I have been helping mothers who choose to nurse their babies for over twenty years. In the course of pre-natal classes I have often met women who will "try " to nurse their children and I feel that is a very normal response from someone with limited exposure to breastfeeding role models, limitless exposure to a "bottle-feeding " culture and not much confidence in the power of their own bodies. I have also come across a few mothers who do not wish to nurse their infants. They may know all the health reasons why it would benefit their children as well as themselves, they know all the economic and convenience reasons, they may even have very supportive partners who are encouraging breastfeeding. Yet they choose to use a substitute for themselves. I do not know why this happens. There have been anecdotal stories about psychological difficulties related to previous sexual abuse, there may be women who find such close, continuous bodily contact disgusting to them. I cannot judge these women-- I would prefer them to be good mothers, loving and enjoying their children rather than distressed unhappy mothers feeding their children at their breasts and hating it ( and perhaps hating their children into the bargain.) None of us knows everything that is involved in another person's choices---we can provide support, information, practical assistance, but in the end, each woman must do what she deems best for her children, her family and herself. Eileen Shea, BSc, IBCLC