6 Myths about breastfeeding

A lot of new moms are often overwhelmed with lots of advice and suggestions about breastfeeding. Of course, not all of these opinions are correct. There are some myths and facts of breastfeeding that every mom and soon-to-be moms should KNOW

1. Women with Smaller Breasts Do Not Produce Enough Milk

Bigger does not mean better! The breast size does not affect the amount of milk produced. The tissues that are responsible for milk production develop in response to your pregnancy. These tissues are responsible for milk production and not the fatty tissue in the breast. More so, milk production during breastfeeding is stimulated by the latching of the baby when feeding. Most women actually produce enough milk to feed their babies.

2. Breast Feeding is like Natural Contraception

Breastfeeding a baby does not mean that you cannot get pregnant. It is not contraception to becoming pregnant. This belief only holds if you breastfeed your baby every moment, if it is less than 6 months after birth, and your periods are yet to resume. The milk production in a mother depends on the rebalance of the hormones in the body and the rate of breastfeeding.

 

3. The Milk Formula is Similar to Breast Milk

Another popular breastfeeding myth is that the common infant milk products out there have the same formula as breast milk. Although this may be true to some extent, nothing beats breast milk for babies as it contains living bacteria. This is essential for building a strong immune system in the baby’s body. Milk formula is packed with different nutrients and vitamins but doesn’t measure up to the benefits of breast milk. If you still doubt, it has been proven that babies fed with formula have a noticeable weakness in terms of immunity to illness when they are older.

 

4. A Baby Should Be Fed Every Two Hours, Around the Clock

Watch the baby and not the clock! like adults, babies also have their specific eating pattern. While some babies can fall within this routine of every 2 hours, other babies can have a different eating routine. Sometimes, it also depends on how well you feed your baby. One way to estimate if your baby is feeding well or not is to observe their output. 2 stools and about 6 urines per day is an indication of a healthy baby.

 

5. You Cannot Produce Enough Breast Milk during the First Three to Four Days

New mothers usually experience low milk production during the first three to four days after birth. Like other natural activities, the body needs some time to adapt to producing enough breast milk daily. Also, new moms produce colostrums in the first few days which is thicker than normal milk and contains enzymes, antibodies, and immunoglobulins that protect the new baby. This is only needed in a small quantity for the baby.

6. If you don't nurse, you're a bad mom

Although breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for your baby and you, deciding not to breastfeed – or being unable to breastfeed for whatever reason – doesn't make you an unfit mother. Feed your baby a formula that you feel good about, and move on. With your love and care, your child will thrive whether he dines on breast milk, formula, or some combination of the two.

 

Conclusion

There are several misconceptions about breastfeeding. As you can see in the article, many people have contrary views about breastfeeding. In this article, we have critically exposed the 6 top myths of breastfeeding and established the facts, but there are so many different believes and opinions out there, thus we strongly recommend speaking with an expert before jumping into any conclusions.


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