Top 12 Breastfeeding Myths Busted!!!
Went through this article, hope it will help for all new Moms!!!!.. When it comes to breastfeeding the baby, a new mother gets crowded with a lot of solicited and unsolicited advice, leading to her getting confused about what is right for her baby. We round up some common myths and clear them up for the mother.
#1 Myth: My baby feeds a lot. My body doesn’t have enough milk.
Fact: A mother’s milk will never fall short of the baby’s requirement. What could possibly be happening is, that the baby is not latching on properly and therefore not able to suckle as much as he should and remains hungry even after a session of feeding. Or possibly the baby falls off to sleep during breastfeeding and doesn’t take in his full appetite. Also, it is normal to breastfeed the baby again after 45 minutes.
Tip: Ensure the baby latches on properly. He should be suckling at the entire areola rather than just the nipple. If the baby, falls off to sleep during feeding, tickle his toes to wake him up.
#2 Myth: Eating certain foods during breastfeeding, can harm my baby.
Fact: Some foods that are gas causing for the mother, may cause flatulence in the baby. Ideally, breastfeeding mothers should have well-cooked and easily digestible foods. Extra spicy, junk, even cruciferous family vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage etc.) should be eaten in moderation.
Tip: Drink as much as water and milk, other fluids as possible during breastfeeding as it helps with the let down of the milk and milk becomes more easily available to the baby.
# 3 Myth: If you feed your baby after a head wash, the baby catches cold.
Fact: Unless the mother has a infection or cold, the chances of baby catching it through the headwash of the mother, is not possible. You can feed the baby as per the routine.
Tip: Ensure the baby doesn’t get cold water droplets dripping from the mother’s wet hair on himself. If left in dampness, the baby can get affected.
#4 Myth: The size of the breasts makes a difference to the amount of milk produced in the body.
Fact: Each mother’s milk is sufficient for the baby. The size of the breasts do not make a difference. Inverted nipples can cause a problem, which your lactation expert/gynaecologist can help you with.
#5 Myth: Too much of liquid intake, for a mother, during breasfeeding, can lead to bloating in the mother.
Fact: The more liquid you intake, the better let down of milk will happen and milk will be more easily available to the baby. Have lots of water, milk, soups, and other fluids. It also helps maintain the fluid balance of mother’s body.
#6 Myth: If the infant has diarrhoea or vomiting, stop breastfeeding.
Fact: The mother’s milk is the safest drink a baby can have. Infact, all the fluid loss from the baby’s body can be made up by the breast milk.
Tip: If the baby is taking breastmilk after expressing, through a bottle or a spoon, sanitize the equipment properly.
#7 Myth: It is normal for breastfeeding to hurt.
Fact: Not true. Unless and until, there is a nipple rash or dryness of the areola/nipple, it can cause pain to the mother during feeding. Check with your paediatrician for this.
#8 Myth: Breastfeeding mothers should not have X-rays, or medicines for any problems.
Fact: Normal X-rays do not affect the mother’s milk or the quality of it. Unless and until there is a nuclear isotope involved in the procedure, such as bone scans and lung scans, a mother should not stop breastfeeding. Even in these procedures, check with your paediatrician on the same. Not all medicines affect the milk either. Your doctor will be the best judge.
Tip: In case going for a scan, if you are concerned, express milk and store it so that the baby has it available, after the scan is over.
#9 Myth: Giving the breasts a break, or a nursing rest, increases milk supply
Fact: The more the baby has milk, the more the mother’s body will produce milk. A mother may look for a rest for herself, or a break, but not feeding, to let the breasts rest, may prove counter productive.
Tip: If you feel like having a break from the breastfeeding schedule, express milk and store it.
# 10 Myth: Do not wake up a newborn to breastfeed him, if he is sleeping.
Fact: Till 3 months of age, the newborn needs to be fed frequently. So, if need be, breastfeed the baby when he is sleeping. Children below 3 months of age, should be breastfed every 2-2 ½ hours, as they do not have reserves to last them longer.
# 11 Myth: A breastfeeding mother will not get pregnant.
Fact: This is not true. A breastfeeding mother can get pregnant again, though she may miss the signs of pregnancy, as her menses may not have regularised.
