I'm sorry that you did not get the support and accurate information needed to breastfeed when you were struggling to breastfeed your own infant. Having the accurate information and examining what may have contributed to getting off track with breastfeeding is an extremely valuable tool to progressing on to successfully breastfeed subsequent children. You may have done everything possible within your knowledge and experience to breastfeed, and you may have gotten help from a lactation consultant and they may have given you all they knew. It just may not have been the solutions that are possible. I would recommend to any pregnant woman to attend their local La Leche League meeting, establish relationships with the leaders and nursing moms in your area by attending meetings. It is of invaluable worth to have support that is available locally and that you have gotten acquainted with. I would also find out who the IBCLC's (Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants) in your area are in the event that there are difficulties with breastfeeding that require the help of the experts in the field. Many moms in the US have OB's and Pediatricians that do not have accurate breastfeeding knowledge and do not provide the help and support needed to new moms, or even worse give the wrong information and end up sabotaging the nursing dyad.

Furthermore, as I responded to Sierra, while there are medical situations and emergencies that can cause a cessation of breastfeeding the mom can be encouraged that breastfeeding CAN be begun again, a supply brought in and/or increased, and exclusive breastfeeding can be returned to. Many moms don't realize that they can return to breastfeeding and that it greatly contributes to the health and development of their baby and is very worth the effort! I have seen many babies up to 6 months and older that have begun to nurse and eliminated formula. It absolutely can be done!

On what basis can you claim this?

The above article is a poorly written collation of convenient facts that only aims to make moms who do not breastfeed feel guilty. Clearly you are a supporter of this propganda, and can feel proud that you have succeeded in making Sierra feel bad about herself

I had terrible problems with breastfeeding that were only made worse by healthcare "professionals" sending me on a guilt trip, upping my stress levels and making it even harder to breastfeed.

Given the choice between trying to persevere wih breastfeeding when my child was clearly suffering from not getting enough nutrition, and using formula, then I would choose formula every time. Anything else would cause far more "negative effects"