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7 Misconceptions About Breastfeeding and Things You Should Know

The United Nations has called for more support to help women breastfeed their babies in the workplace. The UN is calling for this during its annual campaign to increase breastfeeding rates.

Babies who are not breastfed are 14 times more likely to die before their first birthday, the UN says, than babies who are exclusively breastfed. The UN is calling for paid maternity leave, breaks between work days for breastfeeding, and separate rooms for mothers to breastfeed at work.

There are still many myths or misconceptions about breastfeeding that can discourage mothers from breastfeeding. Two experts explain to us that some of the most common misconceptions about breastfeeding are actually completely wrong. One of them is Catriona Waite, a professor of clinical pharmacology and global health at the University of Liverpool in Britain and a fellow at Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Kampala, Uganda. The other is Alastair Sutcliffe, Professor of General Paediatrics at University College London.

Myth 1: Breastfeeding usually causes sore breasts and sore nipples

Professor Waite: This is a bit difficult to answer. It is perfectly normal to have some discomfort at the beginning of breastfeeding, and it is perfectly normal to have sore or painful nipples at first until you get used to it. But breastfeeding does not actually cause breast pain or soreness. If someone has this, you should think about whether there is an infection or infection in the nipple, or whether it is not being placed in the baby's mouth properly. Some discomfort at the beginning is perfectly normal, and it can take some time for new mothers to adjust to this. However, if someone has a lot of pain or soreness, it is worth talking to a doctor, nurse or midwife.

Myth 2: If you don't start breastfeeding right away, you can't do it later

Professor Sutcliffe: Anything that encourages mothers to breastfeed is actually beneficial for human health in many ways. There is no scientific basis for this idea of ​​​​imposing artificial restrictions on human behavior by setting strict deadlines. However, it is true that there are many benefits if a mother starts breastfeeding her baby immediately after birth. The most notable is nutrition. Another benefit of starting breastfeeding is that it helps to start the process of contraction of the uterus. And as a result, it helps to stop or prevent the bleeding that occurs in the uterus after childbirth. In addition, in the first few days after childbirth, the mother's body produces a protein-rich substance called colostrum. It is a very rich substance that contributes to the initiation of the lactation process.

Myth 3: You can't take any medicine while breastfeeding

Professor Waite: This is usually the first question mothers ask anywhere in the world. They want to know, “Is any medicine safe for my baby?” But the reality is that many medicines actually reach the baby in very small amounts. If a doctor says you need to take a medicine, ask him or her. But chances are you can take the medicine safely. What a baby really needs is a healthy mother. Medicines that are commonly taken for infections, depression, or general pain are probably safe.

There are actually very few medicines that you should not take while breastfeeding. These are usually medicines for cancer or other serious medical conditions. There are also some medicines that require careful consideration of the risks and benefits before using them. When a breastfeeding mother is advised to take a medicine, she should make sure that she can ask questions about it. Be careful with over-the-counter medicines, such as cold and flu medicines, because they contain ingredients that can reduce breast milk. And be careful with herbal medicines, because you don’t really know what’s in them. These medicines have not been well tested.

Myth 4: You should only eat plain food and avoid spicy foods before breastfeeding

Professor Waite: There are no foods that you can't eat while breastfeeding. However, the exact nutrients in your breast milk depend on the type of food you eat.

However, you may notice a pattern with certain foods. For example, with one of my children, I noticed that whenever I drank sour fruit juice like orange juice, my baby became irritable. You may often notice a pattern in how your baby behaves when you eat something. But there are no foods that are harmful to your baby, or that you should avoid.

Myth 5: You can never feed formula milk if you want to breastfeed

Professor Waite: This is not entirely true. However, the amount of milk produced in a mother's breasts is regulated by supply and demand. The structure of a woman's body is actually so beautifully designed that it can produce enough milk for a baby. When a baby sucks on the nipple, it signals the hormones in the woman's body to produce as much milk as it needs. So a mother, whether she is breastfeeding a very small baby, an older baby or twins - her body will produce enough milk in that proportion.

And when she starts giving formula milk to her baby, this signal in the woman's body and a disruption in the milk production cycle