The decision about whether or not to breastfeed is an important one. Ultimately, it is your decision to make. No one else can make this decision for you. Still, sometimes the things that often holds a woman back from breastfeeding has little to do with whether or not it is possible to do, or whether or not it is beneficial to their baby. In some cases, it is just a variety of fears that will keep a woman from breastfeeding. Most of these fears, however, can be overcome.
One fear of breastfeeding that can be overcome is the fear of failure. The fact of the matter is that most women who attempt to breastfeed do succeed. A woman’s body is designed not only to have a baby, but then to feed that same baby. At the same time, a woman’s body will produce enough milk for her baby. Ultimately, however, the fear of failure is an irrational one in that failure to breastfeed doesn’t mean failure as a person, or even failure as a mother. For those moms who can’t make it through breastfeeding, it doesn’t mean that their child will suffer, or that they aren’t a good mom.
Another fear is the fear that they will be tied down to their baby while breastfeeding. Thus, it would be difficult, if not impossible for them to return to school or to work. This, too, is an irrational fear. With a little planning ahead and a good breast pump, there is no reason that a new mom can’t do the other things that she wants to or needs to do, all while breastfeeding.
Some women have fears about breastfeeding in public, and the possible embarrassment that may go with it. Here again, there are ways to overcome this fear. First of all, it is becoming more and more acceptable for a woman to breastfeed in public. In addition, there are many different types of clothing that can help you be discreet when breastfeeding in public. Ultimately, if it is a fear you can’t deal with, having pumped breast milk may be an option in these circumstances, as well.
