Common Myths & Facts About Breastfeeding

Dr.Minakshi Fullara , 3 mins read

Breastfeeding is altogether a new journey for mothers, especially for first-time mothers. It is not the same experience for everyone and can be challenging sometimes. Meanwhile, the information about breastfeeding all around further aggravates the challenges because of many misleading facts. Thus, it’s important for you to understand the common myths and facts about breastfeeding so you know what’s right and what’s wrong. Here, we’ve got you covered.

The body loses shape or tends to gain weight after breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding burns between 500 to 600 calories a day. This means some moms may end up losing weight without any additional exercise.

Breast milk is just watery in texture and might not help the baby gain weight.
Breast milk is a living substance that contains live cells, including stem cells, which become other body cell types like brain, heart, kidney, or bone tissue.

The baby may not get adequate nutrition with just breast milk. They may keep losing weight and may look lean built and weak.
Breast milk contains antibodies and live white blood cells that help your baby fight against infection. When you or your baby are sick, the amount of these cells in your breast milk increases.

Honey is the first thing as per rituals the baby should consume. The quantity of colostrum produced is too little to fill my baby's tummy.
Colostrum (your first milk) contains special proteins that coat your baby's intestinal tract to protect it from harmful bacteria right from the start.

Breastfeeding is an exhausting process.
Your brain releases prolactin and oxytocin hormones during breastfeeding, which help you bond with the baby and ease those normal feelings of stress and anxiety.

Breastmilk colour doesn't look normal, it may be unsafe for the baby.
Breast milk is not always white. It can be blue, green, yellow (ahem-gold), pink or orange depending on what you eat or drink. Don't worry, it's OK for the baby.

Small breasts produce less amount of milk.
The amount of breast milk you are able to produce has nothing to do with your breast size. A mom with small breasts can have just as much (or more) milk-making tissues as a mom with large breasts.

I may not be producing enough breast milk for my newborn baby.
Your breast milk changes constantly to meet the needs of your growing baby. This happens from month-to-month, throughout the week, day-to-day, and even throughout a single feeding.

Breastfeeding has only given me back pain, and no visible benefits.
Mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, and postpartum depression. The longer a woman breastfeeds in her lifetime, the more protection she receives.

Exclusive breastfeeding is difficult so adding formula feed is necessary.
Breastfeeding lowers your baby's risk of common childhood illnesses, including ear infections, respiratory infections, and gastroenteritis. For preterm infants, the mother's own milk provides some protection from necrotising enterocolitis, infection, and less severe retinopathy of prematurity.

My baby is premature and my milk is not enough to foster their strength. They will need formula feed to recover back.
Moms of preemies have breast milk with more protein, fat, and other minerals for bone and brain growth as well as the most protective factors to prevent illness and infection.

Don’t let any myth come in between your breastfeeding journey. Consult our experts today to get answers to all your doubts and questions related to breastfeeding.