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Top 5 Baby Nursing Myths Exposed

Start your baby nursing adventure on the right foot by discovering the truth behind the 5 most popular newborn nursing myths.

It's information like this that can make the difference between a fantastic or frustrating nursing experience.

Give yourself a breastfeeding boost: Read (or at least skim) these articles. The information here is succinct and well-researched. The breastfeeding articles combine medical journals, research, and experience to easily convey all you need to know about breastfeeding.

You can see a list of these sources here. Of course, if you have your heart set on purchasing breastfeeding books, I've compiled a list of the best books for you to browse.

Top 5 Baby Nursing Myths


IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: Some of the articles referenced below may not be hyperlinked. This is because they have not been uploaded and placed online yet. Take heart! They are on the sidelines, waiting for their chance in the arena. I'm uploading pages as fast as I can!

Signing up for the Essential Infant Blog will notify you when the articles are available for viewing. Or, you can subscribe to The Merry Mother and receive a notice at the beginning of the month of what pages were added that month.

Thanks for your patience!


Breastfeeding Just Happens

Baby Nursing Myth #1

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

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

Of course, 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 out of water. (Those are also probably the moms who left the hospital in skinny jeans and enjoyed a 20 minute delivery).

However, for most of us, it takes practice, practice, practice and knowledge, knowledge, knowledge. The articles found below 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.

Additional Articles to Help


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. Other than in rare circumstances, your body will produce enough milk to satisfy your infant.

Sadly, believing this myth can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Consider this scenario:

    Your baby seems irritable, impatient, and unhappy on the breast (which may be because of his personality). You think it means he's not getting enough milk so you begin to supplement early on (in the first 3-4 days).

    He drinks an ounce of formula and settles down. This leads you to assume he is not getting enough milk from you, so you begin supplementing every time he gets frustrated at the breast. The more you supplement, the less breast stimulation you will receive, the less breast milk you will produce.

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, (find out here) you may find a supplemental nurser to be helpful. This amazing device will provide supplemental formula to him while he is on the breast. It's a win-win! He gets his food NOW, and you get the stimulation you need to make supplementing later unnecessary.

Additional Articles to Help


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 should occur only in the first 1-2 minutes of nursing, and will eventually fade away altogether as your nipples form protective calluses.

If there is sustained pain, or if your nipples are cracked or bleeding, your baby has not latched on correctly. She will need to be repositioned. (Nursing with bruised or cracked nipples is extremely painful. < Here are some tips to help you heal faster.

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 new routine.

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

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 anticipate any pain. After a few weeks, even that initial pain will disappear.

Additional Articles to Help


After Lauren (my oldest) was born, one of the stupidly-shocking things I consistently marvelled at was how quickly her distinctive personality shined through.

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?).

In hindsight, I wish I had the use of a supplemental nurser! I'm sure it would have helped a lot in those early frustrating days.

Every baby nurses differently. 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 baby's nursing temperament. It will help you understand, early on, why he's screaming - lowering your frustration, which will help your milk flow faster.

Additional Articles to Help


Although there are many wonderful benefits to breastfeeding, (even a few months can have a huge impact) sometimes breastfeeding isn't feasible or even 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, breastfeeding may not be for you. Unless you decide to pump, 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. Breastfeeding 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. Breastfeeding has a learning curve that takes time to get over. 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.

Additional Articles to Help



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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.


IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: Some of the articles referenced below may not be hyperlinked. This is because they have not been uploaded and placed online yet. Take heart! They are on the sidelines, waiting for their chance in the arena. I'm uploading pages as fast as I can!

Signing up for the Essential Infant Blog will notify you when the articles are available for viewing. Or, you can subscribe to The Merry Mother and receive a notice at the beginning of the month of what pages were added that month.

Thanks for your patience!


Share Your Thoughts



Related Baby Nursing Articles


General Newborn Nursing Information

Baby Breast Feeding Steps and Tips

All About Breastmilk

Breastfeeding Situations

  • Breastfeeding Questions About Health Issues
  • Breastfeeding Tips for Working Moms
  • Breastfeeding While Pregnant
  • Birth Control and Breastfeeding: Do's and Don'ts
  • Is Smoking While Breastfeeding Okay?
  • Is Drinking Alcohol While Breastfeeding Okay?
  • Mixing Breast Feeding and Medication: The Rules
  • Breast Feeding with Implants

Baby Nursing Equipment

  • The Perfect Breast Feeding Pump for You
  • The Ideal Baby Nursing Pillow (and other Helpful Breast Feeding Accessories)
  • A Breastfeeding Style All Your Own: Classy yet Comfy

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


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

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