Why breastfeeding failed

[tiredbuthappy]

This poll is only for those who chose to breastfeed (it is not intended to be a debate about breastfeeding!) In order to help me become a stronger CL, I would like to get a realistic picture of some of the reasons why breastfeeding "fails." Feel free to answer the poll anonymously, or to post your story. . Choose why you feel you had to stop sooner than you would have liked. Since I could only add 8 options, but could think of many more, please feel free to elaborate or add your own. Thank you in advance for your help

[Ashelen]

I had to stop BFing my daughter because I lost so much blood during delivery (nearly died from blood loss actually) that my supply never came in fully..my body was just incapable of building up a supply. after over a month of pumping between every feeding, hand expressing, supplements to build supply, daily trips to see a lactation consultant as well as several-times-a-day calls to a la leche league lady...I finally gave in. I was crying every single time I BF because my daughter wasn't getting enough food so she was feeding EVERY HOUR AND A HALF...after a month. and she was crying because she was hungry..she would feed for 30-45 minutes, and then be hungry within half an hour..I was already so exhausted from the blood loss that i literally could not do it anymore. and during the day if she was active near when she turned 1 month she would literally stop feeding long enough to wave her hands in the air, look around, fidget, and then she would have metabolized the milk already and be hungry again...it was horrific.

I felt like such a failure...I couldn't handle losing the bond and the special time and I was convinced I was a failure as a woman and a mother....

Luckily I got over that, and my daughter is now a very happy and healthy almost-2-year-old who has never been seriously sick a day in her life.

[wannabeamommy0124]

yea it would have... but i hope when she decides to have another baby she thinks things through!!

[penswriter]

I wish I could have been that full!!!! I missed that special one on one time with my boys. It was the only time I got to actually spend more than a second with each boy. Of course while I fed one at that feeding the other got a bottle (which was breast milk...till I dried up.) :o( I hope she realizes how lucky she was to produce that much. It would have been a great bonding time for her and baby.

[wannabeamommy0124]

not a mom yet myself but i voted for my sister.. and her option wasnt avaliable... and i know this is sad... but her option should have been laziness... shes my sister and i love her but she was just plain lazy... she did not want to take the time to sit and feed my nephew... it broke my heart because she produced lots of milk... but she would take the pain when she was full and not even pump... and then it just dried out.. i told her soooo many times it would be a great bonding experience but she really could care less... dont get me wrong she loveeeess that little boy... but being her snotty self BF wasnt an option for her..  

[tiredbuthappy]

thank you all so much for sharing your stories. I know it is a very sensitive subject. Your input will help me help others tremendously.

I know when my first was born at 36 weeks, i had never heard of exclusively pumping. In fact many many people, including on these forums, said it was not possible to sustain a supply while pumping. I used to get very upset by people who kept saying that if you work hard enough, nursing will work. My baby's problems were not the type that could be easily overcome, and it wasn't like I wasn't trying! So, I am a bit more sympathetic to the fact that sometimes it's not as magical and natural as one would think. Even with my second, who was a great nurser to start, nursing failed. She had severe reflux (worse than any my seasoned pediatrician had seen) and colic. During her colicky hours, the thrashing and screaming made nursing impossible. And since at it's worst, the colicky period was 7 hours a day, we slowly lost our nursing. Her sensory issues that came with the colic were so severe that she could only eat while swaddled tightly and in a swing. Not very practical for nursing. Luckily, I was blessed with a great supply and have a great pump, so I was able to pump for a very long time with both.

Keep it coming ladies! Thank you!

[penswriter]

I had twins...they literally sucked me dry by 4 months. lol.