Milk Matters - Breastfeeding myths

Milk Matters

Breastfeeding myths

Myths about the mother's health

Breatfeeding is tiring for mothers - NOT TRUE!

It is not breastfeeding that tires mothers, but the adjustment to a new lifestyle as well as the demands of the baby. Many breastfeeding mothers make use of feeding times to relax with a book on a comfortable chair or lie on the bed.

Nipples must be prepared for breastfeeding - NOT TRUE!

Nipple preparation is unnecessary. Your baby will be satisfied with the nipples he is given at birth. He has no comparisons and therefore will latch and suckle if put to the breast as soon as possible after a birth.

Please note that flat and inverted nipples as well as the size and shape of the nipple are not a contraindication to breastfeeding. Babies need to latch onto the breast not the nipple.

At around 37 weeks of pregnancy it may be useful to learn how to express colostrum. Expect no more than a drop or two and do not be concerned if don't see any. Should your baby not feed well to begin with, express a drop or two on a teaspoon for him.

*A mother should wash her nipples before feeding her baby - NOT TRUE!

Formula feeding requires careful attention to cleanliness because formula not only does not protect the baby against infection, but also is actually a good breeding ground for bacteria and can also be easily contaminated. On the other hand, breastmilk protects the baby against infection. Washing nipples before each feeding makes breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated and washes away protective oils from the nipple.

*It is normal for breastfeeding to hurt - NOT TRUE!

Though some tenderness during the first few days is relatively common, this should be a temporary situation that 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 almost always due to the baby latching on poorly. It is imperative that the mother is shown how to remove and latch her baby correctly, to avoid further nipple trauma.

Limiting feeding time does not prevent soreness. Taking the baby off the breast (i.e. not feeding from that breast) for the nipples to heal should be a last resort only.

A new onset of pain when things have been going well for a while may be due to a yeast infection (thrush) of the nipples.

*A breastfeeding mother has to be obsessive about what she eats - NOT TRUE!

A breastfeeding mother should try to eat a balanced diet, but neither needs to eat any special foods nor avoid certain foods. A breastfeeding mother does not need to drink milk in order to make milk. A breastfeeding mother does not need to avoid spicy foods, garlic, cabbage or alcohol. A breastfeeding mother should eat a normal healthful diet. Although there are situations when something the mother eats may affect the baby, this is unusual. Most commonly, "colic", "gassiness" and crying can be improved by changing breastfeeding techniques, rather than changing the mother's diet. (See Links to Dr Jack Newman's site )

*A breastfeeding mother has to drink lots of fluids - NOT TRUE!

The mother should drink according to her thirst. Some mothers feel they are thirsty all the time, but many others do not drink more than usual. The mother's body knows if she needs more fluids, and tells her by making her feel thirsty. Do not believe that you have to drink at least a certain number of glasses a day. Rules about drinking just make breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated.

*A mother who smokes is better off not breastfeeding - NOT TRUE!

A mother who cannot stop smoking should breastfeed. Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease the negative effects of cigarette smoke on the baby's lungs, for example. Breastfeeding confers great health benefits on both mother and baby. It would be better if the mother not smoke, but if she cannot stop or cut down, then it is better she smoke and breastfeed than smoke and formula feed.

*A mother should not drink alcohol while breastfeeding - NOT TRUE!

Reasonable alcohol intake (e.g. a glass of wine) need not be discouraged. As is the case with most drugs, very little alcohol comes out in the milk. The mother can take some alcohol and continue breastfeeding as she normally does. Prohibiting alcohol is another way we make life unnecessarily restrictive for nursing mothers.

*A mother with an infection should stop breastfeeding - NOT TRUE!

With very, very few exceptions, the mother's continuing to breastfeed will actually protect the baby. By the time the mother has fever (or cough, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, etc.) she has or could have already given the baby the infection, since she has been infectious for several days before she even knew she was sick.

The baby's best protection against getting the infection is for the mother to continue breastfeeding. If the baby does get sick, he will be less sick if the mother continues breastfeeding. Besides, maybe it was the baby who gave the infection to the mother, but the baby did not show signs of illness because he was breastfeeding.

