Breastfeeding has developed a lot of contradictory information. Does feeding have to mean pain and chapped nipples? Do I need to start feeding my baby after 6 months of age? Which lactation claims are true and which shouldn't be worried?
- Breastfeeding must hurt.
Not true - breastfeeding hurts mainly when the baby sucks without covering the nipple with his mouth. To stop the pain, it is usually enough to change the way you attach your baby to the breast. If you have a problem with this, ask your midwife for help or go to a lactation clinic. If, despite the correct positioning of the baby, the breasts still hurt, the nipple disease may be the cause, and then specialist treatment is required.
When giving the breast to the baby, support the breast with your hand so that the thumb and four fingers form a U-shape. After feeding, hold the baby vertically for a few minutes.
- Milk can be extracted from the breast and stored in the refrigerator.
True - at room temperature, milk can stand for several hours, in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, and it can be kept in the freezer for up to about a year.
- Every breastfeeding mother must go on a diet.
That's not true - feeding your baby requires rational and he althy eating, but if your baby doesn't have allergies or colic, there's no reason why mom should go on a diet and not eat what she wants.
- Lactation can be stimulated by drinking special herbal teas every day.
True - the main ingredient of milk-propelling herbs sold in pharmacies is fennel - its effect on enhancing lactation has been known for a long time. Lactation is also stimulated by drinking teas based on anise and caraway. In turn, the Bavarian - contrary to popular opinion - does not have any unusual properties here.
- Every time the baby finishes suckling, the rest of the milk must be emptied from the breasts so that it does not spoil.
Not true - the breasts produce milk on an ongoing basis while the baby sucks. Emptying pedestrians after feeding the baby causes overproduction of milk - this in turn can lead to overfilling the breasts and painful stagnation of food.
- Only one child can be fedbreastfeeding.
True - each breast is able to produce the necessary amount of milk separately. This feature is important for women who have given birth to twins or for mothers who have had a breast amputation.
The suckling baby should have a nipple and a large part of the areola in its mouth.
- To have enough milk, you need to drink plenty of water.
Not true - excessive amounts of fluids may even inhibit milk production, so you should not drink as much as you want. When you suspect that there is not enough food, first of all, you need to go to a lactation clinic for help.
- You need to drink sage infusion to stop lactation.
True - sage infusion is recommended for women who want to slowly reduce lactation. However, it can be drunk for no more than 10 days. Note: sage does not help with the so-called infiltration of milk, which most often occurs on the 2nd-6th day after childbirth. It is worth knowing that the breast pads protect the bra against dirt.
If a mom has an infection, she should continue to feed her baby.
- The milk should be white, then you know that the woman is he althy.
Not true - the color of milk depends on the stage of lactation: milk may be light beige or even light brown (this is the color of colostrum, i.e. the food appearing right after giving birth). The color of the milk also depends on the feeding phase: immediately after attaching the baby to the breast, the milk is watery and almost translucent, then it turns yellow-white, and at the end of the feeding it has a yellowish tinge.
The sound of your baby swallowing milk is correct.
What not to eat while breastfeeding?
- To ease the pain of overfilled breasts, you can put white cabbage leaves on them.
True - the cabbage leaves must first be cooled in the refrigerator, and then lightly crushed, e.g. with a pestle. Such a compress brings pga to the breasts and is anti-inflammatory. If the nipples are painful, you can also lubricate them with your own food and lanolin creams.
- A nursing woman should not massage her breasts in order to stimulate milk production.
True - any strong pressure and massage of the breasts during lactation is harmful because it can damage the alveoli and milk ducts. This, in turn, may result in inflammation of the breasts and very painful stagnation of food. Then a visit to the doctor will be necessary. If the breasts are painful and swollen, use cold compresses until you see a doctor.
A nursing mother should wash her breasts 1-2 times a day.
- After one year of breastfeeding, milk is less valuable.
Not true - breast milk is wholesome throughout the lactation period, but the older child should have a richer diet.
- A breastfed child should be supplemented with tea in the summer.
Not true - the composition of the milk adjusts to the weather: when it is warm, it contains more water (the same is true in winter, when radiators heat the house). Thanks to this, the toddler not only feels satisfied, but also does not feel thirsty.
- You must not drink fruit compotes with stones throughout the period of breastfeeding.
True - whole cherries or plums compotes (with seeds) may contain small amounts of Prussian acid. This amount will not hurt mom, but it is not recommended for a baby. Compotes prepared from pitted fruit are allowed.
- It is normal for a woman who is breastfeeding to have damaged nipples.
Not true - torn or cracked nipples indicate that the baby is suckling badly or is not attached correctly. Remember, a suckling baby should have a nipple and a large part of the areola in its mouth.
To avoid food stagnation, put your baby to your breast often (8-10 times a day).
- The amount of milk produced does not depend on the size of the breast.
True - the size of the breasts does not matter because milk is produced by the mammary glands. Larger breasts are just more fatty tissue that is not involved in the production of milk.
- If a woman becomes pregnant while breastfeeding, she must wean her baby from the breast as he may miscarry.
Not true - breastfeeding can be continued if the pregnancy is not in danger. But around the 5th month of pregnancy, the taste of milk changes under the influence of hormones and the baby usually gives up sucking on the breast by itself. Note: Nipples in pregnancy are tender and breastfeeding can be painful.
- Mother's milk meets all the needs of a child up to 6 months old.
True - then you have to gradually expand your child's diet by adding fruit, cooked vegetables, meat.
What does breastfeeding give your baby?
"M jak mama" monthly