Hello Cindy,
Thank you for that well formulated and researched question. I happen to have
some feedback for you. I work with the Mississippi WIC Breastfeeding Program,
and we recently participated in a survey which asked the mothers to indicate
what issues they felt where the most influential on their initiation and
duration of breastfeeding.
The three most common answers were:
1) Embarrassment -This could be embarrassment about the idea of
breastfeeding, embarrassment about others knowing they were breastfeeding,
and/or embarrassment about breastfeeding in public situations (as defined by
the mothers....)
2) Time constraints (Busy-Moms) - Some mothers felt that choosing to
breastfeed meant choosing to stay home, (maybe related to #1) They did not
equate bottle preparation, cleaning, or storing/heating with time ... They
were more likely to equate bottle-feeding with the ability for someone else
to "watch/feed" the baby while they continued on with their lives....
3) Lack of encouragement - Many mothers found that relatives, friends, and
other well-meaning acquaintances were quick to address any "New Mother Woes"
with formula... Grandparents and fathers wanted to feed the baby, If
something (anything) went wrong, related to breastfeeding, or just related to
being a new parent, the first suggestion was to give formula.....

Mississippi WIC then developed some pamphlets targeting these concerns, and
intimated a campaign to address these issues with all prenatal WIC clients.
We have definitely seen an increase in initiation rates, and a slower, but
marked increase in duration as well.

We address all of the issues you have mentioned, in these pamphlets.

Laura Wright, IBCLC
Jackson, Mississippi

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