Another thing which may come into the equation....what is or would be the reaction of people in the DR to women breastfeeding in public?
One of the past problems in the UK , amongst other countries, has been the lack of tolerance for breastfeeding mothers. Some mothers were outraged at being told not to breastfeed in public. I think at one point they even started publishing a list of cafes and restaurants which were 'breastfeeding friendly'. When I breastfed my two girls, I tried to be discreet but, at the end of the day, feeding them quickly was what was most important. I never found any negative attitudes or 'strange' stares where I lived in UK.
I wonder what the general attitude of the DR population is in relation to breastfeeding in public? Because of the type of idea that bottle feeding and disposable nappies denote wealth, would it be seen as 'embarrassing' and 'primitive' to be seen to be breastfeeding, particularly in public? This again would be something that would seem to be minor, but could be very influential on the choices being made.
Even pregnant women in most countries used to be very 'low key' about their 'condition' and cover up in hideous baggy clothes. Then after Demi Moore did that famous cover shoot, you couldn't move for people's protruding belly buttons being shoved in your face under crop tops etc! I can't think of anything quite as obvious happening with the move towards breastfeeding. I think it has more to do with, as Chirimoya says, encouragement and training from the hospitals, midwives and health visitors. Women are more likely to take advice from them than from their mums. When I gave birth 2 and 5 years ago there were lots of booklets and leaflets given about breastfeeding and there was a definite 'push' to encourage women to breastfeed, but through education rather than 'heavy handed' tactics. All the women I've spoken to in the UK are educated and knowledgeable about why breastfeeding is best. Even those that choose not to breastfeed will always concede that they know that breastmilk is better even if they can't bring themselves to do it for whatever reason. I believe it is also printed on the formula packets and tins that the formula is not an exact replacement for breastmilk (or something along those lines).