4 Common Breastfeeding Myths, Debunked!

Featured Article, Food and Nutrition, Growth and Development
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Myth #1: A large percentage of our population just can’t make enough milk to fully nourish their babies.

Fact: Women’s bodies were made to breastfeed, and our species has survived for hundreds of thousands of years this way. It is actually uncommon for a mom to carry a pregnancy, deliver a baby and then just not be able to feed it. There are some moms who may have issues with milk supply, but most of the time it is due to inaccurate advice to supplement with formula because of a “perceived” low supply issue instead of a real supply issue.

Myth #2: If my mom or sister couldn’t breastfeed, I won’t be able to breastfeed either.

Fact: Although the ability to breastfeed can have a genetic factor, this is usually not the case. Most of the time the reason that the mom or sister couldn’t breastfeed is due to non-medical reasons such as misinformation or assumptions about their bodies’ abilities to make enough milk.

Myth #3:  You must consume the perfect diet and maintain a very active lifestyle to make good milk and plenty of it.

Fact: If having the perfect diet, enough rest, not too much stress, etc., were major factors in your body’s ability to feed your baby, then our species would have died off long ago. People throughout history have lived through some of the most difficult situations and still were able to feed. Although being healthy does make breastfeeding easier, it is not critical in making enough or “quality” milk. A good diet will keep you healthy, but regardless of what you are eating, your milk is rarely affected except in the most extreme cases.

Myth #4:  Breastfeeding will change the shape of your breasts.

Fact: Breastfeeding itself is not the only culprit. Other factors that can change your breast appearance more than breastfeeding includes body mass index, age, history of smoking, large pre-pregnancy breast size and number of pregnancies.

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