breastfeeding then? Here are 4 reasons why mothers decide to stop breastfeeding.
1. Young Maternal Age
There are some issues that young mothers may face which contributes to the increase in the likelihood of breastfeeding cessation. Here are some examples:
- Lack of knowledge about the risks of formula feeding as breastfeeding is no longer a cultural norm in many societies.
- The influential role of social support network plays in providing breastfeeding information and support to young mothers. If these individuals are not knowledgeable about breastfeeding, then the breastfeeding support they provide may not be exactly ideal.
- There may not be enough support provided for consistent and respectful breastfeeding, it can put some new mothers off.
- Lack of clear breastfeeding information given early in pregnancy. Also, since all new mothers face more or less the same breastfeeding challenges, the information does not have to be ‘young-mum’ specific as it can be rather demeaning for some young mothers.
2. Going Back To Work
Working and breastfeeding at the same time can be a really tough thing to do but some mothers are able to accomplish it. However, it is one of the main reason why mothers choose to stop breastfeeding. You’ll have to find a suitable time and place to pump, transport and store milk. All of this can be very stressful.
And that’s not the only thing, a working mother still has to stress over her work in general. If your workplace is less than supportive, you can also forget about the exclusive breastfeeding plan. This is mostly why mothers decide to go for formula feeding as it is much more convenient.
3. Giving Birth By C-Section
There are some early challenges for breastfeeding if a mother gave birth through a C-section surgery. For example, they can be a delay in milk coming in. Due to that, mothers may have already started formula feeding and would most likely just continue to do so.
4. Inadequate Milk Supply
Not all mothers are able to produce a lot or even just enough amount of milk. Mothers who suffer from low milk supply are very likely to give up on the method of feeding. It can also be very painful for mothers to try and force milk out.
I remember my mother used to tell me about how she had little milk but attempted to pump some out and ended up pumping blood out instead. In cases like this, perhaps it would be best to stop and go for formula feeding instead.
Though there are ways to increase the milk supply, it is still going to take effort for that and hence, mothers opt to stop breastfeeding.
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