Why Do Some Women Choose Not To Breastfeed?

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Breastfeeding Vs. bottle feeding is a debate that has been prevalent for a long time. There are several reasons for women to choose not to breastfeed. While some women decide against it out of choice, there could be several other reasons as well.

Breastfeeding has many benefits for both the mother and the baby. Doctors generally recommend breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a baby’s life (1). But the choice to breastfeed or not solely relies on the mother. And there could be several reasons that some women cannot breastfeed their babies. Scroll down as we discuss a few of them:

In This Article

Conditions In The Mother

Below we list down a few conditions because of which a mother may not be able to breastfeed her baby:

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  • Mammary Hypoplasia

Women who are diagnosed with mammary hypoplasia are physically incapable of producing enough milk for their babies due to insufficient glandular tissue (2). New mothers are generally capable of producing enough milk for the healthy growth and development of their babies. Women with IGT lack the proper mammary tissue and hence cannot produce enough breast milk. They can have small or large breasts. Signs of IGT include widely spaced breasts, no milk post 3 days of giving birth, swollen or puffy areolas, and asymmetrical breasts (one much larger than the other).

  • Breast Reduction Surgery

Mothers who have previously had breast or nipple surgery are advised to breastfeed their little ones. However, the impact the surgery has on breast milk production may vary among women (3). Some women may have no impact on their breast milk and can produce the full amount of milk. Women who have had breast reduction surgery have the highest potential for low milk supply. Breast augmentation surgery can also have an impact on the milk supply. Hence it is best to discuss with your doctor beforehand about your future breastfeeding plans before the surgical procedure.

  • Postpartum Depression Or Anxiety

Postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 women and can happen anytime during the first year after giving birth. While mothers with postpartum depression can produce breast milk, some women may not have positive feelings about breastfeeding. Most medications for postpartum depression are safe to consume during breastfeeding and have little to no effect on the baby; however, it is important to discuss with your doctor beforehand (4). If a depressed or anxious woman decides not to breastfeed until her mental health is back on track, it is crucial not to make her feel guilty about her decision.

  • Serious Illness

Mothers who are diagnosed with any serious conditions may not be able to breastfeed their babies. Women with HIV are advised not to breastfeed as the virus can be passed to the infant via breast milk. A woman with tuberculosis at the time of delivery should not breastfeed her baby until she has started treatment and is not infectious anymore. Mothers who are taking certain medications for serious illnesses may also not be able to breastfeed their babies (5).

Conditions In The Baby

Below we list down a few conditions because of which a baby cannot breastfeed:

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  • Classic Galactosemia

It is a metabolic condition in which the body is unable to metabolize galactose (a simple type of sugar) found in cow’s milk, breast milk, and other dairy products. Since it cannot be digested by the body, it builds up in large amounts in tissues and blood and can lead to serious complications and symptoms if left untreated (6). Babies diagnosed with the disease cannot be breastfed and are given a special formula free of galactose. The initial signs and symptoms of galactosemia include vomiting, jaundice, spitting up, cataracts, and refusal to eat. If a baby is diagnosed with the condition, they need to have their diet and condition monitored by a doctor specializing in metabolic diseases.

  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Babies born with PKU cannot digest phenylalanine (an amino acid). If a couple has a family history of PKU, the doctor may recommend a screening test before pregnancy or birth. All newborns in the US are required to be screened for the disease a day or two after birth. Babies born with PKU need to follow a strict diet with limited amounts of protein as most foods with protein contain phenylalanine (7). They may also need frequent blood tests to monitor their phenylalanine levels. For babies and toddlers, your doctor may recommend a PKU-free formula that can be supplemented with a regulated amount of breast milk since breast milk and infant formulas contain PKU.

  • Maple Syrup Urine Disease

The maple syrup urine disease is a condition where the body cannot break down certain amino acids. Babies born with this disease are unable to break down leucine, isoleucine, and valine, causing them to accumulate in urine and blood. One of the symptoms of MSUD is sweet-smelling pee, hence the name. Other symptoms include weight loss, sweet-smelling sweat, and loss of appetite (8). Babies born with this condition need to have their intake of breast milk monitored as the amino acids present in breast milk needs to be restricted. A special formula might be fed to babies in such cases.

Other Reasons

Besides the above conditions, women may also choose not to breastfeed their baby for the following reasons:

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  • Traumatic Experience

Mothers who had a painful experience — both physically and psychologically — breastfeeding their first child may decide to skip nursing their second baby. Breastfeeding can be painful and uncomfortable for some women because of sore or cracked nipples, engorged breasts, and clogged milk ducts (9).

  • Working Mothers

Working mothers may find it challenging to continue breastfeeding when they return to work. Juggling the responsibilities of office and home and taking care of a baby can be overwhelming, which makes it hard to breastfeed on demand. Some women choose to use breast pumps, while others decide to stick to formula milk.

  • Not Enough Milk

Some mothers may suffer from low milk supply despite doing everything they can and trying different ways, and seeking help from a lactation consultant (10). In such cases, breastfeeding tends to be a stressful experience for the mom, causing them to feel like a failure and switch to formula feeding.

  • Matter Of Choice

Some mothers prefer bottle-feeding over breastfeeding as they feel it’s a better choice for the mother and baby. It could be because their baby refuses to feed without making a fuss, certain health conditions, or because they find it easier to take care of themselves and the baby with bottle feeding.

Breastfeeding certainly has several benefits when compared to bottle feeding. But there could be several reasons that a mother chooses to bottle feed her infant. We hope our article helped you understand at least some of the reasons why a mother may decide not to breastfeed her baby.

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