7 false myths about breastfeeding

Years ago there was not as much medical information as today and its dissemination was poor, the things that happened tried to be explained as best they could, but it was not always correct. These ideas have been passed down from generation to generation and some still endure today. Therefore, when we talk about breastfeeding there are many beliefs that we have to deny.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization) breastfeeding is the best option to feed the baby during the first half year of life . Therefore, the most effective way to contribute to the development of your baby is breastfeeding. Whether in a country women decide to do it or not depends on their economic situation and culture, but in developed countries, as there are more options, women can doubt between which is better and decide to abandon breastfeeding. The causes are usually the number of myths that exist about breastfeeding. Next we deny the most heard.

1. IF MY BREAST IS SMALL, I WON’T HAVE ENOUGH MILK

The size of the breast depends only on the fat that the woman has, not on the milk-producing cells and ducts, which remain the same. What’s more, it is even beneficial because when the breast is small the baby has an easier time sucking the milk than when it is large.

BREAST MILK INITIATES THE BABY’S CONTACT WITH DIFFERENT FLAVORS

From those first days, the breast will begin to produce lighter breast milk, the amount of milk will depend exclusively on the feedings you give your baby. The more frequently you breastfeed your child, the more milk you will produce because you will be stimulating the mammary glands.

2. MY MILK MAY NOT BE OF GOOD QUALITY

Breast milk always has the same composition in all mothers in the world , unless you have a serious medical illness, which in that case your doctor will tell you. Many mothers believe this myth because they see their milk too watery or too thick. As we have already said, the content is the same and whether it is in one way or another will depend on the phase of development your baby is going through.

The milk that your cells produce will adapt to the needs of your child . In some stages the body will produce milk with more fat content and other times the milk will be lighter in order to hydrate the child more, but that does not indicate that it is of poorer quality. At the beginning of the feeding, the milk is more liquid to quench the initial thirst of the baby, later it comes out thicker because it contains more fats and proteins, it is more aimed at nourishing it.

3. THE BABY IS HUNGRY AND CRIES

Children do not always cry because they are hungry, they can cry for more reasons , sometimes they just want to feel the warmth of the mother and that is why they sue her. The pediatrician is the one who has to decide whether or not the child is gaining enough weight. You may believe that your milk does not feed enough because the baby does not get fat, but not all children are the same. There are children who, although they seem smaller or thinner, may weigh more than others who are wider, the amount of muscle and bone is what most influences the weight, not the external appearance. Therefore, if you see that your baby wets between 5 and 6 diapers a day, sucks and your doctor says that there are no problems, trust him and continue breastfeeding your baby calmly.

4. THE AMOUNT OF MILK THE MOTHER PRODUCES IS HEREDITARY

Another common myth that is very widespread in towns is to think that if your mother produced little milk, the same thing will happen to you. It has neither head nor tail. As we have already said, the amount of milk depends on the frequency of the child’s feedings . The more you breastfeed, the more milk you will produce, the problem is that if, for whatever reasons, you go without breastfeeding for a while, production may stop.

5. YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW A SPECIAL DIET

You often hear the myth that during breastfeeding you have to favor some foods and restrict others. This is false. Some examples are saying that mothers have to drink more milk because the child needs to produce more calcium. If the mother follows a balanced diet based on fruits, vegetables, proteins and cereals, it is enough. You don’t have to increase your milk intake. Even so, milk and cheese are not the only foods rich in calcium, sardines, salmon, almonds and even vegetables and fruits such as broccoli and figs have it in high quantities.

Other people say to avoid strong foods like garlic, onion, or cabbage. It is true that depending on what the mother eats, the taste of the milk will vary and that can produce an initial rejection in the baby, but it is only at the beginning, the child will quickly get used to it. It is also good that you vary your diet because that way you will get used to different flavors from a young age and when you are older you will not put so many problems depending on what foods. What is certain is that caffeinated drinks such as coffee , mate, some chocolates or soft drinks should be taken moderately, but they are not contraindicated either.

6. MY CHILD DOES NOT SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT

Breastfed children sleep the same as those who drink formula . Your child wakes up at night because it is in his nature , it is a physiological process, his brain is maturing and he is not able to sleep continuously throughout the night. Actually, we don’t either, we have micro-awakenings every hour or so but we roll over and continue sleeping, we don’t realize it. Children have a lighter sleeper to ensure closeness with their mother and that they are sufficiently fed. The solution to make night feeds more comfortable for both of you is to co- sleep or keep it close to you, so that it can continue to suck while you sleep.

7. IF I BREASTFEED THE BABY, MY BREAST WILL FALL OFF

This aesthetic issue is, after the discomfort that it represents for the working mother, one of the most widespread reasons for not breastfeeding the baby. However, this is not the factor that causes the breast to fall, but the pregnancy itself . Moreover, many women who have not breastfed their baby will be able to tell you that “as soon as you have the first child, this will all go down” . It is something natural and with which we cannot fight, so, without getting into the implications of not breastfeeding the baby for aesthetic reasons, dismiss this idea because it is not true. And neither is it that breastfeeding makes us fat.