Breast or Bottle: That is the question!

Australian women know that ‘breast is best’.  Australia has one of the highest rates of breastfeeding at birth with around 90% of mothers breastfeeding their newborn.  But by 3 months this has dropped to around 58%.  While some argue that women are going back to work at this time Australian statistics do not bear this out.  A national survey revealed the most common reasons for weaning early were sore and cracked nipples, mastitis and perceived low supply.

Aggressive marketing of infant formula ensure that sales are growing every year.  Companies are also taking advantage of medical conditions, devising ‘specialist’ formulas for reflux, hungry babies, and so on. 

Carey Wood is an Australian Breast Feeding Association counselor and press officer for NSW, she believes we have a breastfeeding hostile community.  She says we need to think of ‘breastfeeding problems’ as hurdles or challenges.  ‘Then we’re more accurately describing these hiccups that occur in a breastfeeding relationship, and normalising them.’

She says, ‘There’s a perception that breastfeeding is very fragile – that it’s hit and miss – and there’s a lot of women who can’t do it.  And they are myths.  Mothers have the idea that if they have difficulties they have a big problem, or they can’t do it,’ she says.  A mother of four, Carey had mastitis ‘12 or 13 times’ with one of her babies. 

To overcome difficulties she recommends surrounding oneself with a supportive peer network.  ‘Research shows that women who surround themselves with a breastfeeding supportive culture and peer support are more successful.’

Research in the US also found that women who are associated with a peer support group reported lower incidences of low supply. 

Joining a group like the ABA is also an excellent way to access information.  The ABA provides advice and email counseling as well as forums and discussion boards.  Subscription to the ABA costs less than a dollar a week.  And, as Carey points out, that’s not a lot from the $4000 baby bonus, and you’ll save a fortune in infant formula. 

If supply is found to be low Carey points out that supply equals demand.  ‘Some women have low supply because they’re feeding their baby as though it is a bottle fed baby.  Every four hours.’
Today’s mothers were raised in a bottle-fed culture.  We have little or no experience of handling babies, let alone long term breastfeeding. 

Carey explains, ‘The first six weeks are a time for getting to know your baby and getting to know what breastfeeding is all about.  The baby needs to be attached pain free, then we know the milk is transferring to the baby.  Many women don’t know that they need to look at nappy count.  We don’t have the confidence to trust our instincts, to look at our baby’s skin tone, to see if s/he is alert.’ 
You can see a lactation consultant at your local health service – don’t delay!  They can watch you to check your attachment and ensure your baby is getting her milk.  They will also assess the baby’s urine output, weight gain, skin tone and demeanor.   

Naomi Sims,28, is a mother and part time student from Dunlop, ACT.  She supplemented her daughter Beth’s feeding with infant formula in the early months when she lost her let-down sensation.  She blames misinformation for almost ending her breast feeding relationship.  Her doctor and health nurse recommended feeding on demand but, as Naomi explains, ‘Beth was refusing the breast.  She seemed to have developed nipple confusion from the fast flow of the bottle teat.  And I think she sensed that my supply had dropped off and seemed frustrated.  I felt I was being fobbed off.’   
Naomi took a health supplement of fenugreek which helps many women boost their milk supply, and used a supplemental feeding system, which supplies formula to the baby while she feeds at the breast.  Thus stimulating supply without the problem of breast refusal.  Naomi was soon able to feed normally again, and continued to do so until Beth weaned herself at 18 months. 

However, women are being forcefully targeted by infant formula companies.  The 2001 National Health Survey found mothers were influenced by the marketing of infant formula.  ‘Women are preyed upon.  They are made to feel that they don’t have enough milk if their baby wakes at night or is unsettled or fussy.  They’re made to feel that they ought to supplement their feeding.  And perhaps even that they should wean,’ says Carey.    

She goes on, ‘We all have different milk storage capacity.  We are all completely different.  We accept that we have different body shapes and types and yet we expect our babies to all be the same – like little automatons.’  

Cathy Berghau, 34, a mother of four from Middlemount, Qld agrees that information and support are essential in establishing a good breastfeeding relationship.  She was unsuccessful in her attempt to breastfeed her first two children and says she felt robbed of what she had planned would be a loving and rewarding experience. 

Cathy explains, ‘I was young and lacked the knowledge I needed to be successful.  When I fell pregnant with Matthew I was determined that I would succeed this time.  I took breastfeeding classes, and started reading everything I could.’ 

Although Cathy’s third attempt included mastitis and thrush she did not give up.  After a bout of mastitis Cathy developed Reynaud’s Syndrome – an intensely painful condition where the nipple spasms while the baby is feeding.  Cathy describes the pain as being ‘like hot rods inserted into the breast.’  In spite of this she managed to feed Matthew until he was 22 months. 

Carey confirms ‘It’s amazing what can be overcome if women are supported and encouraged.   Reynaud’s Syndrome is intensely painful, but then so are sore and cracked nipples.’ 

Although the spasms were painful they also passed quickly.  Cathy became used to them and learned to handle them.  When her husband suggested that maybe she should give up she asked him to keep encouraging her and supporting her instead.  Which he did.  Finally she experienced some of the joys she had hoped for.  She says, ‘I felt filled up with love.  I thought ‘this is it!’  This is what I’ve been craving!’

Even mothers having a relatively easy time breastfeeding can face difficulties.  Many women still find feeding in public difficult.  Knowing your rights can increase confidence.  It also helps to plan outings and limit them to what is really necessary.  There is no law to say you are not coping just because you refuse to trawl your baby around the mall or take her to girlie lunch dates. 

In Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory legislation specifically refers to breastfeeding and a mothers right to do so.  In Victoria there is legislation to protect anyone from being discriminated against on the grounds of being a parent.  In Western Australia discrimination on the grounds of a person’s family responsibilities is not allowed.  For more advice on feeding in public go to http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/out.html 

People ask Carey if women really want to breastfeed.  She believes they do.  ‘They feel awful when they give up,’ she reports. ‘But women are being sold short.  They feel angry and frustrated at the fact that they are not getting enough support and information.’