Usenet Writings

Persevering When Breastfeeding is Difficult

Should you?

©1993 Beth Weiss, Posted to misc.kids Usenet newsgroup, January 6, 1993

I had troubles when starting breastfeeding with Jordan.   Within 4-6 weeks, with the help of a lactation consultant and a LLL leader, all of the difficulties Jordan and I had were straightened out, and he nursed until he self-weaned at mine months.

I am very glad that I persevered, because the pain and difficulties of the first weeks were overcome by the special joy and bonding of the 7+ months of successful breastfeeding that we had.

After an experience like that, it would be easy for me to think that anyone can solve their breastfeeding problems, and that if the new mother tried hard enough or was committed enough, she wouldn't have had to give up.

But that isn't true!!!  I've known women who have tried so hard with so much commitment and not have a successful breastfeeding relationship at the end of it, but it happens, and it's heartbreaking.  In other cases, the commitment leads to a successful breastfeeding relationship.

The difficulty is in knowing when making one's decisions, which category you're going to end up in--the one for whom it will work, if you gave it just a bit more time, or the one for whom breastfeeding is interfering with the loving relationship with your new child.