When Breastfeeding Is Not Best

Nurses and lactation consultants alike have done a lot of browbeating over the years, getting mother uncommitted to nursing to finally see things their way. Breast is best, they say, and a truly...

Nurses and lactation consultants alike have done a lot of browbeating over the years, getting mother uncommitted to nursing to finally see things their way. Breast is best, they say, and a truly committed mom would want to only do the best for their child, including breastfeeding. Yet did you know that there are times when breastfeeding is not best.

* The infant has poor nursing habits. Some infants are simply not properly preprogrammed to latch onto the breast properly. They may start out great, but within seconds find that they are asleep. Conversely, they may not latch on at all, or only intermittently. This results in a lot of crying, fussing, and overall problems. The one thing it does not lead to is intake of breast milk. You will notice that the child loses weight and continues on in this manner. Nurses and lactation consultants are determined that you should continue breastfeeding and will most likely strongly urge you to not make a bottle of formula in an effort to feed the child. This is when a visit to the pediatrician is indicated. If it turns out that your baby is losing an alarming amount of weight and also looks like he is dehydrated, it is time to supplement the breastfeeding efforts with formula to counteract the dropping weight.

* Faulty latching on leads to a diminished milk supply. If the baby is not latching on properly and you are supplementing breast milk with a bottle, there is a good chance that your milk supply will never fully come in. This in turn does not provide the infant with the amount of nourishment he needs to grown and become healthy. There is the option of pumping breast milk to build up the milk supply and also provide an alternative to formula, but sometimes the letdown reflex requires an actual baby sucking on the breast and if this is missing then you might not be able to produce enough milk.

* Breastfeeding is not a good option if you and your baby’s father are estranged but he has visitation rights. He may not wish to take with him the bag containing the breast milk, and by the time you two can iron out the child’s dietary intake in the courts, the child is most likely already weaned. Needless to say, it is a good idea to keep this in mind when handing off the baby to her father and simply planning on breastfeeding at home.

* Women who are mortally afraid of exposing their breasts in public, or who have had some sexual trauma in the past, are not always the best candidates for breastfeeding. Instead, they may have such a hard time with breastfeeding that the entire time they are trying to get it done it is a loveless chore that causes more stress on mother and child than it actually provides a genuine bonding opportunity.

Women must decide individually what approach to their infants’ early nutritional intake they would like to take. While breastfeeding is best for many, for some it simply is the wrong solution.

Read Also

1. Debunking The Breastfeeding Myths - Like most any topic there are myths floating around about breastfeeding and sorting the truth from myth can sometimes be...
2. Why Breastfeeding Is Best For Baby And Mom - There are many reasons why breastfeeding is best for the baby including nutritional reasons, health reasons, and for better bonding....
3. Breastfeeding Benefits Not Just The Mom And Baby - What a concept, breastfeeding benefits not just the mom and baby but it also benefits the economy and the environment....
4. Preparing For Breastfeeding Before Baby Arrives - Like most moms, those who anticipate breastfeeding as a choice for feeding their newborn; usually prepare for the coming of...
5. Breastfeding 19 - Who has not heard the warnings about nipple confusion? They have been so often repeated that they almost resemble an...