Common Breastfeeding Myths

3 days is quick for your milk to come in after a section, I had Spencer on a Monday morning and didn't get any milk till the Friday afternoon.

I just know I had an oversupply cos of what it was doing to his rear end and the engorgement. The spraying though has calmed down so would make sense that the two would be related but I don't actually know.

melnel wrote: I dont think I saw "if you have a c-section you cant breastfeed". I was so worried I wasnt going to be able to feed as I had a section, didnt get skin to skin with Jake for over 2 hours and his tummy was so full of mucus he would latch on and suck for a couple of seconds and go back to sleep. With lots of hard work for the first 3 days of waking for feeding, hand expressing and then pumping every 3 hours my milk did come in.. phew. I was also told that leaking does not mean you have oversupply just an active letdown.. is this true?

yep. True.

melnel wrote: I was also told that leaking does not mean you have oversupply just an active letdown.. is this true?

You can have one and not the other but they usually go hand in hand. I had both and contrary to what people might think oversupply is not fun. LOL My overactive letdown didn't settle until about 11 months (it usually only lasts for 12 weeks or so) and my oversupply problem was around for about 8 months.

These are the ones I posted on another site, some will already have been mentioned:

BF is hard (okay so it's not always "easy" but easier than faffing with formula, especially at 2am)
Bubs is feeding frequently so I don’t have enough milk
I have a hungry baby so I need to top up with formula
My breasts are empty and need time to “refill”
My baby is fussy at the breast I must not have enough milk
I didn’t have any milk for 4 days so had to give formula because bubs was starving
I didn't leak milk/colostrum during pregnancy so I might not be able to do it
Bubs isn’t putting on a lot of weight, I must not have enough milk or the "quality" isn't good enough
Pumping output is indicative of supply
I can only pump 20ml after 40 minutes, I must not have enough milk
I have small/large breasts so can't
BF isn't painful(okay so maybe in the beginning but I think we all agree that few of us actually DON"T experience pain at first before going on to relatively pain free)
BF and FF are interchangeable and compatible (this of course is not usually the case)
If you have thrush or mastitis you must stop feeding
There is no point breastfeeding after 12 months because your milk turns to water and has no nutritional benefit for the toddler
Boys can not be solely breastfed as they drink way more than girls.... boys need formula.
You can't breast feed while pregnant
Breastfeeding toddlers encourage over dependancy
BF is demanding (What's demanding about sitting down on the sofa, lying in bed, having a drink in a cafe and feeding bubs, which you are kind of "forced" to do if you are bf?)

thats interesting about the leaking and active let down. I leaked HEAPS at the beginning, had a very sore let down and a HUGE supply (never been an issue for me). Things settled down (as they do) and recently the little monkey has been feeding like crazy (not sure of the cause, thats another post, although it seems very much like a good ol growth spurt now I think about it). Anyway...the result....we are leaking HEAPS with every feed now. Oh joy ! little monkey has increased mummy's supply. So has he also stimulated more let down?

cuppatea wrote: 3 days is quick for your milk to come in after a section, I had Spencer on a Monday morning and didn't get any milk till the Friday afternoon. I think all the expressing helped, I was basically feeding and expressing for 2 hours and then sleeping for 1 hour and getting up and doing it all again! I just know I had an oversupply cos of what it was doing to his rear end and the engorgement. The spraying though has calmed down so would make sense that the two would be related but I don't actually know.

What does it do to their bottom when you have oversupply?

Here are some myths that I often come across...

You are a bad mother if you don't breastfeed

If it hurts, you are not doing it correctly

Formula fed children are less intelligent (this myth is based on out-of-date research on old fashioned formula in the days before it was fortified with DHA, neucleotides and zinc)

Bottle feeding is lots of faffing around (it takes 10 minutes to feed a baby with a bottle versus 25-40 for a full breastfeed - of course every baby is different)
BTW it takes DH just 10 minutes at the end of each day to prepare all the bottles for the next 24 hours and it takes under a minute to warm the bottle prior to feeding.

