What women think

According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC),
fewer women are breastfeeding at their baby's 6 month birthday.  In 
fact over three-quarters of women use formula. Even fewer women are able to 
breastfeed for 12 months.  The report also found that women believe 
that formula is just as good as breastmilk and has the same nutrients. 
Even though formula is the best option if breastfeeding isn’t 
possible, the fact is that there are many nutrients in breastmilk that 
we simply can’t put into formula.

We’ve been encouraging women to breastfeed and providing education, 
classes, breast pumps etc., and yet fewer women are able to follow the 
recommendations. In other countries, more women breastfeed than in the 
US.

If you’re wondering why, I would have to say that economics plays a 
big role here. The fact is that while some women are able to work 
while pumping and continue to breastfeed, the majority of women who 
return to work aren’t able to maintain enough breast milk supply for 
their growing baby's needs.

Breastfeeding is a full time job!  It takes between 6-8 hours/day to 
sit down and either pump or put the baby to the breast and burp. It 
takes time to breastfeed, it takes energy and it’s tiring.  Let’s face 
it, if women had longer paid maternity leaves, then it would be much 
easier to continue breastfeeding. I’m all for exclusive breastfeeding 
whenever it’s possible, but if situation is such that there’s no time, 
no privacy, few resources, then the next best alternative is formula.