Guest post by Trisha of Intoxicated On Life and Breastfeeding Place
This post is part of the Breast-Kept Secrets: Breastfeeding Advice from One Mom to Another series. Go back and read all posts here.
Breastfeeding is a beautiful, amazing bonding experience that women have the opportunity to share with their little ones. I’m a huge advocate of breastfeeding, but occasionally I do hear some women bemoan some of breastfeeding’s disadvantages.
While breastfeeding is advantageous to mom and baby on many levels, it does have a few drawbacks that some may see as roadblocks. Below are some disadvantages of breastfeeding and how you can overcome these problems.
Disadvantages of Breastfeeding
1. Breastfed babies need to be fed more often.
A breastfed baby needs to be fed every 1 ½ – 3 hours. This can definitely be inconvenient during the daytime. However, a hidden advantage is that this forces a new mom to take frequent “breaks” with her little one.
See this not as a disadvantage but as nature’s built-in way of giving you time to bond with your bundle of joy. Plus, at night, there is no need to get out of bed, trek across the house, turn on the lights, make a bottle, warm the bottle, and then feed the baby. You can simply nurse the baby quietly and then you can both go back to sleep peacefully with little distraction.
2. Some medications are passed through breast milk.
If you’re on certain kinds of antidepressants for postpartum depression, you may not be able to breastfeed. If you and your doctor feel that you need to manage your depression through medication, you may have to formula feed or look into alternate breastfeeding options.
However, many nursing moms with baby blues find that the oxytocin released during breastfeeding is enough to cure the post baby blues. It depends on the individual situation, and only you and your doctor can decide what would be the most beneficial route for you and your little one. Clinical pharmacologist Dr. Thomas Hale’s book, Medications and Mother’s Milk, is an excellent resource for finding out whether drugs are compatible with breastfeeding.
3. You need to eat a balanced diet.
Nursing mothers sometimes need to avoid foods and beverages that are too spicy, cause gas, or cause their baby discomfort. These things pass through breast milk to babies. Some mothers feel that they have already given up 9 months of having their own bodies, and can’t bear the thought of eating like they’re pregnant for any longer.
The good news is that eating healthy will lengthen your lifespan and get you back to your pre-pregnancy size sooner. So while it may temporarily make you unhappy to say no to that double taco, you’ll be happy you did in the long run.
4. You don’t know how much milk they’re getting.
With a bottle, you can easily see the amount of milk or formula your baby gets. Many breastfeeding moms find it difficult to gauge whether or not their baby is getting enough nutrition at each feeding and often worry that the baby will not thrive.
You can certainly pump breast milk and give it to your baby in a bottle if you’re concerned, but remember, your pediatrician is trained to know when babies are growing at a healthy rate, and can tell whether or not they are getting enough nutrients. If the pediatrician is concerned, there are still more options, like natural supplements and different physical techniques to increase your milk supply that may be able to help. You can also educate yourself on the indicators of low milk supply, so you know if this should be a concern.
The decision to breastfeed or not is one of the very first and most important decisions you’ll have to make over the course of your baby’s lifetime. It’s normal to be worried, frustrated, and even a little scared.
Remember that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages by far. If you are looking for support and encouragement on your breastfeeding journey be sure to join us at Breastfeeding Place. Do you have questions or concerns? Submit your breastfeeding questions. Our authors love helping and will answer readers’ questions!
Do you think there are any disadvantages of breastfeeding? Do the benefits make up for the drawbacks?
Get more breastfeeding posts here!
Trisha Gilkerson is wife to 4 sweet rambunctious boys and wife to one caring and loving husband. She and her husband blog at Intoxicated on Life about homeschooling, faith, and health. Trisha launched Breastfeeding Place in July 2013 and is accompanied by 20 amazing authors who make the site the most helpful, caring place on the web for breastfeeding mama’s. You can find Trisha at Intoxicated on Life, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest and be sure to come check out Breastfeeding Place on Facebook and Twitter!
Gabrielle@MamaGab
You bring up some great points and I love the way you explore ways to overcome each of those disadvantages. I’d also like to add that a good baby scale can go a long way in easing a new mom’s mind about whether or not the baby is getting enough to eat when nursing. A friend gave hers to me when she moved and it really came in handy on those paranoid days. 🙂
Also, having doctors who are very pro-breastfeeding can help with the medicine issues. Because both my general practitioner and my OB/Gyn are pro-breastfeeding, I’ve seen them work hard to look into safe options for medicines for me, or at least weigh the options. For them, it’s always been a big priority that I continue to nurse my baby, regardless of what medication I’ve needed to be on.
Trisha
I’ve not ever had a scale for my little ones, but knowing how many wet/dirty diapers baby is supposed to have is always another good way to reassure yourself that they’re getting enough. My little ones, despite being slow gainers, all had plenty of those!
