--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Millions who have ‘tried’ to breastfeed…" description: "\"“Millions who have ‘tried’ to breastfeed gave up because general ignorance, hospital and health workers’ practices, all interwoven with cleverly target..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/gabrielle-palmer-891_breastfeeding_millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-ga_270381.jpg" --- # Millions who have ‘tried’ to breastfeed gave up because… ![“Millions who have ‘tried’ to breastfeed gave up because general ignorance, hospital and health workers’ practices, all interwoven with cleverly targeted product promotion, sabotaged normal infant feeding . . . breastfeeding.” quote by Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/gabrielle-palmer-891_breastfeeding_millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-ga_270381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/gabrielle-palmer-891_breastfeeding_millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-ga_270381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/gabrielle-palmer-891_breastfeeding_millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-ga_270381.jpg) > ““Millions who have ‘tried’ to breastfeed gave up because general ignorance, hospital and health workers’ practices, all interwoven with cleverly targeted product promotion, sabotaged normal infant feeding . . . breastfeeding.”” [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Widespread misinformation and commercial pressure undermine natural infant feeding practices. **In simple terms:** Misinformation harms breastfeeding. Key Takeaway Combat false narratives and protect natural feeding. Themes health maternal care commercial influence Mood concerned determined Type advocacy informative When to use this quote - hospital protocols - parent education Key Concepts public health policy ethical marketing Questions to Reflect On - What policies can limit biased product promotion? - How can health workers be better educated? A Different Perspective Commercial interests can dominate health advice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breastfeeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breastfeeding/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) ## Related quotes > [“Without special interventions such as a policy overhaul or staff training, breastfeeding help is not a priority. Staff might be reprimanded if they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/without-special-interventions-such-as-a-policy-overhaul-or-staff/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“In many less-developed societies, the idea of being unable to breastfeed does not exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/in-many-less-developed-societies-the-idea-of-being-unable-to/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Most mothers intended to breastfeed, but the spreading message to restrict feeding made problems more likely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/most-mothers-intended-to-breastfeed-but-the-spreading-message-to/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Artificial feeding is risky. This basic fact upsets people who feel insulted if they or their mothers did not breastfeed but most women do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/artificial-feeding-is-risky-this-basic-fact-upsets-people-who-feel/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“People often discuss why so many women do not breastfeed or give up quickly. I believe it is firm evidence of the determination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/people-often-discuss-why-so-many-women-do-not-breastfeed-or-give-up/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“When health workers ask a woman, ‘Are you going to try and breastfeed?’7 they imply the likelihood of failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/when-health-workers-ask-a-woman-are-you-going-to-try-and-breastfeed-7/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“How could she believe she could breastfeed if everyone assumed she could not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/how-could-she-believe-she-could-breastfeed-if-everyone-assumed-she/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“No woman need feel guilty for ‘failing’ to breastfeed, though she has the right to feel angry or sad for being denied support and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/no-woman-need-feel-guilty-for-failing-to-breastfeed-though-she-has/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“A girl would have learned how to breastfeed by seeing it done a thousand and one times, just as she learned how to stack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/a-girl-would-have-learned-how-to-breastfeed-by-seeing-it-done-a/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Breastmilk changes over the hours, weeks and months, according to a baby’s needs; and it changes during a breastfeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/breastmilk-changes-over-the-hours-weeks-and-months-according-to-a/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Babies need to breastfeed when their bodies tell them to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/babies-need-to-breastfeed-when-their-bodies-tell-them-to/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Faith alone does not make breastfeeding easy in a society ignorant of ordinary techniques, but where breastfeeding is still normal, the fact that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/faith-alone-does-not-make-breastfeeding-easy-in-a-society-ignorant-of/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [It costs a lot of money to go into cafes to breastfeed when out in public. Not everyone has the money to do that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-johnston/it-costs-a-lot-of-money-to-go-into-cafes-to-breastfeed-when-out-in/) [Jill Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-johnston/) > [“Breastfeeding does not have to be hard. Breastfeeding is natural. With rare exceptions, it becomes hard only because of all the interference caused by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-carmack/breastfeeding-does-not-have-to-be-hard-breastfeeding-is-natural-with/) Adrienne Carmack > [Women who choose to breastfeed should get as much education and support as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-tzemach-lemmon/women-who-choose-to-breastfeed-should-get-as-much-education-and/) [Gayle Tzemach Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-tzemach-lemmon/) ## More by Gabrielle Palmer > [“The BFHI was designed to protect and promote exclusive breastfeeding, but its provisions always included the acceptance of medically indicated replacement feeding. When this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/the-bfhi-was-designed-to-protect-and-promote-exclusive-breastfeeding/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Babies who do not sleep ‘through the night’ alone in a cot, as soon as possible after birth, are seen as a ‘problem’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/babies-who-do-not-sleep-through-the-night-alone-in-a-cot-as-soon-as/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“a midwife’s role was to work with nature, whereas a doctor was trained to seek out its defects and remedy them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/a-midwife-s-role-was-to-work-with-nature-whereas-a-doctor-was-trained/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“a product presented as ‘closest to mother’s milk’ might actually include potatoes, fungi and beans, depending on the price of course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/a-product-presented-as-closest-to-mother-s-milk-might-actually/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“It is difficult to insist on breastfeeding because nurses and physicians are eager to have the infant show the greatest possible gain.”12”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/it-is-difficult-to-insist-on-breastfeeding-because-nurses-and/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“In some countries, pumping has become the default method of expression, and hand expression has become an afterthought. It would be safer if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/in-some-countries-pumping-has-become-the-default-method-of-expression/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“The parts of the brain which influence social and emotional relationships do not develop automatically but in response to the way a baby is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/the-parts-of-the-brain-which-influence-social-and-emotional/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Breastfeeding