Breast-Milk-Feeding-Guide

Breast Milk Feeding

Exposed Myths

As soon as you announce that you will be breast milk feeding your baby, you’ll receive lots of advice from well-meaning friends and family. Sometimes the information is a mix of fact and misinformation. It’s important to separate breast milk feeding myths from the truth because the wrong information can adversely affect your expectations.

1. Breast Milk Feeding Changes the Shape of Your Breasts

Your breasts begin going through noticeable changes as soon as you become pregnant in preparation for breast milk feeding your little one.

Heredity plays a big role in determining breast shape. Another factor that affects shape and tone is whether or not you have gained or lost a large amount of weight. A significant weight change affects the muscles supporting your breasts.

2. You Can’t Work a Full-Time Job and Continue Breastfeeding

When it comes to your commitment to breast feeding, where there’s a will there’s a way. If you’re determined to breastfeed exclusively, you can do it even if you plan on returning to work full-time.

It’s important to make sure you successfully establish breast milk feeding during the early weeks. This will ensure that you have a good milk supply and that your baby masters her sucking skills so that she won’t have trouble taking to the bottle. Use your maternity leave and any additional time off to accomplish this.

Next, you’ll need to purchase a quality, electric breast pump to use during working hours while separated from your baby. A breast pump will provide you with milk for her caregiver and help you maintain your milk supply.

It’s a good idea to buy a breast pump a couple of weeks before you plan to return to work. This gives you time to learn how to use the breast pump and collect a small stockpile of milk to store in the freezer. With stored milk set aside, you won’t have to worry so much about having enough to feed your baby while you’re away.

Check with your employer to request a private room where you can pump at least twice a day. Consider providing them with a written plan that outlines:

Where you will pump

When you will pump

Where you will store the milk

3. Small Breasts Don’t Produce Enough Milk

The size of your breasts has nothing to do with how much milk you produce. The more you nurse, the more you’ll produce. The best way to tell if your baby is getting enough during breast feeding is to monitor his or her diapers. Six to eight wet cloth diapers, or five to six wet disposable diapers, and one or two bowel movements a day means they are getting enough nourishment.

4. Nutritional Value Decreases after One Year

Some people believe that breast milk feeding for longer than a year deprives a child of essential vitamins and nutrients. According to the American Academy of Pediatricians, breastfeeding is recommended for at least one year. Nursing continues providing valuable, nutrients, vitamins, hormones and immune-boosting antibodies for as long as you choose to continue.

5. Strenuous Exercise Makes Milk Taste Sour

It’s important for new moms to resume a regular exercise program, and understand that even intense workouts will not affect breast milk feeding by souring your milk. Right after a vigorous exercise session, lactic acid gets released into your milk supply and can slightly alter the way it tastes. In about an hour, the lactic acid disappears from the milk and leaves it tasting the same as before your workout.