myths about breastfeeding
(False Breastfeeding Myths)
By Lisa Marasco
Information pertaining to the magazine NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol 17 Number 4 Year 2005
A throughout the world there are ideas, concepts and certainties about management of breastfeeding. A supporting mothers, dignified in his work, others hinder the development of breast or truncated early and end affect health and healthy development of babies, while filled with uncertainty for their mothers. We chose some of the myths we discussed for the peace of families.
Myth 1: Breastfeeding reduces the child often produce milk, produces a weak reflex and lactation failure
Fact: The amount of milk a mother produces is at its best when allowed to breastfeed your child healthy as many times as needed. The ejection reflex milk operates more strongly in the presence of a good milk supply, which normally occurs when the child is fed on demand, ie without imposing schedules.
Myth 2: A breastfeeding mother needs only four to six times every 24 hours to maintain a good milk supply.
Fact: Research shows that when a mother breastfeeds often from birth the child, with an average of 9.9 times every 24 hours during the first 15 days, your milk supply is greater, the child's weight increases and better mothers breastfeed for a longer time period. The production of milk has shown to be related to the frequency of feedings. The amount of milk begins to decrease when the shots are rare or restricted. Do not forget Many newborn babies eat every hour and a half or two hours, which is normal and common.
Myth 3: The kids get all the milk they need during the first five to ten minutes of nursing.
Fact: Although many Older babies can make most of their milk in the first five to ten minutes, this is not generalizable to all children. The newborns, who are just learning to breastfeed, are not always as efficient to the chest and often require much more time to eat. Sucking power also depends on the let-down milk. Although many mothers milk let-down almost immediately, others were not going well. In some women, lower milk is gradual, takes place several times during a single shot. Instead of guessing, it is better to let the child suck until he shows signs of satisfaction, such as releasing the solo or have their arms and hands relaxed.
Myth 4: Nursing mothers should be spaced outlets so they can llenársele breasts.
Fact: Each pair mother / child is unique and different. The body of a nursing mother is always making milk. Her breasts function in part as "reserve tanks", some more capable than others. The more there is in the chest, the body will work faster for refueling. The fuller the breast, the slower the milk production. If a mother waiting to be systematically "fill" the breasts before breast-feeding, your body may receive the message that is producing too much milk and therefore reduce production.
Myth 5: At eight weeks of age the child only needs six to eight shots breast milk at three months only requires five to six shots, and six months, no more than four or five times daily.
Fact: The frequency of feedings of breastfed children varies according to several factors: the production of breast milk and storage capacity (with more breast mothers generally have greater storage capacity) and as with the growing needs of the child. The days when there are peaks of growth (days more often) or the little one is sick, can temporarily change the baby's eating patterns. It is important to note that the child's caloric intake increases at the end of the shot, so imposing arbitrary limits on the frequency or duration of feedings can lead to a too low calorie intake by the child.
Myth 6: The amount of milk your child drinks, not whether it is breast milk or formula, which determines how long a child holds two shots.
Fact: Breastfed babies empty stomach faster than bottle-fed children: approximately 1.5 hours instead of 4 hours. This is due to much smaller size of protein molecules that form part of the breast milk and which are digested more quickly. Although the amount of milk consumed is one of the factors that determine the frequency of feedings, type of milk is of equal importance. Anthropological studies of milk produced by various types of mammals confirm that human babies are designed to be fed frequently and have done so throughout history.
Myth 7: Do not wake the sleeping child.
Fact: While it is true most children show when they are hungry, it is possible that infants did not wake up as often as you need, what needs to be awakened to eat at least eight times in 24 hours. May not wake up because of the drugs was the mother during childbirth, for jaundice, trauma, pacifier, maternal medications or introverted behavior by children who are made to expect when giving cues. In addition, mothers who want to leverage the natural infertility that occurs during lactation amenorrhea verify that the return of menstruation takes longer when the child is still nursing at night.
Myth 8: The metabolism of the child is disorganized at birth and requires imposing a routine or schedule to help resolve this disorganization.
Fact: Children are born programmed to eat, sleep and waking periods. It is not disorganized behavior, but a reflection of the unique needs of each infant. Over time, babies will gradually adapt to the rhythm of life in their new environment without requiring training or assistance.
Myth 9: Nursing mothers should always offer your baby both breasts at each feeding.
Fact: It is more important to let children finish taking the first side before offering the second, even if it means reject the second side for this shot. The last milk (which contains more calories) is obtained gradually as
be emptying the breast. It happens to some children, if they switch sides prematurely, to be filled with milk first, lower in calories, instead of getting the natural balance between the milk first and second. As a result, the child will not be satisfied and lose weight, and will probably have colic. During the first weeks, many mothers offer both breasts at each feeding to help establish your milk supply.
Myth 10: If a child does not gain weight well, it's because his mother's milk is of poor quality.
Reality: Studies show still malnourished women are able to produce milk of sufficient quality and quantity to meet the growing needs of the child. In most cases, the low weight is due to low consumption of milk derived from strict schedules, of inadequate suction or an organic problem child.