Also, breast infections, though painful, are not reasons to stop breastfeeding. Indeed, the infection is likely to settle more quickly if the mother continues breastfeeding on the affected side.

If your baby burps or breaks a wind while breastfeeding, you will get milk-fever - NOT TRUE!

Should your baby burp while feeding, you could consider this a bonus, no winding time is needed. You can also be rest assured that there is no possibility of his giving you any kind of milk fever or breast infection by burping at the breast.

*Breastfeeding does not provide any protection against becoming pregnant - NOT TRUE!

It is not a foolproof method, but no method is. In fact, breastfeeding is not a bad method of child spacing, and gives reliable protection especially during the first six months after birth. It almost as good as the pill if the baby is under six months of age, if breastfeeding is exclusive, and if the mother has not yet had a normal menstrual period after giving birth. After the first six months, the protection is less, but still present, and on average, women breastfeeding into the second year of life will have a baby every two to three years even without any artificial method of contraception.

*Breastfeeding women cannot take the birth control pill - NOT TRUE!

The question is not exposure to female hormones, to which the baby is exposed anyway through breastfeeding. The baby gets only a tiny bit more from the pill. However, some women who take the pill, even the progestin pill, find that their milk supply decreases. Estrogen containing pills are more likely to decrease the milk supply.

Because so many women produce more than enough, this often does not matter, but sometimes it does even in the presence of an abundant supply, and the baby becomes fussy and is not satisfied by nursing. Babies respond to rate of flow of milk, not what's "in the breast", so that even a very good milk supply may seem to cause the baby who is used to faster flow to be fussy. Stopping the pill often brings things back to normal.

If the pill must be used, it is preferable to use the progestin only pill (without estrogen).

*A woman who becomes pregnant must stop breastfeeding - NOT TRUE!

If the mother and child desire, breastfeeding can continue. Some continue nursing the older child even after delivery of the new baby - tandem feeding. Many women do decide to stop nursing when they become pregnant because their nipples are sore, or for other reasons, but there is no rush or medical necessity to do so. In fact, there are often good reasons to continue. The milk supply will likely decrease during pregnancy, but if the baby is taking other foods, this is not a usually a problem. However, some babies will stop breastfeeding if the milk supply is low.

*Mothers who receive immunizations (tetanus, rubella, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, etc.) should stop breastfeeding for a period of time - NOT TRUE!

Why should they? There is no risk for the baby, and he may even benefit. The rare exception is the baby who has an immune deficiency. In that case the mother should not receive an immunization with a weakened live virus (e.g. oral, but not injectable polio, or measles, mumps, rubella) even if the baby is being fed artificially.

*Breastfeeding ties the mother down - NOT TRUE!

But it depends how you look at it. A baby can be nursed anywhere, anytime, and thus breastfeeding is liberating for the mother. No need to drag around bottles or formula. No need to worry about where to warm up the milk. No need to worry about sterility. No need to worry about how your baby is, because he is with you.

Only breastfeeding mothers experience the "blues" - NOT TRUE!

Up to 80% of all new mothers whether breast or bottle feeding have the "baby blues" shortly after birth. For a few days you may feel anxious, tearful, tired and irritable.

Caring for a new baby is hard, unrelenting work. No matter how well prepared you are or how much you looked forward to the arrival of your baby, you will find it difficult at times. You will probably experience a wide range of feelings, from joy to excitement to frustration, resentment, guilt and anxiety. This is quite normal, and you will need help, support and understanding from the people around you.

Sometimes, however, these prolonged unhappy feelings become so intense that you feel overwhelmed, and out of control. If this happens, you may be suffering from postnatal depression and anxiety.

PNDSA (Post Natal Depression Support Association) is a non-profit-making association started by a group of women who have recovered from postnatal depression. They are dedicated to supporting other women who may be going through the same experience and to making it easier for them to find help. They can be contacted on 082 882 0072 or 083 309 3960 or see useful contacts page

*Myths by Dr Jack Newman

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