We already know American women wimp out and quit breastfeeding as soon as they feel a twinge. It’s not an accurate assessment.
In poor regions of Africa, women have little option other than breastfeeding their children. And they likely don’t have the Carnation corporation in their laying-in rooms pushing Similac on them, saying “It’s just until your milk comes in”.
Co-nursing isn’t really a big deal among many women in America, either. I co-nursed with several friends. Made babysitting for a couple of hours much easier.
I did have a complicated birth. It took exactly three minutes when I came to after my haemorrhage for a nurse to offer my son a bottle of formula, “just until”. Fortunately, I had chosen to do my research ahead of time and talk to a lactation consultant about all the possibilities.
It took three days for my milk to come in, during which I encountered nipple trauma due to a poor latch, which was hellaciously painful. Again, since I was determined to breastfeed, I suffered the pain, had a meeting with the lactation consultant again, and carried on. Eventually, baby’s sucking triggered lactation, and I ended up producing what was probably enough milk for triplets. He had reflux and would throw up after every feeding, which meant he ate constantly to maintain his weight.
In contrast, my brother’s girlfriend had no problems producing milk – in fact, lactated throughout her pregnancy – but six weeks in she had a plugged duct and decided that was way too much pain and quit, and now tells everyone she “couldn’t breastfeed”.
American women are weenies.