Gabrielle@MamaGab
I loan mine out all. the. time because I know too many moms who have stopped nursing because they thought their babies weren’t getting enough. The babies were fine, but moms are great at finding things to worry about. 🙂
Rebekah
You stated that pediatricians are trained to know when babies are growing enough… I hope that’s true, but in my (limited) experience peds are eager to recommend formula unnecessarily. 🙁 The charts they use are often based on formula fed babies’ growth and really do not help with breastfed babies, who typically do not gain as quickly.
My daughter dropped from the 50th to the 7th percentile over the course of two months. A ped would have freaked and recommended formula, but she’s extremely happy and healthy, is putting on weight (just slowly), and is totally satisfied after nursing. I think that doctors tend to go by charts rather than observe the child!
Thanks for acknowledging that breastfeeding does have “disadvantages.” 🙂 I think they are far outweighed by the benefits, and that some of the perceived drawbacks are really just due to our modern in-a-hurry, adult-centered mindset. But especially for a timid new mom, it doesn’t help to pretend that it’s super easy and convenient all the time! It’s hard sometimes!
Trisha
Well, pediatricians are SUPPOSED to be trained to know how much a baby should be gaining. Some are overly reactive. I had to deal with one of those while in the hospital after my twins were born. But, my pediatrician who though says “breast is best” I wouldn’t call a huge breastfeeding advocate – she isn’t overly reactive about weight. She acknowledges that different children often have different growth curves. And, if your doctor doesn’t use the WHO chart then I’d take one with me when looking at growth curves.
We need to be health advocates for ourselves and our children. Though doctors should know a lot of this about breastfeeding, you brought up a good point… many don’t seem to know it.
Breanna
I’ve gone through three of these disadvantages. I have seizures so I’m on a medication forthat. No one told me it was a problem when nursing my daughter until she was overs year old. They told me I shouldn’t be breastfeeding while on that medication, and downed me a ton. My obgyn was the one prescribing it, and he later told me it was unstudied, but he didn’t think it would cause any problems. I’m now nursing my son, still on this medication. I’ve switched their pediatrician, and she asked questions about his sleeping. I learned his does sleep more than a normal baby, and my daughter had too. That’s the only side effect I have with this medication as well, so it made sense. I still breastfeed, because although the medication hasn’t been studied with breastfeeding moms, my daughter has had no problems, is very smart, and other than sleeping more, my son has no problems either.
With my daughter, I had to cut out dairy the first few months of nursing, because it made her irritable. Not bad, but enough for me to notice. My son was constantly ill, refluxing, and always cried. At 2 months I cut out dairy to see if it could be the cause. Immediately he started doing better, but wasn’t completely better. I found out I am gluten intolerant, possibly celiac, but haven’t been tested. I cut out my gluten a month ago, and he has transformed into a wonderful baby!
My son nurses tons. Infact, he almost constantly nurses. He has at least 10 minutes of nursing every 30 minutes. When he’s actually eating, not just comfort nursing, it’s much more. He stays latched all night, which can be frustrating because I can’t get comfortable.
Despite my trouble, I wouldn’t change the fact that I’m breastfeeding one bit. Cutting out dairy and gluten helped me so much, and I never would have found out if it weren’t for my some. My children and I have a bond that I don’t believe would be possible without our close nursing! It always brightens me up, and I really enjoy it! My daughter is 2 1/2 and my son is 3 1/2 months.
Trisha
Medications are so difficult because the majority of them are NOT tested on breastfeeding women/babies.
I’m with you, the bond that happens through the nursing relationship is amazing. I’m so thankful I’ve had the opportunity to breastfeed each of my children.
mira
If you have Medication Questions you can contact DR. Thomas Hale’s Infant Risk Center Texas Tech Univ. Health and Science Center Monday thru Friday 8am to 5 pm
They are heath professionals that are staffed to answer both parents ans well as physicians questions concerning safety of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The number is 806-352-2519. They also have a book called Medications and Mother’s Milk By Thomas Hale. His book is published every 2 years. He is a great speaker and a really nice person. There is also a phone aap just look up InfantRisk Center mobile app
Erin
Thanks for the input!
Wendy @ New Moms Talk
I have a hard time with any of these being labeled “disadvantages,” as, it seems to me, life is about choice and perception.
Our daughter is 9 months and primarily breast fed, though she will eat nearly everything you put in front of her. I’m simply grateful that both my hub and I work from home which allows me to feed her when she needs or wants versus a scheduled feeding. I’m also grateful that my hub is highly supportive of my breastfeeding our daughter.
Anything that promotes health and love is a gift in my perception.
Trisha
You are right, they really are about how you perceive things. I was simply addressing them as “disadvantages” in light of some conversations I’ve had where women have labeled these as “disadvantages.”
