Top 5 Baby Nursing Myths Exposed

Start your baby nursing adventure on the right foot by discovering the truth behind the 5 most popular infant nursing myths. It's information like this that can make the difference between a fantastic or frustrating nursing experience.

I know, because I believed them! These common misconceptions made breastfeeding difficult for me at the beginning. Give yourself a breastfeeding boost: Read (or at least skim) these articles.

{Photo by Raphael Goetter}

They are a summary of what I wished I had known years ago! These breastfeeding articles aren't centered around "my experience". They are all structured around study I've done from medical journals, physican analysis, La Leche League research, and interviews with nursing moms just like you.

You can see a list of these sources at the bottom of this page. Of course, if you'd rather flip through some physical pages, check out my breastfeeding book reviews.

Top 5 Baby Nursing Myths

Myth #1: Breastfeeding Just Happens
Myth #2: I Don't Produce Enough Milk
Myth #3: Breastfeeding is to be Endured, not Enjoyed
Myth #4: Breastfeeding is the Same with All Babies
Myth #5: Not Breastfeeding Makes Me a Bad Mother

Breastfeeding Just Happens

Baby Nursing Myth #1

{by Hoover Family Photos}

This breastfeeding myth consistently pops up as one of the most prevalent in the mythologies of motherhood.

The typical picture of the serene breastfeeding mother is assume to have happened naturally, with an "Open-Bra, Attach-Mouth" simplicity.

It is vital to understand that, when looking towards your breastfeeding experience (or perhaps already struggling in it), baby nursing is a skill that must be mastered.

Even though breast feeding is a natural form of feeding your baby, it doesn't necessarily come naturally.

Now, I know there is always an exception to this rule. I'm sure there are mothers out there who (with their infant) take to breastfeeding like a fish in water. (Those are also probably the moms who left the hospital in skinny jeans and enjoyed a 20 minute delivery. You know who you are! grumble...grumble...)

However, for most of us, it takes practice, practice, practice and knowledge, nowledge, knowledge. The articles at the bottom of this page are intended to give you a solid understanding on what you can expect as you begin your breastfeeding journey. They will also serve you when you stumble upon the inevitable breastfeeding bump-in-the-road.

I Don't Produce Enough Milk

Baby Nursing Myth #2

The common phrase "I don't make enough breastmilk" is the #1 reason why most mothers supplement or quit breastfeeding altogether in the first 3 months. Yes, sometimes that's NOT a myth. It is possible that your body is not a milk-machine producer. However, most of the time the problem is not physical. Most of the time it is more about lack of stimulation.

Side Note:

Kick Up Your Breastmilk Production

I fell for this baby nursing myth hook, line, and sinker with my first infant, Lauren. Sadly, it can easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Here's what happened to me in 2003:

Lauren seemed irritable, impatient, and unhappy on the breast (which was because of her nursing personality). I thought it meant she was not getting enough milk, so I began to supplement with a bottle of formula almost immediately (within the first 3-4 days).
She would drink an ounce of formula before finally settling down. This lead me to assume she was not getting enough milk during each baby nursing session, so I started supplementing every time she got frustrated at the breast.
The more I supplemented, the less breast stimulation I received, which caused me to produce even less milk. Because I supplemented too early, my milk was unable to reach maximum production.

Breastmilk quantity is determined by a simple equation: More Demand = More Supply. The more he is on your breast, the more your mammary glands will be stimulated to make more milk.

If your baby has a gotta-have-it-now nursing personality, (see myth #4 below) and you just can't bear 3-4 days of screaming while your milk comes in (like me), I recommend getting a supplemental nurser.

This device is simply ingenious (can you tell I'm a big fan?). It provides extra formula to your baby while he is on your breast. It's a win-win. He gets a little extra food NOW, and you get the stimulation you need to get your milk at full-capacity as soon as possible. Click here to see what a supplemental nurser looks like.

Breastfeeding is to Be Endured, Not Enjoyed

Baby Nursing Myth #3

There should be no sustained pain in the nipple, areola, or breast while your infant is feeding. There will probably be slight pain at the very beginning, as your nipple gets used to being stretched WAAAY out. This pain occurs only in the first 1-2 minutes of nursing, and will eventually fade away as your nipples form protective calluses.

If there is sustained pain, or if your nipples are cracked or bleeding (been there, done that too), your baby has not latched on correctly. She will need to be repositioned.