We can help women by being breastfeeding Nazis and forcing them to breastfeed even if they feel that it is not right for them. All the stress that that this creates for the mother and child is worth it.



Here are some breastfeeding facts...

If you publicly breastfeed lots of people will be disgusted by you and think they have the right to judge you. If you publicly feed your child formula lots of people will be disgusted and think they have the right to judge you.

Whilst not for everyone, breastfeeding is a beautiful experience for most women.

Although it might not always seem like it - there are lots of people who are compassionate and non-judgmental.

Edited by HeyJude

belindajane wrote: HeyJude wrote: Here are some myths that I often come across... Bottle feeding is lots of faffing around (it takes 10 minutes to feed a baby with a bottle versus 25-40 for a full breastfeed - of course every baby is different) Miss L feeds for 10 or so mins ... on the boob

Yep, never had longer than 10minutes.. usually its only 3-6minutes these days ETA on the boob that is..

Edited by anna_bana

HeyJude wrote: Here are some myths that I often come across... You are a bad mother if you don't breastfeed If it hurts, you are not doing it correctly Formula fed children are less intelligent (this myth is based on out-of-date research on old fashioned formula in the days before it was fortified with DHA, neucleotides and zinc) Bottle feeding is lots of faffing around (it takes 10 minutes to feed a baby with a bottle versus 25-40 for a full breastfeed - of course every baby is different) BTW it takes DH just 10 minutes at the end of each day to prepare all the bottles for the next 24 hours and it takes under a minute to warm the bottle prior to feeding. We can help women by being breastfeeding Nazis and forcing them to breastfeed even if they feel that it is not right for them. All the stress that that this creates for the mother and child is worth it. Here are some breastfeeding facts... If you publicly breastfeed lots of people will be disgusted by you and think they have the right to judge you. If you publicly feed your child formula lots of people will be disgusted and think they have the right to judge you. Whilst not for everyone, breastfeeding is a beautiful experience for most women. Although it might not always seem like it - there are lots of people who are compassionate and non-judgmental.

Thanks for your positive feelgood vibes in our breastfeeding thread.

If you would like to get a bee in your bonnet over "brestfeeding Nazis" I suggest you start a new thread elsewhere.

This thread is to help dispel some of the common myths over breastfeeding to help mums when they start out as they get alot of misunformation and myths.

I am PAID to help mothers with breastfeeding, so yeah, I guess narrow minded folk might think I am a BF Nazi, however, In my work, I also help women to wean and formula feed as well. No judgement, just help and correct information regarding their CHOICE.

I have spent alot of time doing study and reserch and have some qualifications in this field, and am registered and certified.

I am pleased you are happy with your choice, but we are not "bashing the bottle" in here, so please don't bash the breast. This thread was started for world breastfeeding week, not to annoy or offend bottlefeeders.

For the record, I have been a bottle feeder also, so yes, I can speak from both sides of the couch.

Don't even get me started.

Just to add, I am a FF and will be with this one but have really enjoyed reading this thread and hope that in the end it makes me alot more supportive etc of those around me who do BF. Its also great to be "educated" on the myths so I am not one of the people helping to spread them!

Well done for this thread - even if I was a little concerned that the breastfeeding section was here to stay

HeyJude - there is a bottle feeding thread that you jump in on as there are heaps of people in there who feel the same us you re society and being judged.

HeyJude said:

"If you publicly breastfeed lots of people will be disgusted by you and think they have the right to judge you. If you publicly feed your child formula lots of people will be disgusted and think they have the right to judge you."

I haven't actually had any nasty comments or sideways looks re: me feeding my 5 month old in public but I think If anyone finds my breast feeding my baby in public disgusting, they should just get over it! This is 2009 not 1959. Switch on the telly to C4 and you will see music videos way more offensive than a 5 second flash of my nipple! People seem more bothered by my buggy being in the way in cafes than by my tits, lol!



Edited by Hope