Truth behind a few Breastfeeding Myths
There are a few myths that every new mother confronts as they decide whether or not to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding Myth #1 – Will you make enough milk? – Most certainly. According to the World Health Organization over 97% of all women are able to produce a sufficient milk supply for their child without any other help. In the first days after your child is born you will not produce much milk, but it will be very concentrated as your child correspondingly has a very small stomach.
Breastfeeding Myth #2 – It will hurt – Although there may be some initial discomfort as you grow accustomed to the new sensations of breastfeeding you should not be in a continual state of hurt. If you are feeling some pain it the simple and most common remedy is to find a better way to position your child while you breastfeed.
Breastfeeding Myth #3 – You are the only one who can do anything for your child. – It may seem during the first few days that you are the only person who can do anything for your child, however there are plenty of ways that your partner and your family can help. Let them help with the bathing, the changing, taking the child out for a walk, and of course any household chores. Once you begin pumping breast milk and your child grows a bit older your family can also take a turn at feedings.
Breastfeeding Myth #4 – Your baby will want to nurse all the time. After their birth newborns have an extremely small stomach and cannot hold much milk at at time so they will feed much more frequently. As their stomach enlarges over the next few weeks they will be able to go much longer times between feedings.
Breastfeeding Myth #5 – Formula is as good as breast milk. No it is not. More and more research continues to uncover more of the unreproducible complexities of human breast milk. Antibodies, hormones, enzymes all are found exclusively in breast milk and not formula.
So that is the truth behind a few of the breastfeeding myths.
