"It has felt good to donate milk and be able to give something to babies who are not so lucky and are not blessed with a mother who can breastfeed them."
Debbie S. (breastmilk donor) - Plumstead
"Milk Matters made it easy and convenient for me to donate expressed milk"
Kariema - Southfield
“My son was admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital neonatal ward in November 2009. He needed milk.
Edith Medell (mother of baby receiving donor breastmilk) Cape Town
"I highly recommend donating breastmilk. Knowing that breastmilk may help to take these babies out of harms way definitely gave me a feeling of fulfillment."
Kariema (breastmilk donor) - Cape Town
Breastfeeding myths
- Myths about the mother's health
- Myths about the newborn
- Myth's about the baby's health
- Myths about "enough milk"
- Myths about surgery
- General myths
Myths about "enough milk"
*There is no (or not enough) milk during the first three or four days after birth - NOT TRUE!
It often seems like that, because the baby is not latched on properly and therefore is unable to get the milk that is available. When there is not a lot of milk (as there is not, normally, in the first few days), the baby must be well latched on in order to get the milk. This accounts for "but he's been on the breast for 2 hours and is still hungry when I take him off". By not latching on well, the baby is unable to get the mother's first milk, called colostrum. Anyone who suggests you pump your milk to know how much colostrum there is, does not understand breastfeeding, and should be politely ignored. Once the mother's milk is abundant, a baby can latch on poorly and still may get plenty of milk. But unfortunately her milk supply is likely to dwindle unless the latch is corrected.
*Women who's breasts do not enlarge, or enlarge only a little during pregnancy will not produce enough milk - NOT TRUE!
There are a very few women who cannot produce enough milk (though they can continue to breastfeed by supplementing with a lactation aid, available from La Leche League - see page on useful contacts). Some of these women say that their breasts did not enlarge during pregnancy. However, the vast majority of women whose breasts do not seem to enlarge during pregnancy produce more than enough milk.
*Women with small breasts produce less milk than those with large breasts - NONSENSE!
*Many women do not produce enough milk - NOT TRUE!
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 be shown, on the first day, how to latch a baby on properly, by someone who knows what they are doing.
*A breastfeeding mother has to eat more in order to make enough milk - NOT TRUE!
Women on even very low calorie diets usually make enough milk, at least until the mother's calorie intake becomes critically low for a prolonged period of time. Generally, the baby will get what he needs.
Some women worry that if they eat poorly for a few days this also will affect their milk. There is no need for concern. Such variations will not affect milk supply or quality.
It is commonly said that women need to eat 500 extra calories a day in order to breastfeed. This is not true. Some women do eat more when they breastfeed, but others do not, and some even eat less, without any harm done to the mother or baby or the milk supply. The mother should eat a balanced diet dictated by her appetite. Rules about eating just make breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated.
* Breastfeeding mothers' milk can dry up "just like that" - NOT TRUE!
Or if this can occur, it must be a rare occurrence. Aside from day to day and morning to evening variations, milk production does not change suddenly. There are changes which occur which may make it seem as if milk production is suddenly much less:
A change in the baby's behaviour. At about five to six weeks of age, more or less, babies who would fall asleep at the breast when the flow of milk slowed down, tend to start pulling at the breast or crying when the milk flow slows. The milk has not dried up, but the baby has changed. Try using breast compression to help the baby get more milk. See article on Breast Compression
The mother's breasts do not seem full or are soft. It is normal after a few weeks for the mother no longer to have engorgement, or even fullness of the breasts. As long as the baby is drinking at the breast, do not be concerned
The baby breastfeeds less well. This is often due to the baby being given bottles or dummies and thus learning an inappropriate way of breastfeeding.
The birth control pill may decrease your milk supply. Think about stopping the pill or changing to a progesterone only pill. Or use other methods. Other drugs that can decrease milk supply are pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), some antihistamines, and perhaps diuretics.
If the baby truly seems not to be getting enough, get help, but do not introduce a bottle that may only make things worse. If absolutely necessary, the baby can be supplemented, using a lactation aid that will not interfere with breastfeeding. However, lots can be done before giving supplements. Get help. Try compressing the breast with your hand to help the baby get milk
*Expressing is a good way of knowing how much milk you have - NOT TRUE!
How much milk can be expressed depends on many factors, including the mother's stress level. The baby who nurses well can get much more milk than his mother can pump. Expressing only tells you have much you can express.
Exercising while breastfeeding can dry up your milk - NOT TRUE!
Research indicates that the opposite is in fact true. Moderate exercise enhances your milk supply. Your level of fitness would determine the intensity of any exercise that you partake in. As always it is important to drink plenty of water when exercising, becoming dehydrated is always bad for your health.
You cannot breastfeed from one side only - NOT TRUE!
Many mothers successfully feed their babies from one breast only. Breastmilk supply is dependent on the demand, in other words, the more a baby drinks the more milk his mother will produce. That is why twins can also be successfully breastfed.
However the most common reason given for wanting to feed on one side only, is that the baby does not like the other side, when in fact the mom is uncomfortable feeding on the other side. Get help from an experienced person on positioning your baby. (see Breastfeeding Page on Position and Latch)
Should you feed from one side only, for whatever reason, it would be a good idea to express a little to relieve the other side, if it gets full and uncomfortable. That breast will slowly produce less and less milk as time goes by. The 'breastfeeding' breast will produce enough if your baby is allowed to suckle when ever and as often as he wants to.
*Myths by Dr Jack Newman
