By Sr Teresa Hayward (RM, RN, Lactation consultant, Infant & Paediatric Nutritionist, Baby Sleep consultant)
Parenting information is often given and spread by well meaning family and friends, but so is misinformation. Often new parents make assumptions about a situation that is totally incorrect because of this misinformation. There are a lot of mistaken beliefs related to babies and especially breastfeeding
Here are some of the myths that are out there and spread by both family, friends and even by doctors and nurses with minimal training in Breastfeeding.
1. Women instinctively know how to breastfeed
FALSE. Moms often assume breastfeeding will come naturally and will be easy, but this is rarely the case. Breastfeeding comes instinctively to babies, however for moms breastfeeding is a learned skill. It is a skill that should not be learnt though trial and error, but rather learnt from others with knowledge and experience in breastfeeding, such a lactation consultant.
2. Doctors know about Breastfeeding
FALSE. Very few doctors see breastfeeding relevant to their professional role, and have little to no education in breastfeeding. They have very limited understanding of the practical aspects of helping a mom to overcome breastfeeding difficulties. Unfortunately, it often the doctors who are providing moms with misinformation, and damaging breastfeeding, which often leads to unnecessary formula being used.
3. You can’t overfeed a breastfed baby
FALSE. Breastfeeding moms are frequently being told that they cant overfeed a breastfed baby, but this is just not true. Anyone can overfeed. If your baby is gaining weight and is happy, content and comfortable then they are not overfed, but as soon as your baby is no longer happy, content, and is uncomfortable and gaining large amounts of weight, they are overfeeding. A breastfed baby should not have reflux, cramps, constipation, bringing up milk or any other discomfort, as your milk is designed specifically for your baby. This is true sign of overfeeding and can be sorted by assessing the method of feeding.
4. A baby will come off the breast when he has finished feeding or is full
NOT ALWAYS. Moms are often told that baby will stop drinking when they are full, but this does not always happen. For many babies the need to suck goes beyond the need for food. Some babies love to sleep in their mom’s arms with the nipple in their mouth and will remain latched for hours if you allow them. Often when mom tries to unlatch, they look for the nipple again, and this makes moms question their supply.
5. Irritable infant behaviour is due to low milk supply
RARELY. Most moms at some stage will be concerned about their milk supply at some stage of their breastfeeding journey. When face with a difficult, irritable baby, moms often worry that their milk supply has dropped. If your baby is gaining weight and thriving, then this wont be the case
The number one reason why breastfed babies are given formula is due to the mistaken assumption that a baby’s irritability or fussiness is a sign of hunger. If this assumption is incorrect, it will persist on formula or even get worse.
6. Bottlefeeding is easier than breastfeeding
FALSE. Although it requires less work for a baby to suck from a bottle than from the breast, it does not mean that feeding is easier and problem free. This is often when your problems start, as finding a formula that suits your baby, can be difficult. Formula fed babies experience more feeding problems than breastfed babies do, due to the fact that breastmilk is designed specifically for them
7. Formula is as good as breastmilk
FALSE. There are over 100 different nutrients, hormones, enzymes and disease-fighting compounds in human milk, all in perfect balance to meet a baby;s needs. Although infant formula provides a nutritionally balanced food to encourage healthy baby growth, formula will never be designed specifically for one baby, but rather an average of babies
8. A reflux baby will do better on formula than breastmilk
FALSE. Reflux affect formula and breastfed babies, but formula fed babies more. Reflux is generally caused from overfeeding, and due to young babies limited ability to control the flow of milk from an artificial nipple, there is an increased risk of reflux
9. Colicky behavoiur is due to something mom has eaten
RARELY. Although the possibility of a baby developing gastric symptoms due to a food or milk intolerance to something mom has eaten exists, it is very rare and way down on the list of possible causes for colic. Rather look at some of the other causes of colic before blaming moms milk
10. If baby is lactose intolerant, they need to be weaned off of breast
FALSE. It is extremely rate for a baby to born with lactose intolerance or milk protein allergy or to develop it on breastmilk. They can however have a sensitivity to it.
Lactose overload (functional lactase deficiency), which is a relatively common condition for breastfed infants in the early weeks and months, is often misdiagnosed as lactose intolerance and milk protein allergy. Breastfeeding should be continued as gastric symptoms can be reduced with simple feeding management. It is extremely rare that a baby has a milk protein allergy on Breastmilk as we are not cows so breastmilk is not dairy based
As both a Lactation consultant and a Infant feeding consultant, I am always available to assist moms in getting their babies feeding right. A consult is 30min and costs R350. Contact me on 0824009501. I do submit to most Medical aids.
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