General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Mayor Bloomberg pushing NYC hospitals to hide baby formula so more new moms will breast-feed [View all]HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)Unless the woman really WANTS to breastfeed, it will not work. In the early days and weeks, you have nurse round the clock if the infant wants to. The less you nurse the more the milk supply will dry up. My sister-in-law, who had her children a decade before mine, thought you could put a breastfeed a newborn on a "schedule", as in every 4 hours. Sorry, but NO. That will dry up the milk, same as for early food feeding.
While women should be ENCOURAGED to nurse, if they don't want to, or have the time or patience, all the good intentions will be to no avail.
However, once you do get through those difficult early weeks and months, if becomes very, very easy, and convenient. I learned after my daughter weaned herself that she not only had cow, but soy, allergies, which she still does at 28 years old. Poor Moms who want to bottle feed in a situation like that. I did find, however, after weaning and through her TEENAGE years, that she was able to tolerate GOATS Milk. She uses those products today in adulthood.