Don't quit - get help

by Dana
(Rhode Island)

I had a bit of trouble breastfeeding my first child. She, also, was prematured and had trouble feeding at birth so I already knew breasfeeding was not as easy and natural as it sounded. At first, when my second child started to lose weight at nearly four month, everyone said that my milk was responsible. I could not explain why such reactions come firt from family and friends, after all, it's the way humanity raised their babies for more than I could say. I kept my eyes opened and made sure my baby fed often and as long as she wanted. Than the trouble got even worse. She started to get constipated basicly because she was missing fluids, I thought. My doctor said that it was IMPOSSIBLE that I did not have enough milk. After my baby lost way to much weight, I could not endure it no more and started to feed her with formula. The constipation did not stop but she started gaining weight and getting better and better. I am pretty sure the problem was not the quantity nor the quality of my milk but the latching. Women should really get help when they feel something's wrong with breastfeedind and dorctors should be more informed on the different problems breastfeeding mothers can go through but most of all, family should support their breastfeeding mothers in other ways than using words that make them feel ashamed or missunderstood.