Breastfeeding Myths and incorrect advice

I have been told some real whoppers in the past few years. Some of the ones I list may have been told to your mothers or grandmothers, some of them you may have been told yourself and it is highly likely tht there are mothers among us who have ceased breastfeeding becasue of the information we are given.  Even health professinals get it wrong which is why I always recomend that lactating mothers talk to lactation consultants or ABA counsellors about their troubles (you will always be referred to a DR if that is what you need) as these women have undergone trianing and keep up to date with the latest research on human lactation. Interestingly Drs undergo about an hour of learning that mostly covers breast anatomy and what drugs to take when (this I was told by a Dr) with most of their knowledge gained from the patients they see. The rates of breastfeedign success is almost the same in Drs as it is in the rest of the public so obviously they don't have all the answers. Anyway not bagging Drs as they do a great job and I have been lucky to meet some great ones but I also know of a few that tell mothers the wrong info constantly.

Ok to the topic in hand- and if I miss out any myths or if you have been told soemthing that you think is untrue please post it in a reply and I'll attepmt to find out for you.

If your mother/sister couldn't breastfeed then neither can you:- Highly unlikely as all women are different (even twins) so at least give it a go.

Milk is watery/blue so its no good:- Breastmilk does not look like formula or cows milk and the foremilk does have a blueish tinge.

They tested my milk and it was no good:- Breastmilk can be tested and this takes time. Test weighings are not an accurate guage of how much a baby is getting (this is where you get bub weighed then feed and then weigh again) Check out the link at the bottom of the page that has an info sheet on Not enough Milk? which should put any fears to rest.

After 3,6 12 mths your milk is no good so why keep going:- Breastmilk composition changes from feed to feed and also throughout a feed. The benefits of breastmilk continue for as long as you feed and as the feeds drop the goodness gets condensed into the remaining feeds.

You can't breastfeed and return to work:- you can combine the 2 all you need is to know how and to have the support around you to give it a go. The ABA has great booklets and info on this subject

Breastfeeding will make your boobs sag:- your boobs will change when you have a baby regardless of how they are fed. The way they end up has more to do with your genetics then how you feed your baby. Rapid weaning however can cause sagginess   so when possible if you need to wean try to do so slowly so your breasts have time to adjust.

A breastfed baby won't sleep:- All babies are different and some sleep through and some don't. the only reason a formula fed baby sleeps longer is becasue it is harder for them to digest the milk. Sleeping does settle down. Waking for frequent feeds is an inbuilt survival mechanism and is thought to be one of the reasons why breastfed babies are at reduce risk of SIDS

You can't breastfeed with flat/inverted nipples:- you can and many women do (I have) you just need a little extra help with attaching your baby.

You can't eat certain foods while breastfeeding:- Favourites are chocolate and cabbage. Just think about places like India where the mothers diet is mainly curries. It all depends on you and your family. you may be advised if you or your partner are alergic to something to avoid it- like Dairy some babies react to this through the mothers milk, but in any case where you are removing food types from your diet you should talk to a dietician before doing so especially when breastfeeding.  My MIL had problems feding after eating cabbage I however did not, so just keep an eye on your baby. If they are unsettled the day after you eat something different perhaps look into taking it out of your diet.

You can't drink alcahol and breastfeed:- this is a personal choice. I regularyl drink a glass of wine once my youngest is in bed and have done so since he was 1 year old. The alcahol is present in your breastmilk at the same levels as your blood and it is best not to drink and then breastfeed. If your abby is sleeping for more then 3 hrs at a time then perhasp a small glass of wine won't hurt but until your baby is older then 6 mths I would recommend having EBM handy. you don't need to pump and dump as the alcahol doesn't store in the milk but if you are giving EBM< and missing a feed you might need to express for comfort.

If you get Mastitis you have to stop breastfeeding:- This was once again told to a local mother by a Dr at my local hospital. This is the worst possible thing you can do as frequent feeding helps remove the blockage. I have breastfed through mastitis and then surgery- 4 courses of antibiotics and painkillers- all monitored by my DR and approved to take while breastfeeding.

