BREASTFEEDING MYTHS DEBUNKED

From TODAY, Health
Tuesday August 12, 2008

Myth 1: Women with small breasts cannot produce adequate milk for their babies.
Lactation consultant Betty Lee has seen many mothers with cup AA-sized breasts successfully breastfeed their babies.

“Some mums think they don’t have enough milk and start supplementing with formula. This causes the milk production to go down further,” she said.

What they don’t know is that milk is produced due to a supply-demand effect. The baby’s suckling stimulates the brain to produce hormones that will cause milk to be produced. “It’s like a water tank. The milk is replaced only when it is emptied.”

Myth 2: Breastfeeding is tiring.
On the contrary, breastfeeding releases a hormone, oxytocin, which induces a feeling of relaxation in the mother.

“This helps with mother-baby bonding and helps the mother to sleep more easily but does not tire her. It’s the demands of caring for and adapting to a new baby that makes any new mother tired,” said Dr Lim Hui Ling of International Medical Clinic.

Myth 3: Women with flat or inverted nipples cannot breastfeed.
According to Ms Lee, about 3 per cent of mothers she counsels have flat or inverted nipples, but they can still breastfeed even though they may experience some difficulties in the initial months.

“It’s all in the mind,” said Ms Lee. “Breastfeeding is not called nipple feeding for a reason. In proper breastfeeding, the baby latches onto the areola (the breast tissue around the nipple) instead of the nipple.”

Myth 4: Breastfeeding mothers who are taking prescribed medication or antibiotics should stop breastfeeding.
According to Dr Lim, it is “extremely rare that a mother needs to stop breastfeeding just because of a prescribed medication, especially for simple short-term illnesses”. She added: “There is usually a choice of a few different drugs to treat most medical conditions. A knowledgeable doctor can choose one which is suitable for a mother so that she can continue breastfeeding.”