Breastfeeding is a personal choice; you will decide what is best for you and your baby. But a few myths and confusion are prevailing among common people related to breastfeeding. The writer has tried to provide the facts with available references in this article. This article was aimed at the audience who wants to know about breastfeeding.
As soon as you become a new mom, you will be provided with advice and suggestions about every aspect of raising your baby, including breastfeeding. You might also find that different sources provide you with completely different information. There are many misconceptions about nursing, and it can be tough to separate the facts from the myths. Let’s look at common breastfeeding myths, debunked, and backed up with facts, research, and evidence.
- Myth: The bigger your breasts are, the more milk they produce.
Fact: Size doesn’t matter in producing an adequate milk supply for the baby. Supply is based on demand, so if you feed your baby on cue, your body will react by producing sufficient for your baby. Moreover, you can take supplements under a doctor’s supervision to increase breast milk supply. You can also buy women’s health medicines online to help breast milk production.
- Myth: If nursing mothers eat junk stuff, spicy food, chocolate, etc., their baby will be fussy.
Fact: Babies are exposed to all the food items the mothers ate during pregnancy through the amniotic fluid, so there is no sense in changing the diet after delivery.
- Myth: If a mom has had breast implants, a reduction, or other breast surgery, she can’t breastfeed.
Fact: Surgery does not necessarily mean you can’t breastfeed your baby. Also, it depends on the surgery, the location of the incision, and the milk ducts may have been affected, but this should not stop you from attempting to feed your baby. In this case, your baby will likely need to be monitored closely to ensure adequate growth.
- Myth: Pump and dump are necessary if a nursing mom drinks any alcoholic beverage.
Fact: Alcohol does pass through in breastmilk, and babies often like it. However, alcohol does not trap in breastmilk, it passes back and forth as alcohol levels in your body change, so there is no need to pump and dump. Alcohol consumption is not advisable for breastfeeding moms.
CDC report suggests that consuming alcohol in moderate quantity ( i.e. max 1.5 oz or between 30 to 50 ml twice or thrice a week) does not cause any harm to the infant when the mother waits about two hours before breastfeeding. Still, it is much better to avoid drinking alcohol during your breastfeeding days.
- Myth: By giving breasts a rest, mothers can produce more milk for the baby.
Fact: Frequent nursing in the early days of breastfeeding signals the breast to produce sufficient milk for the baby. According to health care experts, mothers who feel their breasts need a rest are often experiencing discomfort, pain, or stress while breastfeeding, which can in]terfere with the ability to produce milk. Furthermore, resting is not the solution. Experts say if you miss breastfeeding or give your breasts rest, what ends up happening is that your brains do not get the signal to make more hormones that initiate milk production. Missed feeding signals the brain to produce less milk, ultimately lowering milk production.
Moreover, you can consult your health care specialist about medicines to increase breast milk quickly. A lot of multivitamins are available that support milk production in humans. You can buy women’s multivitamins supplements online to increase breast milk naturally.
- Myth: Breastfeeding reduces the ruin of the shape of breasts.
Fact: Age and weight generally affect the shape of a woman’s breast more than breastfeeding. Many women who breastfeed find that their breasts return to their pre-pregnancy shape after breastfeeding ends.
- Myth: Nursing mothers can’t produce enough milk because their babies feed a lot.
Fact: This is a common misperception of new mothers who have not breastfed before. During the initial days, there is not much human milk, which is normal. The baby isn’t necessarily feeding because of hunger and being undernourished; the frequency and frequency of the baby sucking the breasts helps the milk reach volume. Keeping the baby in the breasts helps stimulate the brain to make more hormones responsible for milk production happen. Normally, babies tend to feed eight to more times in 24 hours.
- Myth: Babies should be weaned before they turn one.
Fact: According to the American academy of paediatrics, breastfeeding is recommended as the main source of nutrition for your little one for about six months. Even if you add solid foods to your baby’s diet, continue breastfeeding until your baby reaches at least twelve months of age. The decision to stop breastfeeding is something personal, but there are several other benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby. Don’t prefer weaning before mutually desired and support continued breastfeeding for two years or more.
More facts about breastfeeding
Women who choose to breastfeed are at less risk for ovarian cancer, breast cancer, heart attack, Type 2 diabetes, and postpartum depression. Also, check out the health supplements that support enough milk production in humans. For the best prices, buy women’s health supplements online.
Takeaway
Above all, remember that each breastfeeding story is different for everyone and can be tough at times, and you shouldn’t hesitate to ask a health care specialist for help. He/She can help or refer you to the appropriate resources.
