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101 Ways to Sabotage Breastfeeding
Well, OK, I couldn't think of 101, but here is a good start to the list.  If you have more, we'd love to add them!  E-mail onecreativemama@hotmail.com and we will add it to the list!
  • Offering a bottle, pacifier, or sugar water in the hospital.  Demand that your baby is strictly breastfed.  A good way to make sure is to room-in with your baby.  Many well-meaning nurses will feed the baby in the nursery so you can “rest”.  Remember that nursing will help you and the baby sleep.  Friends have reported nurses giving bottles, or sneaking formula to them (“Oh, that’s not going to make a difference”.  Well, it does!!!)
  • An unsupportive husband
  •  An unsupportive mother (“You were bottle fed and you turned out just fine!”)
  • An uninformed hospital staff or doctor.  While most doctors know breast is best, very few are trained in breastfeeding or lactation.  Many nurses only offer advice based on their own experience with nursing, which is usually negative.
  • FORMULA COMPANIES!  They make sure you can’t even leave the hospital without samples of their products, “free” diaper bags, and coupons.  They even wait a few weeks for you to try breastfeeding, and when you are at your most vulnerable and frustrated, voila`, a free can of formula magically appears in your mailbox. 
  • Bad advice.
  • The feeling that you can't nurse in front of others, or in a public place.  The best way to normalize breastfeeding is to just do it! Nurse at the playground.  Nurse at the fair.  Nurse whenever the baby needs food! 
  • Tongue-tied babies causing painful nursing.  Insist on the pediatrician clipping it if you are having trouble breastfeeding due to this.  If the ped won't, call around to dentists and D.Os with experience in handling tongue-tied babies.  Do this ASAP!
  • Being told "you aren't making enough milk".  What a way to sabotage a mama!  Women in third world countries still make plenty of milk.  This is not the problem.  The problem is usually a matter of latch, length of nursings, etc.  Even if it were true, there are plenty of ways to increase your milk supply.  JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT!  Find someone to help you.
  • Thinking that since you have to go back to work soon, it's not really worth the effort.  Find friends that you know that pump and work and get advice and support from them.
  • Supplementing with formula.  Many mamas are advised to supplement to increase weight.  This is not only unneccesary, but will basically ruin your chances of breastfeeding successfully.  The more you supplement, the less milk you make, and the more you will have to supplement.
  • Retained placenta.  If you feel that you are bleeding post-partum more than you should be, please see a doctor.  You may have pieces of placenta that were retained and should be removed.  This can decrease your milk supply.  Insist on it!
  • Being told to stop breastfeeding at one year or less.  You can breastfeed as long as you and baby agree upon.  Studies show that even though your milk supply decreases in the 2nd year, the health benefits increase.  The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least 2 years or more.