mothers, sleeping by their babies in three-sided cribs with the open side joined to the adult bed, respond quite differently from mothers whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/breastfeeding-mothers-sleeping-by-their-babies-in-three-sided-cribs/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“In the same way, breastfeeding is seen as a woman’s topic. Though women are often told whether or not they should do it, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/in-the-same-way-breastfeeding-is-seen-as-a-woman-s-topic-though-women/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“It seems likely that if you are told that your vagina is so ill-designed that it must be cut open to perform a normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/it-seems-likely-that-if-you-are-told-that-your-vagina-is-so-ill/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Love facilitates a massive burst of connections in this part of the brain between six and 12 months. Neglect at this time can greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/love-facilitates-a-massive-burst-of-connections-in-this-part-of-the/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“It is now known that babies’ brains develop according to how much they are loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/it-is-now-known-that-babies-brains-develop-according-to-how-much-they/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Breastmilk is designed for rapid digestion and frequent feeding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/breastmilk-is-designed-for-rapid-digestion-and-frequent-feeding/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Breastmilk substitutes can be useful, life-saving products, just as artificial insulin can save the lives of diabetics, but no honest doctor could advocate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/breastmilk-substitutes-can-be-useful-life-saving-products-just-as/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“An exclusively breastfed child can die, just as an artificially fed child can survive, because of a range of risk factors, but this does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/an-exclusively-breastfed-child-can-die-just-as-an-artificially-fed/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) [Explore all 339 Gabrielle Palmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) ## More Breastfeeding quotes > [“The BFHI was designed to protect and promote exclusive breastfeeding, but its provisions always included the acceptance of medically indicated replacement feeding. When this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/the-bfhi-was-designed-to-protect-and-promote-exclusive-breastfeeding/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [There are three reasons for breast-feeding: the milk is always at the right temperature; it comes in attractive containers; and the cat can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irena-chalmers/there-are-three-reasons-for-breast-feeding-the-milk-is-always-at-the/) Irena Chalmers > [“It is difficult to insist on breastfeeding because nurses and physicians are eager to have the infant show the greatest possible gain.”12”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/it-is-difficult-to-insist-on-breastfeeding-because-nurses-and/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Breastfeeding is a beautiful thing, one of the most beautiful things that exist in nature. Think about how a woman can literally feed her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/breastfeeding-is-a-beautiful-thing-one-of-the-most-beautiful-things/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“Breastfeeding mothers, sleeping by their babies in three-sided cribs with the open side joined to the adult bed, respond quite differently from mothers whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/breastfeeding-mothers-sleeping-by-their-babies-in-three-sided-cribs/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [A little child born yesterday A thing on mother's milk and kisses fed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/a-little-child-born-yesterday-a-thing-on-mother-s-milk-and-kisses-fed/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“In the same way, breastfeeding is seen as a woman’s topic. Though women are often told whether or not they should do it, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/in-the-same-way-breastfeeding-is-seen-as-a-woman-s-topic-though-women/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Breastmilk is designed for rapid digestion and frequent feeding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/breastmilk-is-designed-for-rapid-digestion-and-frequent-feeding/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Breastmilk substitutes can be useful, life-saving products, just as artificial insulin can save the lives of diabetics, but no honest doctor could advocate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/breastmilk-substitutes-can-be-useful-life-saving-products-just-as/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“An exclusively breastfed child can die, just as an artificially fed child can survive, because of a range of risk factors, but this does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/an-exclusively-breastfed-child-can-die-just-as-an-artificially-fed/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“In the past, rich women had frequently delegated childcare to a wet nurse. As doctors and companies began to promote and provide artificial milks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/in-the-past-rich-women-had-frequently-delegated-childcare-to-a-wet/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Those who market artificial baby milk, bottles, teats and the essential cleaning materials benefit financially from keeping breastfeeding in check.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/those-who-market-artificial-baby-milk-bottles-teats-and-the-essential/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“The same country that has such weak regulations (and they are among the best in the world) of the artificial milk market has restrictive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/the-same-country-that-has-such-weak-regulations-and-they-are-among/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Without special interventions such as a policy overhaul or staff training, breastfeeding help is not a priority. Staff might be reprimanded if they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/without-special-interventions-such-as-a-policy-overhaul-or-staff/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“In industrialised societies, the advertising of baby milks and bottles and the doubts of health workers and families provide the modern curses and spells.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/in-industrialised-societies-the-advertising-of-baby-milks-and-bottles/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) [Browse all 249 Breastfeeding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breastfeeding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Millions who have ‘tried’ to breastfeed gave up because general ignorance, hospital and health workers’ practices, all interwoven with cleverly targeted product promotion, sabotaged normal infant feeding . . . breastfeeding.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gabrielle Palmer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-gave-up-because-general/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breastfeeding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-gave-up-because-general/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/gabrielle-palmer-891_breastfeeding_millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-ga_270381.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/gabrielle-palmer-891_breastfeeding_millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-ga_270381.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/gabrielle-palmer-891_breastfeeding_millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-ga_270381.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Millions who have ‘tried’ to breastfeed gave up because general ignorance, hospital and health workers’…” — Gabrielle Palmer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gabrielle Palmer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Millions who have ‘tried’ to breastfeed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-gave-up-because-general/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/millions-who-have-tried-to-breastfeed-gave-up-because-general/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```