Myth 11: When a woman has a shortage of milk, usually due to stress, fatigue or low food and fluid intake. Fact: The most common causes of insufficient milk are: rare footage and / or problems with the strengthening and posture of the baby to nurse. Both problems are usually due to incorrect information received by the nursing mother. Suction Problems the child may also adversely affect the amount of milk the mother produces. Stress, fatigue or malnutrition are rarely causes of low milk production, because the human body has developed coping mechanisms to protect the infant in times of famine.
Myth 12: A mother must drink milk to make milk.
Fact: A healthy, balanced diet containing vegetables, fruits, grains and protein is all that a mother needs to be nurtured properly and produce milk. Calcium can be obtained from a variety of sources related to dairy products such as green vegetables, seeds, nuts and fish such as sardines and salmon with bones. No other mammal drinks milk to make milk.
Myth 13: Sucking on without the purpose of feeding (non-nutritive sucking) has no object.
Fact: Experienced breastfeeding mothers learn that the sucking patterns and needs of each child vary. While sucking needs of some children are met primarily when they eat, other children require more suction to the chest, even when they have finished eating a few minutes ago. Many children also suck when they're scared, when they feel alone and when something hurts.
Myth 14: The mother should not be given a "pacifier" of his son.
Reality: Comforting and meeting the needs suction to the breast is nature's design for mothers and children. Pacifiers (pacifiers, nipples, boobies, Pepes) are a substitute for the mother when she is not. Other reasons for offering the breast to pacify the child include improved oral and facial development, prolonged amenorrhea, avoid nipple confusion and encourage adequate milk production to ensure a higher rate of breastfeeding success. And above all, a quiet child who finds comfort in her mother, which strengthens their emotional development.
Myth 15: The nipple-teat confusion there.
Fact: Breast-feeding and bottle feeding require different oral-motor skills. The pacifiers or artificial nipples provide a sort of "overdrive" in which children can look and prefer the nipple, softer. As a result, some babies develop nipple confusion and use techniques not suitable for breast-feeding when they have been offered bottle and breast. This makes efficient than getting milk and occasionally cracking his mother.
Myth 16: Frequent nursing can lead to postpartum depression.
Reality: It is believed that the cause of postpartum depression is due to the fluctuating hormones that occur after childbirth and that may be exacerbated by fatigue and lack of social support. However, occurs in women who have had previous problems with pregnancy. On the other hand, we know that breastfeeding women often have less often postpartum depression.
Myth 17: Feed on baby's nursery does not provide the link.
Reality: Respond quickly and sensitively to signs of child joins the mother and child so they are synchronized, which creates a deep bond. Additionally, a baby does not cry because it is treated promptly, does not generate stress due to his crying family.
Myth 18: Mothers who coddle their children too and take the spoil her too much.
Fact: Children who is carried in the arms often cry fewer hours a day and show higher security features as it grows. Babies need the safety of his mother's arms more than we imagine.
Myth 19: It is important that other family members feed the child that they also develop a bond.
Fact: Feeding the child is not the only way in which other family members can approach the child. Upload, pet, bathe and play with the baby are very important for growth and development as well as for its link with others.
Myth 20: The fact that it is the child who directs its power supply (with demand feeding) has a negative effect on the relationship of the couple.
Reality: Mature parents realize that the needs of the newborn are very intense, but also decreasing over time. In fact, teamwork is made to care for a newborn can join the couple as they both learn to be parents together.
Myth 21: Some children are allergic to milk.
Fact: Breast milk is the most natural and physiological substances that the child can eat. If the baby shows signs of sensitivity related to food, usually due to a foreign protein that has gained entry into breast milk and not breast milk itself. This easily remedied by removing the offending food from the maternal diet for a while.
Myth 22: Breastfeeding too often causes obesity in the child when he grows up.
Reality: Studies show that breastfed infants self-controlling their eating patterns and the amount they eat, they tend to consume the amount of milk for her own body. It is bottle-feeding and early introduction of complementary foods that cause obesity are affected by growing up, not breastfeeding.
Myth 23: Breastfeeding while the child is lying cause ear infections.
Fact: Because breast milk is a living fluid-filled antibodies and immunoglobulins, the nursing infant is less likely to develop ear infections, regardless of the position you use. In fact, when the mother sat nursing the baby in her arms are horizontal. Furthermore, the provision of muscles suck when you close the communication with the ear.
Myth 24: The extended breastfeeding beyond 12 months the child is worthless, since the quality of breast milk starts to deteriorate after six months of life.
Reality: The composition of breast milk changes according to the child's needs as it matures. Even when the child is able to receive other food, breast milk is their primary source of nutrition during the first 12 months. Becomes a food supplement for the second year of life. In addition, the child's immune system takes between two and six years to mature. Breast milk continues to complement and assist the immune system while taking the child to follow. Recent studies show that breast milk is richer in fat and energy after a year of lactation, contains nearly 12% more calories than milk from a mother of a newborn baby. The same happens with the protective factors.
Posted in Leaven, La Leche League International. Translated by Norma Escobar
and Yanet Olivares. Adapted for publication in A New Beginning by Maria Cristina Saenz in Colombia.
