When you breastfeed, you hear all sorts of nonsense!
This healthy and natural act still raises questions.
What’s the truth behind these beliefs? Let’s separate fact from fiction.
- Lreastfeeding hurts!
False! If the baby is positioned correctly, breastfeeding is not painful at all. LREASTFEEDING SHOULD NOT HURT! If you experience pain, seek help from someone trained in breastfeeding so they can correct the baby’s or mother’s positioning. An IBCLC-certified lactation consultant is best placed to support you and check for any ties that could be restrictive and make latching difficult.
- Breastfeeding makes breasts sag!
False! Breast skin can sag during pregnancy, and this varies depending on the woman’s age, skin firmness, and other factors.
- You can’t breastfeed after a C-section!
False! It’s entirely possible to breastfeed after a C-section. The baby should be put to the breast as soon as possible, and you should seek support. What’s more, breastfeeding after a difficult birth can often be a healing experience for both mother and baby.
- Lreastfeeding is unhealthy after a certain age!
False! What is unhealthy is people seeing a sexual or incestuous act in a completely natural gesture between a mother and her child. It’s the sexualization of women’s bodies, particularly their breasts, in our consumer society. Lhe average age for natural weaning (not initiated by the mother or by introducing a bottle) is between 2 and 7 years. 7 years old, the age when children start losing their baby teeth. It’s no coincidence that these temporary teeth are named that way. All in all, it’s something completely natural… Every mother should follow her instincts. Some mothers will breastfeed for just a few months, others for several years.
- My milk isn’t nourishing enough!
False! There are times when the baby nurses more often. So often that we convince ourselves (or let ourselves be convinced) that our milk is no longer nourishing enough, that the baby isn’t getting full enough, that we don’t have enough milk anymore, and so on. But rest assured, your milk will always be nourishing. Even if the mother is severely malnourished, her body will always prioritize producing enough milk for the baby. Listen to yourself and trust yourself. The more the baby nurses, the more your milk production will increase :)
- If the baby doesn’t sleep through the night, it’s because of breastfeeding!
False! Babies’ sleep is very different from adults’. Sleeping for 4 hours straight already counts as sleeping through the night. Even if it’s from 8 p.m. to midnight. Sure, those aren’t our nights, but every baby has their own rhythm, which we need to respect. And plenty of bottle-fed babies don’t sleep through the night either. Giving a bottle in the evening, cereal, or anything other than breastfeeding in the hope that the baby will sleep straight through can cause stomach discomfort and ultimately make things worse. Not to mention the risk of weaning.
Introducing a routine, getting help from the other parent, and co-sleeping can be ways to put things in perspective and feel calmer during the night.
- Breastfed babies need to drink more water when it’s hot!
False! Breast milk contains all the water a baby needs. It’s made up of 80% water! Amazing, isn’t it?
- I can’t combine breast milk and commercial infant formula!
False! If a supplement is really necessary, it’s possible to combine the two types of milk. Did you know that just one bottle of commercial infant formula in the first few days of life can upset a baby’s intestines for a month and increase the risk of allergies? So, if possible, resist the temptation to give your baby a bottle of commercial infant formula at night.
- You have to eat dairy products when you’re breastfeeding!
False! Our grandmothers also used to claim that you had to drink beer! Fortunately, we don’t listen to them all the time anymore! You should eat a varied, balanced diet. There’s no need to increase your daily intake of dairy products. However, you should drink plenty of water.
- L’other parent can’t get involved in breastfeeding!
False! You can help Mom by placing a pillow, offering water or something to eat… You can make sure the baby is positioned correctly and the room is quiet.
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