Dear Kathleen and all,
      Some mothers want to breast feed if it is "easy".  I feel we can
usually help make it easier through education about newborn's normal
feeding patterns, I & O, comfortable latch and positioning, etc.  But
some mothers I have met really don't want to breast feed somewhere deep
in their mind, and with the first problem see a reason to stop.  Perhaps
a family member or friend was pressuring the mom in the first place to
try it........we don't know all the factors in her decision.  Maybe she
will be more committed with the next child.  During lactation rounds in
the hospital I often ask how long is she planning to be nursing?  The
answer gives me a clue on where to focus my teaching, if the woman says
she is "trying it for a week" to see how it goes, I try to make it super
simple and easy for her, and give a few health benefits for mom and baby.
 If the answer is something like a year or six months, the mom is usually
more committed.
     I had a mom about a year ago who really was having some problems
with terribly cracked, sore nipples, and engorgement.  I saw her on a
consult on a Sat afternoon, and
was able to help her with a good feeding at the breast.  On the follow-up
call the next day, she said  "I started bottle feeding last night, it
just hurt too much."  That clued me in that she already made a decision
to stop, and I felt she wanted/needed "permission" from a hcp not to
breast feed.  I told her she can be a loving mom, hold her baby close and
bottle feed, her baby had mother's milk for one week and that was a
healthy start.  Later I found out from the LC who had seen her inpatient
that her two sisters-in-law had been putting a lot of pressure on her to
breast feed.  I felt I did a good job with this mother.
     I guess we need to continue giving information and support, and the
rest is up to the individual moms/families.
     Susan Potts  RN IBCLC  Minnesota

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