Breastfeeding is a natural gesture which nevertheless raises a multitude of questions and preconceived ideas! Between the well-intentioned advice from those around them and contradictory information found on the internet, young mothers often find themselves lost in the face of this flood of beliefs. Today we are going disentangle the true from the false on the most stubborn myths around breastfeeding, to allow you to approach this unique experience with complete peace of mind !
Breastfeeding for just a few days is useless 1️⃣
FAKE❌
Natural breastfeeding will be always beneficial for your child, whatever the duration during which you practice it!
Too many women quickly become discouraged, or do not see the need to implement this breastfeeding if they return to work immediately and cannot continue their efforts.
However, there is different types of breastfeeding which can be perfectly adapted with active and busy life !
A first preconceived idea that dies hard... when we know that in France, the breastfeeding rate at 2 months is low: only 1 in 3 women still exclusively breastfeed their child while the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months.
And this figure drops to 1 in 5 French people, if we look 6 months after birth ! There is therefore still a long way to go to encourage and normalize breastfeeding maternal.
Plastic surgery can interfere with breastfeeding 2️⃣
FAKE❌
In 1960, Boby Lapointe made breast surgery the subject of a song, with the refrain: “Framboise and Avanie are the breasts of destiny”. To the same tune, we would like to intone: prolactin and oxytocin are breastfeeding hormones.
The first is responsible for lactation (milk production) and the second acts on her nipple ejection. This winning hormonal duo allows all women to breastfeed, whether or not they have had plastic surgery.
Moreover, when a surgeon makes the incisions intended to position the breast implants, he takes care to not alter natural functioning breasts which, thanks to a well-functioning hormonal system, make breastfeeding possible.
Women with small breasts produce less milk 3️⃣
FAKE❌
This is another preconceived idea about breastfeeding which is completely false. Contrary to what one might think, breast size does not affect milk production !
As we have seen, this is hormonal and therefore depends on hormone transmitters, that is to say the glands.
In this case, it is the mammary glands which control the production of milk. SO the more glands a woman has, the more milk she will produce.
The more water we drink, the more milk we produce 4️⃣
FAKE❌
Although hydration is important, drinking excessively water does not guarantee increased milk production. The human body is well designed: it maintains a homeostatic balance by adjusting milk production depending on the baby's needs and hormonal signals.
It is therefore the right balance between adequate hydration, a balanced diet and the rest that is essential to support milk production.
And this goes even further since the composition of breast milk also adapts to your baby! Different depending on the time of feeding, the food consumed by the mother or even her state of health, you simply need to trust your body. He has this remarkable ability to adapting to our baby’s changing needs, in all circumstances.
Breastfeeding is painful 5️⃣
FAKE❌
Some women may feel discomfort at the start of breastfeeding but, in principle, this should not be not be painful.
Proper positions and a good latch can help prevent discomfort.
If there is pain, you can use warm compresses before feeding to help stimulate milk flow and relax the tissues. After feeding, apply cold compresses to your breasts to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
But in any case, if your breastfeeding is painful, get help from a health professional to remedy this.
Moms' breasts are always full of milk 6️⃣
FAKE❌
The feeling of full breasts is more common at the start of breastfeedingt, but this does not necessarily mean that the baby is not getting enough milk. There production often adjusts to the baby’s needs over time.
Beyond 6 weeks, milk production begins depending on supply and demand. Therefore, the more your baby drinks (or the more you express), the more you produce.
It is also normal for one of the breasts to produce more milk than the other. Another preconceived idea about breastfeeding which is also completely false!
Mothers returning to work cannot breastfeed 7️⃣
FAKE❌
In France, breastfeeding remains a common practice, but its duration is often limited. Statistics also show a correlation between the duration of breastfeeding And that of maternity leave.
Yet, many mothers return to full-time work and manage to continue their breastfeeding. Anticipation (inform yourself about your rights, inquire with your employer, etc.) and organization are the key words to prepare for this period.
Using a hands-free breast pump like Emy Pump and adequate milk storage also greatly facilitate this transition.
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And to put an end to preconceived ideas about breastfeeding, here are some more data on breastfeeding in France, which are very real. Our country unfortunately stands out in Europe in two aspects regarding breastfeeding.
First, the rate of initiation of breastfeeding at birth is one of the lowest on the continent. Second, among mothers who choose to breastfeed, the average duration of breastfeeding is also one of the shortest in Europe.
French experts largely attribute this situation to a lack of information and support to young mothers about the benefits and techniques of breastfeeding.
So you will have understood, it is essential to be wary of beliefs, “they say that” and preconceived ideas about breastfeeding because they are most often false. Do not hesitate to consult a health professional to make informed decisions about breastfeeding. Every experience is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another.