Cindy
Another disadvantage that I experienced was severe dryness during intimacy. I nursed my son for almost 14 months, and was very relieved when this issue resolved at around 12 months or so (when we were down to just 2 nursings a day) I have twins as well, but didn’t breastfeed past 6 weeks with them. So, I was unsure if the dryness was just nursing related or post partum. Thankfully, it wasn’t.
Trisha
Yes, that is another disadvantage that can come, but like you said thankfully it doesn’t last forever!
Gemma
Yes, my midwife used to have all her clients order a huge tube of lubricant and I always wondered why since she always had plenty in her bag for home visits and of course, in her office for office visits. One day the issue of dryness came up and she explained that’s why she had us order the huge tube of lubricant with the rest of the birth supply kit. Pretty awesome of her. 🙂 I also recently discovered that some good coconut oil will also serve the same purpose.
Amy @ {Life to the Full}
You are definitely right in the disadvantages to breastfeeding you mentioned above, but I would say it is still worth it tenfold to breastfeed! My son was a month premature and had some latch issues initially, but I am so glad we worked through it. He just turned 6 months and is a healthy, chubby little man! Despite the early frustrations and pumping while I was working out of the home, I absolutely love breastfeeding now.
Trisha
Congrats! All of mine were 5 weeks old and thankfully we didn’t have too much trouble getting the hang of it. Even us mom’s with preemies can work through the challenges to have a successful breastfeeding relationship 🙂
Suni
benefits far outweigh any discomfort or lack of privacy on my part… honestly I wouldn’t want to know what my kids and I would be like if we never breastfed, overcoming each of their unique difficulties and bonding in the way we have.
Trisha
I agree 100%. I wouldn’t have wanted it any differently with mine!
Erika
I think there are lots of disadvantages, personally. I do not enjoy breastfeeding and look forward to being done with it, but I stick with it because I know it’s best for my son. Thanks for posting something honest that most people brush over!
Trisha
Breastfeeding was a total joy for me personally. I can’t imagine sticking with something that takes such complete devotion when you don’t enjoy it. It makes me admire you all the more for your dedication. Bravo!
helen
Glad to hear someone else admit it! I don’t always enjoy it, my daughter is seven months, can’t wait for a year so I can be done.
Another ‘disadvantage’ is if baby doesn’t want a bottle and you want to be gone longer than the time between two nursing sessions. It thankfully hasn’t been a huge issue for me, but I like to stay home anyway 🙂 also I am blessed to be able to stay home. If I had had to go back to work I would have forced the bottle issue more.
Danielle @ More Than Four Walls
Good post Trisha. I think that breastfeeding can come with these perceived or real disadvantages but even trying to breast feed is better than not trying.
I could not successfully breast feed our son exclusively but I am so glad I stuck it out 7 months through pain, tears and all.
Blessings!
Trisha
As I’m sure you know, sticking it out those 7 months even if he wasn’t exclusively breast fed will still have a positive impact on his health now and in the future! How wonderful that you persevered through the difficulties for your child.
Rebecca
I never minded the more frequent feedings or the other drawbacks… however, one “disadvantage” of breastfeeding for me has been the inevitable link of hormones to breastfeeding. I get my menstrual cycle back early, though I exclusively nursed both my boys, and the hormone shift has caused low milk supply during ovulation and again the week before my period, which is very frustrating! And another thing is: in many women, breastfeeding, at least in the first few months, can significantly affect your interest in lovemaking 🙂 Yet it is worth it to me to work through that and keep nursing my babies!
Magen
My period stayed away for no less than a year after. And between 2 and 3 I never got one. I just got pregnant again when 2 was 18 months old and my milk dried up. And my libido was still sky high even while nursing for between 14 and 18 months. Women I’ve talked to that have these issues tend to be lacking in their diet.
Rachelle T.
Thank you for this guest post. I am pregnant with my first and planning on ebf. There are millions of resources for breastfeeding and everyone talks about the positives, but it’s good to know about the disadvantages as well. If I ever have to encounter these, I will be better prepared and encouraged to continue to breast feed.
Magen
I am really bothered by 2 of the three so called disadvantages. First “you need a balanced diet”. Every person NEEDS a balanced diet. But breastfeeding infants will NOT suffer if the mother is eating poorly. They will still get everything they need but mother will suffer because she is eating poorly. Second not knowing how much they are getting. Say this is not only false but offers worried new moms another reason to worry. As long as baby has proper output then baby is taking in enough. Coming from a blog with so many pro breastfeeding information I don’t understand why you would even do a piece such as this when women are so vulnerable as it is. Also your other two, formula fed infants need to be fed just as often depending on age. And there are numerous medications a mother can take that do not cross the breastmilk barrier. Seriously in utter disbelief over this.
