As a new mother, myths about breastfeeding can be very misleading and can alter personal opinions about breastfeeding. For the most accurate information about breastfeeding make sure to talk with a certified lactation counselor. Here are the top five myths about breastfeeding and why they are incorrect!
1. Unless you eat really healthy, your breastmilk is no better than formula.
While a mother’s diet can affect the taste and color of breastmilk, a healthy diet will not excessively affect her breastmilk. The mother’s body adds antibodies and specific nutrients that cannot be added to formula. As an infant grows, the mother’s body alters the nutrients in the milk in order to be the best nourishment for them. No matter how healthy the mother’s diet is, breast is best, and can help the infant in many more ways than formula can.
2. Formula takes less time, is easier and is more convenient then breastfeeding.
Imagine, it’s 2:35 in the morning and you wake up to a crying infant. Now you can take one of two routes, you can roll out of bed, inch toward the baby’s room, pick up the infant and start breastfeeding. Or, you can go downstairs, measure formula into a bottle, warm it, make sure it isn’t too hot, go back upstairs, go to the infant’s room, and then start to feed (and then you have a dirty bottle to clean!). It is more convenient to breastfeed!
3. You should never wake a sleeping baby to breastfeed.
Waking an infant to feed is very dependent on age. At our age, we don’t need to eat every 3 hours, but for a newborn, eating every two to three hours is the only way they have enough energy to survive. As they get older, they likely won’t need to eat as often. Keep in mind that infants with special needs such as a disability, disease, illness, or prematurity may need to be watched more closely in order to make sure they are continuing on a healthy pathway.
4. Breastfeeding is painful.
Of course breastfeeding will be a different feeling. Just like it takes you a while you learn how to ride a bike, it will take you a while for you and your infant to learn the art of breastfeeding. If breastfeeding is painful, you and baby may need to make some changes to latch and/or position. WIC staff or lactation staff at the hospital are available to help if you continue to have any pain at any point during breastfeeding!
5.The baby can under-eat or overeat with breastfeeding, but with a formula you know exactly how much he/she is getting.
When it comes to formula feeding, a bottle has an exact amount of liquid so there is an exact amount the infant is eating. Unfortunately, this can lead a parent or caregiver to expect that their infant eats a certain amount, which can result in under or overeating. Infants know when they are hungry, full, and in-between! Breastfeeding allows baby to put this ability into practice, which will help baby with eating now and as they grow up!
Kelsey Munn
Dietetic Student at
University of Northern Colorado