Dispelling Breastfeeding Myths by Brandi Rahim
Having breastfeed all four of my children, I thought I was a nursing guru. I thought I knew all there was to know about breastfeeding. I knew the different positions, how long and often you’re supposed to feed, how to store pumped milk – all of the basics. When I had my fourth baby while working for Cradle Cincinnati Connections, I told myself that I would earn my Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) certification. I wanted to be seen as an “official guru,” even though I knew everything already. Wrong. All wrong.
I was blown away by the amount I learned during during my week-long CLC course. I was looking around the room to see who else had a look of shock on their face when they said it doesn’t matter the amount of water you drink or what you eat; you will still make enough milk. I started to think about the other three times when I stopped nursing and why. If only I had valid information, I would have continued.
So I am here to spread the message. You CAN make enough milk for your baby and eat greasy fries and drink a Coke. You DON’T have to pump and dump when you have alcohol. Here is the truth about some of the breastfeeding misconceptions.
Small breasts don’t make enough milk.
The fact is that the amount of fatty tissue in the breast has nothing to do with milk production. Small breasts can make enough milk. Big breasts will not smother your baby. Even those who have had breast enhancements or reductions can nurse, as long as their milk ducts weren’t injured during the surgery.
I had a C-Section.
The placenta detaching from the uterine wall triggers progesterone to decrease, which makes prolactin increase. Prolactin makes the milk. It may take a day longer for milk to come in, but trust that there is colostrum there and it is enough to feed baby. If you can’t bring your baby to breast, you can hand express or start pumping to stimulate the breast to make milk.
I don’t eat healthy and don’t drink enough water.
Another myth. No matter what you eat, you can still produce milk. Milk is made in the blood, not the stomach. The prolactin hormone is not stimulated by what you eat or drink. The recommended 500 additional calories are to replenish nutrients for Mom from pregnancy, not for milk production.
I had a preemie. He/she needs formula to gain weight.
Breast milk is so unique in that it caters to what the baby needs. If Baby is born early, Mom's milk will have a higher fat content to help Baby pick up in weight. If Baby is not strong enough to latch, consider hand expressing onto a spoon or in a bottle. Pumping helps as well, but Baby and hands will always release more milk. Human milk is the best for a human baby.
I can’t have a drink, because I’ll have to pump and dump.
Biggest myth here. If you can hold your baby without dropping her, feed that baby! The amount of alcohol in your bloodstream is not enough to have an effect on your baby. If you are still concerned, wait an hour or so to feed, but do not dump the milk. Also, those alcohol test strips do not always work (they can produce false positives) – just another way to make money. Thank me later!
I’m not making enough milk.
My favorite saying is “move milk to make milk.” If you aren’t feeding the baby often, your supply will draw back, because your body thinks you do not need the milk. Your breasts are never “empty.” Let your baby lead the feeding. Do not set a timer and unlatch your baby, because it has been 15 minutes. Do not say you do not have enough milk, because your baby only fed for 5 minutes. Let your baby lead. They will not overeat or starve themselves. Watch out for hunger cues (crying is not a hunger cue; it means you missed the cues and now they are upset !). Feed your baby! I always say feed Baby as often and for as long as she wants. Also, what you pump is not an indicator of your supply. Baby will always get more milk than a machine. Your body is so magical, it knows the difference!
Lactation cookies, fenugreek and mother’s milk tea will increase my supply!
Wrong – another way to make money. There are no studies to show that these “enhancers” increase supply. I’d like to think it is the placebo effect. Like, maybe you think you found a solution, so you relax and calm down and that causes an increase in your supply the next time you pump? I don't know, but those "enhancers" do not work. They are yummy, so treat yourself, but know that you can have a successful nursing relationship without them. I mean, what did our great (x5) grandmas use before formula? They didn’t have Fenugreek pills.
I am so happy I chose to become a Certified Lactation Counselor. It is amazing what our bodies can do – we are truly magical! It was so empowering to get that information and be reassured that we are already equipped with everything we need to grow these little humans and sustain them by giving them the nutrients made specifically for them.
No milk sample is the same. Milk consistency changes to meet babies' needs. Isn’t that amazing? If Baby is ill, your milk will have antibodies to help treat the illness. Magical, right?
There are many, many more myths out there. Hopefully I hit the most common ones. If you have further questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at Brandi.Rahim@cchmc.org. Also, if you or anyone you know is pregnant or has a baby under the age of one and in need of baby items, mental health support, housing, employment or just needs a buddy for moral support with parenting, please contact Cradle Cincinnati Connections by dialing 211.
Keep calm and LATCH ON :)