Ellen
Chill out. It’s meant to help, I’m sure. Not discourage.
Erin
This post is meant to encourage, definitely. I wouldn’t have it on my site otherwise!
Andrea
Re disadvantage #4 – in Hungary, one thing popular with new parents is a baby scale. You weigh your baby before and after breastfeeding to help guage how much breastmilk they are getting.
Erin
That is really cool!
Ellen
There’s a typo in your bio. I’m sure you are mom to the boys, not wife. Oops!
Erin
Thanks for letting us know!
Jennifer
I am a mother of 5 and I have breastfed all of them past a year (except this one, he’s only 7 months but we are going strong). I appreciate articles like this that talk about how great it is for the mom and the baby and I’m totally not criticizing though I’ll be accused anyway. I just think one of the biggest disadvantages that no one tells you about is how hard it is, if you’re baby isn’t a natural latcher then there is a huge learning curve for both, your hormones stay wacky, you don’t ever get to sleep through the night if baby won’t take a pumped bottle, nursing covers are hard and hot, babies bite when they are teething or sick. There are many “disadvantages” to breastfeeding that I wish someone had told me about that can’t be whitewashed and made pretty. Then I wish they had told me how very worth it breastfeeding is when that precious baby wants only you, or reaches up and holds your hair or face while they nurse. How much less you’ll spend on medication and Dr visits because of immunities and antibodies. Thw good outweighs the bad but I wish 11 years ago someone had been upfront with me about the bad.
Toni
I completely agree with you – many will try to tell you that it will be all ‘roses’ if you breast feed because “Breast is Best” – yes, for your baby, but not always for mom, although there are many benefits for mom as well. I too am breastfeeding my little girl (10 mo. old) and she has been sick with several colds from the two older kids plus teething which equals screaming and biting and a whole lot of stress on both or our parts. She can’t nurse very easily with two crusty nostrils. She needs to be coddled and comforted via the breast at least once an hour during the day – usually continuously throughout the day and sometimes most of the night. I am so tired & drained and…really sore. It is really hard because there is no one to share this burden with and the alternative (formula feeding) is unthinkable for me. I just have to get through it one day at a time. If I’ve learned anything raising 2 much older children, that “this too shall pass”. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing and know that we are doing the best we can for our little one(s) and it will all be worth it in the end 🙂
Toni
These are good points but I need to add one more realistic point about breastfeeding – you never get a break. I have 3 children and have breast fed them all – I am currently breastfeeding my 10 mo. old. I cannot pump because my milk gets very sour (too much of an enzyme I am told) and is not drinkable unless straight from the breast, so I have to feed her in person. While this is beautiful and great for bonding, it is also very time consuming and, sometimes, painful especially now that she has teeth top and bottom. I would love a break from this but it simply cannot happen until I wean her (which I don’t plan on doing for a while). Kids can really take a lot out of you physically and emotionally. I am so tired all of the time and the baby is sucking up all of my nutrients and water leaving me drained & thirsty and with very dry skin. It is worth it to provide the best possible start for her but it definitely takes its toll on me. Some days I wonder if it’s worth it but then I look at her beautiful face and know that I would do anything to keep her happy and healthy and that makes it all worth it so I will keep breastfeeding until it feels like the right time to stop.
Wendy
I definitely relate to these. I nursed both my kids for 2.5 years each. With each, in the first few days I had a lactation consultant come to the house to help with the initial struggles. It was very cool to see them weigh my baby first, have me nurse, and then weigh right after. 🙂
One disadvantage that I felt was that I was always on for feeding. I didn’t pump at all for my second, and only a little for my first. So it was always me. It was sometimes hard to see other moms going away with their husbands for extended weekends without kids so soon after baby was born. I longed for a break too, but didn’t get it. (My choice, I know, but still hard.)
And neither of my kids slept through the night until they were weaned (2.5 years) so I was completely sleep deprived.
Of course breastfeeding was totally worth it to me and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Our long nursing relationship was sweet when they started to ask for it or talk about my milk.
But oh, the exhaustion. 😉
khan
This is a great list. We also could not live without the Dr. Brown’s accessories- we literally use them all multiple times a day. We also LOVE the OXO wipes container- it is so nice to be able to buy wipes in bulk and also not have them stick together!
Sky
I wish oversupply would have been mentioned. Everyone thinks it’s such a great thing (and it can be) but I haven’t found any breast pads that prevent leakage yet (reusable or disposable) and a waterproof mattress pad is a must! I had to learn to hand express before feeding my baby because he would get too much when he would try to eat and then he would spit it all over me or gag.
Erin
Such a good point!
Zoe Amy
I had everything go wrong… from low supply to blocked ducts, anterior tongue tie and a breast abcess. Still loved it (just not maybe EVERY single second). Breastfeeding can be challenging no doubt.