Top Ten Breastfeeding Myths

Almost everyone now knows that breast milk is the optimal nutrition for babies and that breastfeeding is the normal and best way to feed infants. If you’re like most women, you turn to your mother for advice on taking care of a new baby. However, our mothers as a general rule did not breastfeed. Although they may be supportive of nursing, they simply don’t know much about breastfeeding and bad information abounds. Here is a list of the Top 10 Breastfeeding Myths and the truth about them that shall set you free!

1. You don’t have to breastfeed because formula is just as good (or better).

WRONG! Formula is an approximation of breast milk and its creators try their hardest to copy the ingredients in breast milk. Every time there is a study of breast milk it seems a new component is discovered and then the formula companies scramble to duplicate it. Regardless, formula will never be a living, changing organism like breast milk. Breast milk contains antibodies, is easy to digest, is sterile, has the perfect combination of fat and calories and is always at the perfect temperature. And it tastes sweet and delicious!

2. Your breast milk will dry up after 3 months (6 months, 9 months, 12 months).

WRONG! Breast milk is made on a supply/demand basis. The more milk your baby removes, the more milk your body will make. Women have been known to breastfeed their kids well into toddlerhood and beyond. Your milk will not dry up (or “go bad”) based on your baby’s age.

3. If you have small breasts, you won’t make enough milk for your baby.

WRONG! The size of your breasts has nothing to do with their ability to make milk. Again, breast milk is made on a supply/demand basis. This is at least one area where having bigger boobs is not an advantage!

4. Breastfeeding makes your boobs sag.

WRONG! Recent studies have shown that saggy breasts are caused by age, genetics, weight gain and pregnancy. If you make it through your pregnancy with your boobs intact, breastfeeding will not make them sag.

5. Breastfeeding hurts!

WRONG! Breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt. There is often a learning curve for new moms and in the beginning, a bad latch can cause sore nipples. Most moms and babies figure things out and get into a groove within 6 weeks. If nursing hurts, seek help from a lactation consultant.

6. If you breastfeed, your baby will be clingy.

WRONG! Just the opposite is true: studies have shown that breastfed babies are more independent and well-behaved. The intense bond that is created between mother and baby while nursing instills a strong sense of security in the baby.

7. My husband (mom, other kids, cousins, friends) won’t be able to bond with the baby if I breastfeed.

WRONG! There are tons of ways to bond with a newborn that having nothing to do with feeding. Dads and family and friends can burp the baby, give her a bath, change her diaper, rock her to sleep, and sing to her. You don’t need bottles to bond!

8. I’m adopting so I can’t breastfeed.

WRONG! Adoptive mothers CAN breastfeed! You do not need to give birth to a child in order to nurse him. A protocol of birth control pills and using a supplemental nursing system (SNS) allows many adoptive moms to nurse their newborns. You can find more information on this here.

9. You have to drink a lot of milk to breastfeed and I don’t like milk.

WRONG! You don’t need to drink milk to make milk. You also don’t have to overdose on liquids in order to make milk. In fact, studies have shown that excessive intake of liquids can diminish milk supply. Just drink to thirst as you normally would and your body will do the rest.

10. My baby is constantly on the breast, so I am not making enough milk and need to switch to formula.

WRONG! The amount of time your baby spends on the breast has very little to do with how much milk she’s getting. Some babies are power nursers and can get a full meal in a few minutes, and others are gourmands and like to take their time and enjoy every drop. Also, breast milk is digested easily and quickly, which means breastfed babies will always need to eat more often. The way to know if your baby is getting enough milk is to count her wet and poopy diapers each day. If you’re concerned about baby’s weight, seek help from a lactation consultant.

Elita is a librarian and the mom of a 14-month-old son. She blogs about breastfeeding at Blacktating

Tags: breastfeeding myths