Breastfeeding Myths And The Reality

Myth number one is the supposed fact that not a lot of women breastfeed and in fact it's a bit weird when a mother chooses to do so. This is completely wrong, as around seventy eight per cent of women say they breastfeed in the UK alone. When women say that breastfeeding is uncommon they usually mean their mother didn't do it and they won't be doing so as a result. Women who use this excuse are usually afraid of what breastfeeding might do to their appearance.

The second big myth around breastfeeding is that it will make breasts sag. There's no proof that breastfeeding does make breasts sag, but there are two huge factors which are the actual culprits of sagging breasts. Aging is one reason that many women's breasts sag, as the tissues stretch due to being a certain age. Gaining weight can also result in breasts sagging, as the body distributes weight over different areas, and the breasts are one point where a lot of excess weight can be stored.

The third well-known myth about breastfeeding is that formula is basically the same as breast milk. Nothing is as good for babies as breast milk, as it contains living bacteria produced by the mother which help builds a strong and healthy immune system. Formula is packed full of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, but still doesn't hold a torch to the benefits of breast milk. For mothers who don't believe there is a difference, it has been proven that babies who were given formula have a noticeably weaker immunity to diseases and illnesses when they're older.

The fourth common myth about breastfeeding is that women breastfeeding in public is something people don't like to see. Surveys have shown most people don't really mind women breastfeeding in public, as it's a natural process and necessary for the life of a child. Today there are many products which make breastfeeding much more discreet such as ponchos, so there's really nothing anyone can say about it making them uncomfortable as they can't see it.

The fifth myth over breastfeeding is that to some women it isn't possible or they can't produce enough milk and so should resort to formula. Like with anything in life, the body needs time to adapt to having to create so much breast milk every day, and for a couple of weeks it might seem as though a mother can't produce enough, but every mother has the ability to adapt to what her child needs, with the only exceptions being due to infections.

The final common myth associated with breastfeeding is that women can't have a sex life if they do breastfeed. For some women it may be a year until they feel comfortable with having sex with their partner again, but this is due to a number of other reasons, not breastfeeding. When having sex women produce the same hormone as they do when breastfeeding, oxytocin. As a result they might produce a little breast milk during sex, but a couple who are bonded enough to have a baby together shouldn't find this a problem at all.