There are many misconceptions and "old wives tales" about breastfeeding. Sorting through each statement offered up by your mother or grandmother may seem hopeless, and some advice is still controversial, but learning as much as you can about nursing can help you understand what is true and what is not. And the more you learn, the more you can help dispel myths the next time a friend or family member encourages something they have heard or read.
Here are some common myths and their factual counterparts, followed by a link to a more detailed explaination:
· You need large breasts to breastfeed.
Breast size has nothing to do with the amount of milk you can produce. I was told I had an over abundant milk supply while barely fitting into a B cup during nursing. A woman with very large breasts does not necessarily make more milk than a woman with small breasts. Breast size is determined by fat tissue, not by the milk ducts inside your breasts, and fat tissue does not make milk! See this for more details.
· You can't breastfeed if you have inverted or flat nipples.
Millions of women (including myself) have successfully breastfed with inverted or flat nipples. The key to success is preparation (in the form of breast shells) during the last few weeks of pregnancy and proper latch-on. Patience and practice also come in very handy for women with these types of nipples. Help from LLLI and a lactation consultant can be very beneficial. See this for more details.
· You are not making enough milk if your breasts feel soft.
About two to three months into the nursing relationship, your breasts may suddenly feel less full. Many women perceive this as a loss of milk or slowing in milk production, but this generally means your milk supply has been well established because your breasts have been stimulated into making just the right amount of milk for your baby. See this for more details.
· You will spoil your baby if you nurse on cue (when baby is hungry).
Although there are still pediatricians who recommend feeding on a schedule, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends feeding your baby on "demand". The reason for this is simple. You and your baby work as partners in building the milk supply that will offer proper nourishment. Your baby needs to stimulate your breasts to make enough milk to exactly meet his feeding needs. If you restrict your baby to a schedule based on time, your milk supply may not be able to keep up with the normal growth spurt demands your baby's body goes through. See this and this for more details.
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