You should stop breastfeeding if you have PND:- This is touchy and of course comes down to a decision the MOTHER must make. There are antedepressents that are Ok to take while breastfeeding and some research has shown that mothers who continue to breastfeed recover quicker or have it less severe then if they stop. this is due to the hormones released and becasue when the mother succeeds in breastfeeding it gives her a positive to focus on.

Doin it and Breastfeeding:- Well lets face it most of the time intercourse is not the same after a baby but breastfeeding tends to get blamed. Leaking boobs are off putting especially when you climax but there are lots of other changes your body has undergone that are a little scary as well.

You will be sitting and feeding all day and night:- Well this depends on your baby and it is easier to establish a milk supply if you feed your baby according to need. the first few weeks may see you sitting with a baby on your boob all day but thinkgs settle down.

Nipple preperation:- Some mothers were told to scrub their nipples to help prepare them and even now mothers are told to buy nipple creams and shields etc to help them feed. If you suspect inverted/flat nipples talk to a LC and discuss options. Nipple shields should on;y be used under supervision of a LC or breastfeeding counsellor and nipple creams are not necessary (you can use them if you wish but some can cause more problems then they solve) as you can just express some hindmilk onto your nipple after a feed )it contains entibodies etc that will help heal)

You can't breastfed if you have small breasts:- Its not the sixe of the breast that determines if you can breastfeed. It all depends on the size of your milk ducts and the amount. A small breasted women may have lots of ducts and a large breasted women may have very few. The number of times and amount of time spent ont he breast will differ with each woman.]

You can't go out if you are breastfeeding without taking the baby with you:- Babies are very portable and it is possible to take them with you but it is also possible to duck out for a short while without your baby (hairdresses etc). I alwasy found that if I fed bub and put him to sleep and then ducked out for an hour he was usually asleep when I got home still and if he wasn't there are ways to entertain until you return. Keep your mobile handy jsut in case they wake and can't be settled. Personallly I always took bubs with me if it was likely that he needed a feed and especially overnight etc.

You should introduce a bottle form an early age:- Formula is not necessary if you are successfully breastfeeding and there are risks to its using formula. Every time you give a bottle that is a breastfeed your baby isn't getting and therfor your breasts aren't being stimulated to produce milk and in time this will decrease your milk supply. This is especially inportnant at night as night feeds help increase your supply and your baby needs them.

You can't breastfeed if you have had breast surgery:- this will depen entirely on whether your nipples have been moved and if your ducts have been severed. Check this information out and see if you can. Many women who have never even had a baby can breastfeed (adoptive breastfeeding) as well as some males have been known to so I beleive in finding out if its possible before assuming that you cannot.

Dummies and breastfeeding:- It is not recommended that you use a dummy in the first 6 weeks of breastfeeding as this can cause nipple confusion. I have used a dummy with my first and had no troubles but my second wouldn't take one. Some babies get donfuesed if a dummy or a bottle is introduced too early. If you plan to return to wrok then this may be becessary but is possible avoid using dummies and bottles in those early few weeks until breastfeeidng is well and truly established.

You're losing your milk:- Around 3 mths of age your breasts will settle down and it will seem like your milk is gone. Especially noticable if you've experienced really engorged breasts. Also when your baby goes through an unsettled period (growth spurts) someone may comment that your milk is going because you are feeding more often. this will usually settle down in a day or 2 and if it doesn't you can call an ABA cousnellor to check on wasy of increasing your supply.

Breastfeeding and pregnancy:- You can do this but it will depend on you and sometimes your baby (some babies/toddlers don't like the change in taste). Breastfeeding will not cause miscarraiges and you won't suck all the goodness away from the unborn child.

There are probably others but these are the only ones I could think of off the top of my head.  Check out these information sheets about breastfeeding and parenting topics.

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/index.html