Breastfeeding (and parenting in general) is surrounded by many myths and beliefs. Although some of them have been transmitted from mother to daughter and are deeply rooted in certain cultures, it has been proven that they have no scientific basis and we must banish them.
There is no doubt that breastfeeding has multiple benefits for the health of the mother and the baby, but beliefs that are not true continue to spread. Here are 11 of the most common myths about breastfeeding that you should not believe .
1. You have to breastfeed every three hours
This is one of the most ingrained patterns in our environment and it is likely that it was what they told our mothers and even our grandmothers. Can you imagine that they forced us to always eat every three hours? What if we are hungry before we can not peck a little? Maybe we have had less breakfast and now we fancy a lunch earlier? What if we’ve had a nap and we’re so comfortable, do they have to wake us up to eat?
Breast milk is digested very quickly and, especially in the first days, newborns need to take very frequent breastfeeds: between 8 and 12 feedings a day , sometimes even more. If we take into account that they are still learning to breastfeed, they get tired, fall asleep in the middle … and the feeding can take up to an hour at first, do you see it feasible that they breastfeed every three hours? These frequent feedings are essential for the successful establishment of breastfeeding.
Remember that the more the baby suckles, the more milk we will produce . In addition, the first six months of life breast milk (or formula failing that) covers all your needs, both for nutrients and hydration. Thus, it is likely that in hotter seasons they will demand more frequent feedings: sometimes they will be hungry, in others just thirsty.
In short: breastfeeding (or artificial) does not have to be every three hours but on demand: whenever the baby wants .
2. Breastfeeding hurts
It is common to hear that breastfeeding hurts at first, that it is normal for cracks to appear or that we have to “callus” first so that it does not hurt later. None of this is true – breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt.
It may be a bit bothersome for the first few days, due to the hypersensitivity of the nipple or because it is a new, different sensation, but if breastfeeding hurts, it is because the baby’s latch on is not adequate.
In a well latched baby, the nipple is close to the roof of the mouth and well back, and the tongue makes an undulating motion over the breast and areola to pump the milk; in this way, it does not injure the nipple, which must maintain its rounded-square shape at the end of the feeding. If cracks appear or breastfeeding is painful, we must consult: it is likely that our baby is not well hooked.
3. You have to eat for two
Nursing mothers spend about 700kcal to produce milk. Of these, 500kcal are obtained from milk and the rest from the deposits generated during pregnancy. During lactation, we must eat a healthy and varied diet, but it is not necessary that we eat for two, but rather eat according to our feeling of hunger .
4. Not all milks feed the same
Breast milk is the best food for all babies . With few exceptions (due to extreme malnutrition or maternal illness), all the milks have a very similar composition.
Every mother produces the best milk for her baby. In addition, breast milk has the peculiarity of changing its composition depending on the age of the baby and throughout a feeding . Thus, colostrum (produced during the first 2-3 days of life) has a higher protein content and less fat and lactose than mature milk. And mothers who give birth to premature babies produce a different milk than those who give birth to full-term babies, with a higher protein content and lower lactose content, and with more immunoglobulin A and more lactoferrin, because that is what they need. their babies at those times.
In general, breast milk provides about 67kcal / 100 ml (62-70kcal / 100ml). Proteins and carbohydrates remain fairly stable, with fats being the most variable component, both among women and throughout a feeding (milk at the end of the feeding can contain up to 2-4 times more fat than milk). starting milk). In any case, these amounts of fat, with their variations, are nutritionally appropriate for any infant.
5. Colostrum is useless, you have to wait for the milk to rise
Colostrum, the milk of the first 2-3 days, is thought to be impure in some cultures and should not be taken by the baby. And in the past it was common to offer the baby other products because it was thought that “colostrum was not enough food .”
Nothing is further from reality; colostrum is very rich in immunoglobulins and other defensive cells, creating immediate protection for the newborn. It is also rich in protein, fat-soluble vitamins and some minerals such as sodium and zinc and contains less fat and less lactose than mature milk, which makes it easy for the newborn to digest.
6. There are foods that you should not eat if you are breastfeeding
Some foods that mothers eat give breast milk more flavor than others (for example, garlic or asparagus) but it does not mean that they cannot eat them; the nursing mother should eat a varied and healthy diet. Likewise, you can eat foods that generate gas (for example legumes), since gas does not pass through milk.
7. It is advisable to alternate the breasts every 20 minutes
Breastfeeding is on demand: when the baby wants and for as long as he wants. Until he lets go, we must not change breasts. The first part of the feed is more watery and richer in carbohydrates and the final part, richer in fat; it is advisable to let the baby empty the breast well. Only with one breast are we able to breastfeed (as in the case of twins or breast surgery).
8. Mothers with small breasts will have little milk
Unless we suffer from mammary hypoplasia, the size of the breast is not an indicator of the amount of milk that we will be able to produce. Every mother has the best breast for her baby .
9. During lactation you have to drink a lot of water and a lot of milk
During lactation we must follow a healthy and varied diet. We must not increase our fluid intake, we must drink when we are thirsty. Excessive fluid intake can, paradoxically, decrease milk production.
There are also no foods or natural remedies to increase production; there is no scientific basis to claim it. A frequent and demanding lactation with a correct technique is the best galactogogue. Maternal self-confidence also plays an important role.
10. From one year on, breast milk no longer nourishes
WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months and then accompanied by other foods for up to two years or more. Breast milk remains the ideal food also from one year on. The fat content of breast milk is higher after 12 months.
11. It is convenient to express the milk to see how much the baby takes
The baby has a much more powerful suction than the breast pump, so what we extract does not reflect what the baby takes. The best indicator that a baby is eating well is weight gain.
Babies usually lose between 4 and 6% of their weight and up to 10% in the first days of life. From about the fifth day to four months of age, their weight increases by about 150 to 200 grams per week.
If the baby pees several times a day (a heavy, clear and regular pee), it is a sign that the baby is healthy, well fed and hydrated.
In Babies and more | Breastfeeding could prevent 800 thousand infant deaths and more than 20 thousand deaths from breast cancer, Breastfeeding beyond six months: these are the short and long-term benefits for the health of the baby and the mother
