10
Breastfeeding
Myths
“Breastfeeding is natural.” Sound familiar?
If you assume that breastfeeding is natural, it
doesn’t take a leap of faith to accept that breastfeeding must be easy.
Why, then, do so many mothers describe
breastfeeding as hard? In reality, making milk
is natural, but breastfeeding is a skill that babies
(and moms) must learn. Some babies enter this
world knowing just what to do, but most need
a bit of practice. Knowing that myths masquerading as facts can undermine the success of
even the most ardent mom, we aim to separate
fact from fiction regarding the 10 most common myths.
1. “Engorgement is normal.”
It’s easy to confuse breast fullness—which is
normal—with breast engorgement, which can
hint at a problem that will only worsen if ignored.
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After your baby is born, your blood carries the
fluid and nutrients needed for milk production
to your breasts, causing your breasts to swell.
Frequent breastfeeding or milk expression (by
hand or with a pump) relieves the swelling and
softens the breasts. If feedings are infrequent,
delayed, or missed, your breasts can overfill
and engorgement can occur. Classic signs of
engorgement include swollen, hot, painful
|by Amy Spangler
RN, IBCLC
breasts and a low-grade fever (less than 100°F
or 37.7°C).
You can prevent engorgement by breastfeeding
as soon as possible after birth; breastfeeding
“on request,” in response to your baby’s first
signs of hunger (sucking on fingers or fists)
rather than on a strict schedule; breastfeeding
at least 8–12 times in each 24 hours; and hand
expressing or pumping to relieve fullness.
2. “Pain is normal.”
Many new mothers describe breastfeeding as
“painful” or “uncomfortable,” but the feeling
should occur only at the start of a feeding and
last only a few seconds. Once a mother gets
accustomed (after several days or weeks) to the
stretching sensation that occurs when her baby
latches on, breastfeeding will cease to hurt.
If the pain persists throughout the feeding, it can
signal a poor latch. Trying to breastfeed “through
the pain” will only result in a still-hungry baby
and a damaged nipple. Break the suction by
sliding your finger into the corner of your baby’s
mouth, remove your baby from the breast, and
try again. Mothers who are unable to achieve a
pain-free latch are urged to get help from someone trained to help moms and babies breastfeed,
such as an international board certified lactation
consultant (IBCLC).