I am enjoying reading these stories. Perhaps this is a potential book - a
collection of mother's reasons.

I breastfed because I had terrible allergies and thought it would help my
children.  My mother also told me that she developed an infection and the
doctor would not let her nurse  me or hold me without a mask for two weeks
while she and I remained in the hospital. So she pumped her milk and threw it
out!

 She also bragged to me that she nursed me until I was 9 months old and then
the doctor "made" her stop. I think I was really impressed with this
especially the  pumping part. So I was determined to nurse for 9 months -
like my mother. 9 months came and went and my daughter weaned when my milk
came in for the next baby when she was  2 years 11 months. After nursing and
realizing how important nursing was to my  9 month old daughter, I asked my
mother wasn't stopping at 9 months difficult for me and she said no. I then
said, didn't I miss sucking?  and she said I you had been taking  bottles of
formula too!!!   No wonder I had allergies. It is amazing that she nursed
that long too. I don't know how she managed, because I was so shocked that I
didn't ask any more questions!  My role model had not told me the whole
story!!  But I guess it was for the best.   Camille