MYTHS ON BREASTFEEDING, BUSTED!

               

            Breastfeeding is a natural occurrence for mothers and their newborns. Yet, society has come up with quite a number of myths that may have made mothers within and across countries hesitant and anxious in feeding their babies from their breasts. Thus, these are some of the myths on breastfeeding that we should make clear and prove as false. Busted! 

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          1. “I have small breasts. I might not have enough milk to produce for my child.”

                BUSTED! The size of one’s breasts does not indicate amount of breast milk produced! Instead of considering breast size, the amount of milk-producing breast tissues of women matters more in its influence to the volume of human milk. The more breast tissues there are, the greater the amount of human milk that is produced.

2.  “I can’t breastfeed again because I stopped.”

                BUSTED! It is still possible for mothers to breastfeed again once they have stopped, though this might take more effort. The frequency of breastfeeding is directly proportional to the amount of milk produced.

3. “I haven’t washed! I cannot breastfeed anymore!”

                BUSTED! The breastmilk, particularly the colostrum, contains natural substances which gives protection to newborns from infection. The colostrum refers to the “first, thick yellowish fluid that comes out from the second to the fifth day after delivery”. Its antibodies provide immunity to infants, and its being a mild laxative also makes it capable of cleaning out the babies’ digestive organs.

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4. Breastfeeding is painful.

                BUSTED! Breastfeeding may be painful especially for some women, but this can just be caused by incorrect positioning of the baby as he or she suckles. There is a concept of “Proper Latching” wherein the baby needs to put the entire nipple and the large part of the areola onto his or her mouth for a less painful and better milk transfer. This proper latching would also trigger the oxytocin hormone more, which is responsible for the stimulation and ejection of milk. Thus, it makes the milk flow better.

5. “I should breastfeed alternately because my breasts contain different properties!”

                Busted! The idea that one breast would contain food such as rice or bread, while the other breasts would contain water, is false. The breastmilk has the same properties and nutrients, whether they come from the left or the right breast.

6.  “A mother should not breastfeed when she is exposed to the sun! The milk will turn too hot, salty, or sour, and may cause illness to the baby!”

                BUSTED! The breastmilk has a stable temperature inside the mothers’ breasts. Moreover, it does not change in terms of composition upon exposure to the sun.

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              As humans, we have the right to be informed! Let us exercise that right, and not be fooled by misinformation or lack of information. To all the future mothers, as well as to the future husbands who could provide support to their wives, let us make ourselves aware of natural human phenomena such as breastfeeding. After all, breastfeeding is the best for babies up to two years and beyond. Promote breastfeeding! Promote life! J

REFERENCES:

        Byrd-Bredbenner, C. M. (2012). Wardlaw's Perspectives in Nutrition. US: McGraw Hill Higher Education.

       de Guzman, M. P. (1996). Basic Nutrition for Filipinos (4th ed.). Manila, Philippines: Merriam & Webster Bookstore, Inc.

       International Breastfeeding Centre (2006). Myths of Breastfeeding. Retrieved 2014: http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&id=27:myths-of-breastfeeding&Itemid=17