Breastfeeding myths

Some popular misconceptions about breastfeeding.

You need to be calm and rested to breastfeed, because stress makes your milk dry up

It’s pretty hard to stay calm and well rested with a new baby! Mothers have breastfed their babies through wars, bombardment and famine. In fact the hormones released when you breastfeed have a soothing effect.

You need to prepare your nipples before the birth for breastfeeding

There is no need to ‘toughen’ your nipples, use creams to soften the skin or express colostrum. The best preparation for breastfeeding is having your partner’s support, and being shown how to attach your baby correctly right from the start.

Blondes, redheads and women with fair skin have more sensitive nipples.

There is no evidence for this. Sore nipples are caused by your baby not being attached properly. You can get help on correct positioning from your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding counsellor.

Breastfeeding can drain you – formula feeding is less tiring

Being a mother is tiring whichever way you feed your baby. When you breastfeed at night, the hormones your body releases will help you get back to sleep more easily than if you have to get up to prepare bottles.

You need to drink milk to make milk

If this were true, then cows, sheep and other mammals wouldn’t be able to feed their babies! In fact, you only need to eat and drink a good variety of foods according to your appetite.

 

Comments

Submitted by Samndean on Wed, 04/01/2012 - 20:53.
for weaning your baby, try different teats as they may be getting the milk too fast and it is a shock to baby so they do not like this, same vice versa some teats may not allow the steady flow so they are working too hard to get what they need that puts them off, also if you are breastfeeding and cant express due to lack of time etc try a bottle of water (boil and cool) to get baby used to bottle... i have been told that from 6 months to feed my baby in the morning and start to introduce a jar (fruit) then feed with the rest of the jar introduce water and baby juice drinks , and after 8months baby will just want me to bf morning and before bed. hope this helps
Submitted by Samndean on Wed, 04/01/2012 - 20:53.
for weaning your baby, try different teats as they may be getting the milk too fast and it is a shock to baby so they do not like this, same vice versa some teats may not allow the steady flow so they are working too hard to get what they need that puts them off, also if you are breastfeeding and cant express due to lack of time etc try a bottle of water (boil and cool) to get baby used to bottle... i have been told that from 6 months to feed my baby in the morning and start to introduce a jar (fruit) then feed with the rest of the jar introduce water and baby juice drinks , and after 8months baby will just want me to bf morning and before bed. hope this helps
Submitted by Babyjunior2011 on Tue, 11/10/2011 - 21:57.
i am breastfeeding at the moment but i did find it hard the first month with cracked nipples but with a little bit of Lansinoh lanolin nipple cream i was fine. It cost like £10 but i would recommend it because you dont have to remove it before you feed baby and it soothed my nipples. Now my baby is 5 months and i have to put her on bottle because im having an operation soon and i can't take her. So im finding it very hard to wean her on the bottle, even tho in the past i have expressed milk and she drank it. So im very confused about what to do. The health visitor just keeps saying do u have to put her on bottle, im like well hows she going to feed if im not around. Why can't they just help you instead of pushing you to carry on until they 6 months. They need to understand that things happen and everyone is different. But i have enjoyed breastfeeding my daughter and will miss that close bond.
Submitted by Mailetrice on Wed, 10/08/2011 - 14:49.
l have bf all my children and now l am doing it with my fourth and l love it as l feel so close to them and l think it calms me down and even when l am down l think it makes me and the baby somehow feel safe and relaxed,for me breast is best ,my 12 year old is clam and well behaved and so are the other two 5yr and 7yr .
Submitted by sarahjones666 on Wed, 29/06/2011 - 12:56.
I started breastfeeding my baby was told he was attached perfectly and was getting enough but after a week i had to stop as my nipples were bleeding just too much and too sore and i was just just crying every time he woke up, after a day or two of bottle feeding my milk had dried up so i continued to bottle feed, he is now 13 and a half months, he has NEVER been sick, has been sleeping through the night since he was a month old has two naps during the day at the same time every day for around hour half each and, he is now walking a few steps every day, speaking a few words and hardly ever cries he just laughs and giggles all the time and really enjoys his playtime. I don't agree that breast is best so i just wish we would stop getting pressurised into doing something if we are not happy mentally and physically, if we feel depressed because we feel like failures our babies will pick up on this.
Submitted by anio21 on Wed, 08/06/2011 - 20:09.
I am currently bf my lo and loving every minute of it..of course it was a bit painful at the beginning and i still get a bit sore every now and again as he's teething and he drags my nipple when he's in pain but i am absolutely certain this is best for him and cant imagine anything else..i will eventually feed normal food obviously when the breast milk isnt sufficient anymore,they reckon from 6mnths but i would highly recommend bf to everyone and also ignore when anyone tries to tell you to stop before 6months if it isnt particularly stressful for you,its whats best for your baby thats your priority..xx
Submitted by nualabing on Tue, 07/06/2011 - 13:15.
I hate the way we're told if bf is painful its our positioning that's wrong. I had very painful cracked and bleeding nipples but my midwife told me my positioning was perfect it was that I was producing so much milk via baby didn't have to go onto the breast tissue to feed so she would just suck away on the nipple. I also think it is more tiring because at least your partner or other family members can do their bit with feeding if they're on bottles but if you're bf its only you that can do it! Don't get me wrong, I am all for it but I do think there is a lot of pressure on women to do it. I've a 9 month old and am now 4 months pregnant and am struggling with the decision to bf the next 1 or not. I don't think I'd have the time to do it properly and enjoy it which wouldn't be fair on me or the 2 babies. YEt I feel that I would be depriving my baby of something so beneficial that I can give for free.....what to do?!
Submitted by michnkatie on Tue, 07/06/2011 - 08:21.
I bf my 2 and a half yr old til she was 2, although the last few months it was only a feed b4 bed.I found the benefits outweighed the uncomfortable feelings initially tenfold. We bonded well, she was healthy growing up not many bugs and if she got a cold it d go within a couple of days not drag on like friends bottlefed babies.I do wish i had introduced a bottle early with expressed milk as she would nt take one at all when i tried at 6 months,very tiring as she did nt sleep through til 18 mths and used me as a dummy.we re ttc at the mo and i would defo do it again but introduce expressed bottles earlier and try not to let my lo fall asleep at the breast put them down before they get to that point as it became a battle getting her to sleep without being attached to me ouch! Over all i lost 3 stone in the 1st couple of months obv a lot of it was her 9lb6 but if you want to shed the weight get bf - i would recommend it to everyone and its defo putting your baby first xx
Submitted by lenibella on Wed, 01/06/2011 - 09:09.
I think HVs don't generally offer advice for weaning as the recommended age to BF till is to 2 years. I understand some mums have to go back to work much earlier than this, has anyone considered expressing at work? By law, employers have to provide you time and a place to do this. I did it for 3 months when my baby went to nursery at just over 10 months. She now has cows milk at nursery and I still BF once in the morning and once at night and she's 15 months now. I'm also pregnant with my 2nd and I am preparing to feed both of them if needs be as I don't want to stop my eldest if she's not ready. I know it's not for everyone but it is honestly the best thing for babies!
Submitted by M3gz1 on Wed, 18/05/2011 - 17:21.
My baby is 6 weeks old and I'm a proud breastfeeding Mother.. I have had funny looks, however I just ignore them or 'forget' ;) to cover up. I find the elder generations have more of a problem than younger Mom's. I do recommend breastfeeding to expectant Mothers, as this bond is created and it's an overwhelming feeling that you can feed them without formula.
 

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