Ethnotheory: Breastfeeding

Berger (2011) explains an ethnotheory as a belief that underlies the values and practices within a culture. This may be something that is recognized within a culture, or not. I'd like to focus on breastfeeding as an ethnotheory, because I had two babies; and had two completely different experiences with breastfeeding.

My first baby was 6 weeks early and I had severe preeclampsia. This means that my blood pressure spiked very high and I was, eventually, taken in for an emergency c-section. I was given so much medication and was so sick, that by the time I actually had my daughter,  I was completely out of it. I do not remember 3 days that followed her birth. According to research, there are actual changes in the brains of mothers who have preeclampsia in the area of memory. I found this out long after my daughter was born and it was enlightening as I could never quite figure out why I couldn't remember so much of this experience.

I was in the hospital for a week and my daughter was in the NICU for two. I struggled to breastfeed her and to pump. Bear in mind, I did not actually breastfeed her 100% from the beginning as I was so sedated, tired, and often unable to even go to the NICU for her next feeding because I was so sick. My husband stepped in and would often report to the NICU for bottle feedings. I felt comfort in knowing that he was holding her and would take his time to feed her as it was crucial for her to gain weight.
While I know that lactation counselors are there to help women be successful in breastfeeding, I often felt judged by them. It was not working for me. I believed there must be some merit to my theory that my body simply was not ready because my daughter was so early and I was recovering from a traumatic birth....but they did not. I felt pressure to have this work because I was always under the impression that it was "the right thing to do" and that it should just work. I struggled to nurse my daughter for 5 months. And when I say struggle, I mean it. She always required supplementation with formula with every feeding.

The second time around, nursing just worked. My son was born on time and nursed like a champ. There was no reason to have to give him formula, because it was just so easy and he seemed full. He was born on time, I had an "easy" c-section (as far as they go), and we were both healthy. I would always choose to nurse, if I had the choice, but I also realize that this is simply an ethnotheory and my kids are both healthy and happy regardless. I wish this pressure was something that mothers did not have to feel.