Pregnancy |||
breastfeeding
Myths vs.
Facts
Some of the most common breastfeeding
myths are explained below. If you have
further questions about breastfeeding,
contact La Leche League of Bermuda at
236-1120 or at [email protected].
The chances are you have heard at least one
breastfeeding myth. Unfortunately, they can make a
mother question herself and her ability to breastfeed,
feel inadequate, or imagine that a problem exists
when it does not. When a mother is armed with
accurate knowledge and reasonable expectations
about breastfeeding, she is much more likely to have
confidence in her breastfeeding ability and enjoy her
breastfeeding relationship with her baby.
Myth 1: Many women do not produce enough milk.
Fact: The vast majority of women produce more than enough milk.
Indeed, an overabundance of milk is common. Most babies that
gain too slowly, or lose weight, do so not because the mother does
not have enough milk, but because the baby does not get the milk
that the mother has. The usual reason that the baby does not get
the milk that is available is that he is poorly latched onto the breast.
This is why it is so important that the mother learn or be shown, on
the first day, how to latch a baby on properly.
Myth 2: It is normal for breastfeeding to hurt.
Fact: Though some tenderness during the first few days is
relatively common, this should be a temporary situation which
lasts only a few days and should never be so bad that the mother
dreads nursing. Any pain that is more than mild is abnormal and
is usually due to the baby latching on poorly. A new onset of pain
when things have been going well for a while may be due to a
yeast infection of the nipples (called “thrush”). Limiting feeding
time does not prevent soreness.
Myth 3: A baby should be on the breast 20
(or 10, 45, etc) minutes on each side.
Fact: The length of a breastfeeding session should be determined
by the baby’s interest and response. Some babies need more
time than others; some are more efficient than others. If the baby
is latched on correctly, there is no need to limit the length of his
feedings. However, if a baby has a shallow latch (or there are
issues making latching difficult), he may need to “nurse all day”
to consume enough milk. A baby can transfer milk more efficiently
if he is latched on properly.
Myth 4: A mother only needs to nurse four to six times a
day to maintain good milk supply.
Fact: Research shows that when a mother breastfeeds early and
often, an average of 9.9 times a day in the first two weeks, her
milk production is greater, her infant gains more weight and she
10 ||| www.bermudaparentmagazine.com
continues breastfeeding for a longer period. Milk production is related
to feeding frequency and milk supply declines when feedings are
infrequent or restricted. Eight to twelve nursing sessions per 24
hours are recommended for a newborn baby, but feedings are not
always spaced at regular intervals. Some babies “cluster nurse”
which means they nurse very often for a few hours, then rest for
several hours.
Myth 5: There is no way to know how much
breastmilk the baby is getting.
Fact: There is no easy way to measure how much the baby is getting,
but this does not mean that you cannot know if the baby is getting
enough. The best way to know that the baby is actively drinking at the
breast for several minutes at each feeding is, adequate weight gain
and number of dirty diapers. For further details, see sidebar “Signs
Your Baby is Getting Enough Milk”.
Myth 6: A breastfeeding mother should space her
feedings so that her breasts will have time to refill.
Fact: A lactating mother’s body is always making milk. Her breasts
function in part as a “storage tank,” some holding more than others.
The emptier the breast, the faster the body makes milk to replace
it; the fuller the breast, the more production of milk slows down. If a
mother consistently waits until her breasts “fill up” before she nurses,
her body may get the message that it is making too much and may
reduce total production.
Myth 7: Babies get all the milk they need in the first five
to ten minutes of nursing.
Fact: While many older babies can take in the majority of their milk in
the first five to ten minutes, this cannot be generalized to all babies.
Newborns, who are learning to nurse and are not always efficient at
sucking, often need much longer to feed. The ability to take in milk is
also subject to the timing of the mother’s let-down response. Rather
than guess, it is best to allow baby to suck until they shows signs of
satiety such as self-detachment and relaxed hands and arms.