How come some women love breastfeeding and some don't?

im not trying to judge anyone or start a debate im just curious why some women love to breastfeed and others dont. some women will go through hell (baby not latching, thrush, poor weight gain,clogged milk ducts ect..) to keep breastfeeding and others will just quit. i figure its because some women just really like it from the beginning and some just dont. my mom breastfed and said she loved doing it. im breastfeeding and having every problem in the book but i couldnt imagine quitting cause i love it so much. my sister tried it once in the hospital and hated it. im not saying that if you disliked breastfeeding that your a bad person or mom im just curious why some of us seem to be programmed to love nursing and some of us just dont like it. what are your opinions on this?

also does anyone know any statistics on how many women breastfeed and how many formula feed? it seems like the majority of people formula feed where i live. i've never seen anyone breastfeed but i see tons of bottles

I had a terrible time with my first baby, but I stuck with it for health and financial reasons. I really felt that I had no choice but to make it work. After a few months, I finally had it figured out, and I found it to be SOOO convenient - no bottles, no preparation, just me! I was amazed at 9 months (when I started to introduce foods) that this little person had grown and been nourished from a microscopic embryo entirely by MY BODY for a year and a half. It gave me a whole new respect for my body. I nursed her until my second was born and him until my third came along. In all, I nursed for 5 years straight and loved it!

just depends on the individual and the circumstances. I find it hard to believe that women judge each other on this heated debate.

It took me 3 kids to finally like/love it. It is a very cool thing. One body feeding another. It is a beautiful thing to watch your baby get nourished. It hurts at first. It took me about a month each time to not cringe when the baby latched on.
It is controversial but doesnt need to be. Every mother can mother in their own way.
One thing to remember though it saves you tons of formula money!

Just boils down to personal preference and circumstances. I had three children. Two were only nursed for a few weeks tops and the other was nursed until she could talk. Different circumstances dictated each child's situation.

Some women are more comfortable with the whole process than other women, and it's more important to some than to others. It's a completely personal thing. I'm going to give it a try when my baby's born, but I'm not going to stress out about it. If it's not working, it's not working. Better to have a baby eating formula than a baby not eating at all. I know the benefits of breastfeeding, and want my baby to have them, but only if the whole process is working for us.

because everyone is different. point blank, period.

kudos for sticking with it. kudos for your sister for deciding it wasn't for her.

triple kudos for people that don't care what other people feed their little ones...just as long as they are loved.

i think that anyone who "thinks it's nasty" is too imature to have children- but i loved it some people just cant handle it though- though some are too lazy

Candi- you think it's nasty too feed your child the healthier way your child was suppose to be fed yet you dont find it nasty that your child is eating breastmilk that formerly came from a cow's udder

jend i meant to give you thumbs up but accidentally hit the down sorry:(

i think deep down most women want to breastfeed their babies...it's a natural womanly instinct

but it's culture that rules our behavior mostly...and that is sad

yes most babies are formula fed in the United States.....but i am working on my breastfeeding education and hope to be a factor in changing that

and many moms that 'hate" breastfeeding haven't received proper advice about to just enjoy it and such...they are somehow sucked into the baby needs to act like a formula baby and they therefore begin to resent a needy breast baby....which by nature is the way babies should be

i have looooved breastfeeding.....with my first baby i had hell getting off to a good start but NO way was i giving in.....and i went on to nurse her about 3.5 years

nursing has made my life as a mother better and easier than i ever thought

Beth edit......far far too many moms just give in to the whole "if it doesn't work...oh well".....if you believe that it will then it will

that is why you must be educated beforehand.....a vaginal, unmedicated birth with baby being allowed to nurse right after birth will set you for success.....(not to say other circumstances won't be successful...just saying)

there is too much to go on about here about correcting your indifference but please seek out education by visiting your hospital's lactation consultant, join a local la leche league and talk to your OB and or midwife about your wishes

i think that many women stick with and go thru hell not so much because they love it, but because there is now so much information available about the health benefits of breastfeeding ( to mom & baby) that they don't want their baby to miss out on that. i am breastfeeding because i know what i'm doing is so good for my baby, and sometimes i am justwarmed in my heart when i look down at her peaceful face nuzzled at my breast - but sometimes it just wears me out and i have to re-read all the studies to remind myself why i'm doing it! so sometimes i love it, and sometimes i don't. i would think that' true for a lot of women -?

I could understand why many women don't want to breast feed; It is hard work. When i had my baby girl it took literally 9 hours of none stop trying to get her to latch on. The first months are very difficult for the mom and the baby, but i could never imagine doing it any other way. There so many issues when it comes to breastfeeding. Feedings outside the home, not being able to leave your baby just to go grocery shopping, nasty glances and many more; but It's such a wonderful feeling knowing that you alone can nourish this little one. The way she holds on to my hand and smiles when she's about to get fed it's just amazing. That special connection you form with your baby, you can't get it any other way. I don't know the statistics of how many people breast feed but from personal experience with my girl friends it's: 3 breastfed and one combine them and the other one bottle fed.

I too think there is so much misinformation out there about breastfeeding. I strongly believe it is the best choice for your baby but if you choose not to, it doesn't make you a bad mother.

I don't want to make those who "couldn't" breastfeed feel guilty but ALL women can breastfeed (well, unless on chemo, or other rare disorders). The most important thing is to get help early. Don't wait until your breast kill. And everyone can make enough milk. I hate when I hear people say they couldn't make enough. It's just mis-management of milk supply. Breastfeeding education needs to improve!

I don't love love breastfeeding but I know it's the very best for my baby. From all the books I read on the subject, I'm quickly becoming an advocate. I strongly encourage all women to go into breastfeeding with a good attitude, stick to it, and get help from professionals in the beginning!

i'm currently breastfeeding my son who is 2 1/2 months. I have often questioned how anyone could love breast feeding. I don't really like it. I do it for my son, because I know it is the best thing for him and I want that for him. I have a forceful letdown which means the milk comes out very fast. it spills out of his mouth and runs down my stomach and sides. It's so uncomforable! Sometimes I pump and give him a bottle which I like much better but he doesn't really like it. I could understand why someone would choose to formula fed. I was not breast fed and when I asked my mom why she said becuase it didn't sound like fun!

Pain from cracked sore nipples is the number one reason women discontinue breastfeeding. According to the CDC almost 73% of women start breastfeeding after delivery but only 63% breastfeed exclusively for 7 consecutive days. By the 6th month that number has decreased dramatically to 14.2% who breastfeed exclusively.

How do we increase these numbers? Education, proper techniques and a product like MaternaCare Breast Balm which is a gentle, lanolin-free, natural balm that was developed for breastfeeding mothers to help soothe, protect, moisturize and heal sore and cracked nipples. MaternaCare Breast Balm eases the pain of breastfeeding for women quickly and effectively encouraging continuation of breastfeeding. This contributes to a healthier mother, healthier baby and a healthier world. MaternaCare Breast Balm was developed by a practicing, board certified OB/Gyn in response to her patients requests!

i kno everyones gonna hate that i say this but i think its nasty lol, i just think its wierd exp. since i had a baby boy..

because some people don't have milk in them and it might hurt