Nursing with bruised or cracked nipples is extremely painful. I guess there really is a silver lining with every cloud! If I hadn't gone through that awful experience, I wouldn't have these great healing tips to share with you!

Side Note:

5 Breastfeeing Challenges You CAN Overcome

If you find your breasts are tender after baby nursing, apply an ice pack or crushed ice in a towel for a few minutes. This soreness will pass as your breasts become used to their newly-found purpose.

Other times you may feel brief pain or ache are...

when let-down occurs
when the breast begins to refill with milk
if the breasts become engorged

These circumstances are occasional. Again, there should be no sustained pain with breastfeeding. Other than the initial discomfort of the nipple being stretched, you should not have any pain. After a few weeks, even that initial pain will disappear.

Breastfeeding is the Same with All Babies

Baby Nursing Myth #4

After Lauren (my oldest) was born, I consistently marveled at how quickly her distinctive personality shined through. (I have no idea why this was a surprise to me...after all, she is a new human being!)

This was not a kitten, puppy, or little doll. This was a person who had OPINIONS. In Lauren's case, the fact she had to wait 3-4 days for the REAL milk to come in was infuriating to her (who wants that colostrum stuff, anyway?). Again, this was an example of why the supplemental nurser was a must-have for continued successful breastfeeding.

Every baby nurses differently. (My second, Elena, is a perfect testimony of that!) Your baby nursing skills will need to be adjusted after every birth. No more comparing yourself to the Nursing Queen down the street!

Learn how to identify your infant's nursing temperament. It will help you understand, early on, why he's screaming. This will lower your frustration, which will help your milk flow faster, which will placate your Barracuda, which will make you more comfortable...and so on and so forth.

Side Note:

What Newborn Nursing Personality is Your Infant?

Not Breastfeeding Makes You a Bad Mother

Baby Nursing Myth #5

{Photo by timtom.ch}

Although there are many wonderful benefits to breastfeeding, (even a few months can have a huge impact) sometimes breastfeeding just isn't feasible or can even be harmful to your infant.

Setting up your breastmilk supply requires a large up-front time commitment. You have to be willing to be a human pacifier for the first week or so.

Some life-situations can make that level of commitment difficult, if not impossible. If you have multiple children and don't feel you can "own" all the feedings by yourself, exclusive breastfeeding may not be for you. Unless you decide to pump or supplement later on, you are the bottle and every feeding will be yours.

You may go back to work in an environment that isn't supportive of breastfeeding. Or perhaps you're dealing with cancer or some other disease that leaves you weak and fatigued. Breast feeding could wipe you out even further, hurting your ability to care for your infant in other ways.

In some health situations it is better for the mother not to breastfeed.

Serious infections: tuberculosis, HIV, AIDS or hepatitis in the mother
Serious illnesses such as kidney or heart problems in the mother
Certain medications taken by the mother for chronic conditions

In rare circumstances, the infant may have an allergic reaction to breastmilk, and not be able to digest it. Also, if the baby has a cleft lip or palate, getting a good latch onto the areola can be difficult. Luckily, a simple surgery can fix this problem.

The decision to breastfeed or not is your choice. Breast feeding has a learning hill that will take time to climb. In the crazy-life of the 21st Century, it may not be possible for you. Weigh the pros and cons before deciding what's best for you and your infant.

Side Note:

The Simple Benefits of Breastfeeding

The second, Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Feeding: A Fair Analysis is just that: a fair analysis. I've done both, so I've no "agenda" to push. Both choices have pros and cons. I attempt to (humorously) share those positions so you can make your own, informed, decisions.

A successful baby nursing experience is largely dependent on having the correct information and the right expectations. Debunking these myths is the first step in that success.

By knowing more, you will fear less. Less fear translates into more confidence. Confidence you will use to coast past those first difficult weeks and sail you into a comfortable breastfeeding routine.

Research Sources

Complete Book of Pregnancy, and Baby's First Year, Mayo Clinic.

Complete Book of Baby and Child Care, Focus on the Family

Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, The American Academy of Pediatrics

An Easy Guide to Breastfeeding, US Department of Health and Human Services

"Is Your Baby Getting Enough Breastmilk?" by Jan Barger and Marsha Walker

Beyond Birth, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare

Breastfeeding: A Guide to Nourishing Your Baby, The StayWell Company

A Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding, The American Academy of Pediatrics

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Photos used on this page were found at www.flickr.com and were used with permission and according to guidelines.

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