Quote:
Originally Posted by Russic
- I'm shocked at how many people have problems breast-feeding. There are many nurses who will understand, and there are many who will basically try to make your wife cry if her body isn't reacting. It blew my mind how many have the attitude that not being able to breast feed is because you aren't trying hard enough. If you have to supplement with formula don't let a**holes get you down. Yes breast-feeding is better but don't let the boob nazis sink their teeth too far into you.
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I have noticed this as well, and it can be quite upsetting for the moms. My wife had trouble breast feeding from day one, and eventually had to stop for her own health and sanity. I get that breast milk is better, and if it is possible to do it, great. My wife tried motilium as well as some herbal supplements, which according to some, end up turning most women into human geysers. No luck. She spent most of her time either breastfeeding or hooked up to a pump to try and get things flowing. Some public health nurses still made her feel guilty for wanting to stop, and even suggested that we go to the breastfeeding clinic and get our baby's frenulum (the little stringy connecting thing under your tongue) because they said that he may be "tongue tied", even though he had no trouble latching and had a good suck going on (that's my boy!). This was later dismissed as BS by our doctor and he said that it wasn't worth continuing because some women simply can't breastfeed.
I appreciate the public health system that we have in place, and our experience has generally been positive in all other areas. But some of the nurses were damn near militant when it came to breastfeeding, even when every technique, medication, and effort had already proven unsuccessful.
Of course breast milk is best, but some people just can't. Formula isn't something evil, and it sure beats starving. Our boy was actually underweight during the first month because of our trouble feeding.
I never thought I'd rant about breastfeeding on an internet forum.
On the topic of public health, be prepared for some "advice" on vaccinations from family and friends. Just remember to separate the medicine and science from the conspiracy theories and come to your own informed decision. That's as far into that topic that I am going to wade, as I don't want an otherwise helpful thread to be hijacked by a debate on vaccinations.