Breastfeeding myths part 1.

1: Many women do not produce enough milk.

Not true. The vast majority of women produced more than enough milk to feed their babies. In my experience indeed an over abundance of milk is almost more 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 transfer the milk that the mother has. The usual reason that the baby does not get the milk that is available if that he or she is poorly latched onto the breast. This is why it's so important that the mother be showing on the very first day how to Latch their baby on properly by somebody who knows what they are doing.

2: 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 feeding her baby. Any pain that is more than mild if abnormal and is almost always due to poor latch. Any nipple pain that is not getting better by day 3 or 4 should not be ignored. Likewise any new onset of pain when things have been going well for a while maybe due to something such as a yeast infection or mastitis. Limiting feeding time certainly doesn't prevent soreness taking the baby off the breast for the nipples to heal should be a last Resort only. In either of these scenarios we would always recommend lactation consultant come to review your baby his her mouth and your breasts anatomy as soon as these issues arise.

3: There is not enough milk during the first three or 4 days after birth.

Not true. It often seems like that because the baby may not be latched on properly and therefore is unable to get the milk that is available. Milk ordinarily does not come in until about day 3 post deliver colostrum is the first milk that will be present after baby is born and is more than sufficient to satiate your baby until your milk does come in. Colostrum is high in fats proteins and antibodies and is more than sufficient for your baby's needs remembering that your baby's tummy is only the size of a marble when they're first born.

4: A baby should be on the breast every "x" minutes on each side.

Not true .Although one must be careful to make the distinction between nutritive and non-nutritive feeding. As a lactation consultant, I always recommend the mother's offer the baby both breasts even if that means waking the baby to change their nappy if they falling asleep at the breast on the first side particularly in the early days when you were trying to establish a good breast milk supply and babies weight is doing well. I do however not recommend swapping after x amount of time I always recommend allowing baby to feed on what side for as long as they wish until they come off the breast themselves.

5: Breastfed babies need extra water in hot weather:

Not true. Breast milk contains all of the baby's

needs bodies are incredible and will adjust to the requirements of the baby depending on the weather and temperatures, whether baby is sick and their age and calorie requirements.