5 Breast feeding myths

New moms deal with "advice" all day from well-meaning friends & family. But which ones are facts and which are just myths? Read on to find out.

Myth #1: You are a bad mother if you do not breastfeed.

Many mothers cannot or choose not to breastfeed – and that’s ok. Why? Because breastfeeding is a personal choice and it does not make a person bad if they decide not to do it. Sure, breastfeeding has benefits for both mommy and baby, but it is still mama’s personal choice about whether she wants to breastfeed or not.

Myth #2: You should not breastfeed if you are not well/ feeling ill.

A mother's breast milk is custom-made for her baby, providing antibodies that babies need to fight infection. So, continuing to breastfeed when you are not feeling well can protect your baby from the infection that your body is fighting.

Myth #3: If you have small breasts, you will not be able to satisfy your baby’s hunger.

Did you know that breast size doesn’t actually influence the amount of breast milk you make? Breast size is made up of fatty tissue, whereas the milk ducts (which actually respond to pregnancy hormones) are actually located in the functional tissue of the breast. These milk ducts are responsible for producing milk and these grow in response to your pregnancy. So there you have it – small boobs does not mean small quantity of milk! You are capable of producing what your baby needs mumma!

Myth #4: If you feed your baby with the bottle, they will not want to breastfeed.

This may be true for some babies, but generally babies will not have a problem with alternating between the breast and bottle. But doctors advise introducing the bottle only after 6 weeks to help the baby adjust better.

Myth #5: Breastfeeding is EASY.

This is the #1 myth about breastfeeding. That it is easy. But it may not always feel so.

Every new mother’s breastfeeding experience is different and some may have more difficulty than the others when it comes to positioning the baby correctly or achieving a good latch, but take it from us, most moms need help in trying to breastfeed successfully. So go easy on yourself dear mommy, take it one day at a time and consider speaking to a lactation consultant if necessary.