# 12 Myth: A breastfeeding mother needs to eat more to produce more milk
Fact: Eating right is where the key lies, not eating more. Eat fibre-rich diet, lots of fruits and vegetables, and a balanced diet of proteins, carbs etc. Include lots of liquid
Went through this article, hope it will help for all new Moms!!!!.. When it comes to breastfeeding the baby, a new mother gets crowded with a lot of solicited and unsolicited advice, leading to her getting confused about what is right for her baby. We round up some common myths and clear them up for the mother.
#1 Myth: My baby feeds a lot. My body doesn’t have enough milk.
Fact: A mother’s milk will never fall short of the baby’s requirement. What could possibly be happening is, that the baby is not latching on properly and therefore not able to suckle as much as he should and remains hungry even after a session of feeding. Or possibly the baby falls off to sleep during breastfeeding and doesn’t take in his full appetite. Also, it is normal to breastfeed the baby again after 45 minutes.
Tip: Ensure the baby latches on properly. He should be suckling at the entire areola rather than just the nipple. If the baby, falls off to sleep during feeding, tickle his toes to wake him up.
#2 Myth: Eating certain foods during breastfeeding, can harm my baby.
Fact: Some foods that are gas causing for the mother, may cause flatulence in the baby. Ideally, breastfeeding mothers should have well-cooked and easily digestible foods. Extra spicy, junk, even cruciferous family vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage etc.) should be eaten in moderation.
Tip: Drink as much as water and milk, other fluids as possible during breastfeeding as it helps with the let down of the milk and milk becomes more easily available to the baby.
# 3 Myth: If you feed your baby after a head wash, the baby catches cold.
Fact: Unless the mother has a infection or cold, the chances of baby catching it through the headwash of the mother, is not possible. You can feed the baby as per the routine.
Tip: Ensure the baby doesn’t get cold water droplets dripping from the mother’s wet hair on himself. If left in dampness, the baby can get affected.
#4 Myth: The size of the breasts makes a difference to the amount of milk produced in the body.
Fact: Each mother’s milk is sufficient for the baby. The size of the breasts do not make a difference. Inverted nipples can cause a problem, which your lactation expert/gynaecologist can help you with.
#5 Myth: Too much of liquid intake, for a mother, during breasfeeding, can lead to bloating in the mother.
Fact: The more liquid you intake, the better let down of milk will happen and milk will be more easily available to the baby. Have lots of water, milk, soups, and other fluids. It also helps maintain the fluid balance of mother’s body.
#6 Myth: If the infant has diarrhoea or vomiting, stop breastfeeding.
Fact: The mother’s milk is the safest drink a baby can have. Infact, all the fluid loss from the baby’s body can be made up by the breast milk.
Tip: If the baby is taking breastmilk after expressing, through a bottle or a spoon, sanitize the equipment properly.
#7 Myth: It is normal for breastfeeding to hurt.
Fact: Not true. Unless and until, there is a nipple rash or dryness of the areola/nipple, it can cause pain to the mother during feeding. Check with your paediatrician for this.
#8 Myth: Breastfeeding mothers should not have X-rays, or medicines for any problems.
Fact: Normal X-rays do not affect the mother’s milk or the quality of it. Unless and until there is a nuclear isotope involved in the procedure, such as bone scans and lung scans, a mother should not stop breastfeeding. Even in these procedures, check with your paediatrician on the same. Not all medicines affect the milk either. Your doctor will be the best judge.
Tip: In case going for a scan, if you are concerned, express milk and store it so that the baby has it available, after the scan is over.
#9 Myth: Giving the breasts a break, or a nursing rest, increases milk supply
Fact: The more the baby has milk, the more the mother’s body will produce milk. A mother may look for a rest for herself, or a break, but not feeding, to let the breasts rest, may prove counter productive.
Tip: If you feel like having a break from the breastfeeding schedule, express milk and store it.
# 10 Myth: Do not wake up a newborn to breastfeed him, if he is sleeping.
Fact: Till 3 months of age, the newborn needs to be fed frequently. So, if need be, breastfeed the baby when he is sleeping. Children below 3 months of age, should be breastfed every 2-2 ½ hours, as they do not have reserves to last them longer.
# 11 Myth: A breastfeeding mother will not get pregnant.
Fact: This is not true. A breastfeeding mother can get pregnant again, though she may miss the signs of pregnancy, as her menses may not have regularised.
# 12 Myth: A breastfeeding mother needs to eat more to produce more milk
Fact: Eating right is where the key lies, not eating more. Eat fibre-rich diet, lots of fruits and vegetables, and a balanced diet of proteins, carbs etc. Include lots of liquid
Priya Sood
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02 Aug 2017