Breastfeeding: Facts vs myths

When it comes to breastfeeding, everyone from your mother's second cousin to your hairstylist will ply you with advice and opinions. Some of the "wisdom" imparted may be helpful, but chances are much of it won't be. To help you sort through it all, here are the truths behind some of the most common myths surrounding breastfeeding.

Myth #1

Small breasts don't produce enough milk

Truth:
Size doesn't matter! Functional breast ­tissue containing milk ducts grows in response to pregnancy regardless of breast size, which is determined by fatty tissue. So rest easy: whether you're an A or D cup, your breasts will give baby all the milk she needs.

Myth #2

You can't breastfeed if you've had your breasts surgically augmented or reduced

Truth:
Not ­necessarily. "These days, implants are usually inserted near the armpit or under the breast tissue or chest muscle, which shouldn't inter­fere with breastfeeding," says Carol Huotari of the Centre for Breastfeeding Information at La Leche League International. However, if you had surgery in which the nipple was removed to insert the implant and then reattached, the nerves that influence ­milk letdown may have been disrupted. In this case, you will probably need to supplement with formula.

Whether you will be able to breastfeed after breast-reduction surgery also depends on how the procedure was performed. "If the nipple is left partially attached during the procedure and then reattached once the unwanted breast tissue has been removed, it's more likely that you'll be able to breastfeed," Huotari says.

If you have had either type of breast surgery, let your paediatrician know so she can keep an eye on baby's weight gain.

Myth #3

You must eat only bland foods while breastfeeding

Truth:
Maybe, maybe not. By the time the foods you eat have been digested and used to make breastmilk, potentially upsetting elements have been broken down and shouldn't affect your baby at all. So your eating cabbage should not make your baby gassy and spicy salsa should not put her off nursing. (Some research shows babies prefer garlicky milk!)

Still, there are a few foods that do cross into breastmilk and upset some babies' stomachs. Among them are dairy products, soya, peanuts, fish and shellfish.

Adopt a wait-and-see approach: don't alter your diet at all and see if your baby has a problem. If she does seem fussy two to 12 hours after you eat certain foods, cut them out of your diet for a while.

Myth #4

You need to nurse every two hours exactly to make sure your baby gets enough to eat

Truth:
Babies' eating patterns are as individual as those of their parents. While many
Myth #5

If you give your baby bottles of pumped milk, she will refuse the breast

Truth:
Most babies switch between breast and bottle with no problem. "As long as you wait until your baby has mastered breastfeeding (usually at about six weeks) before you offer her a bottle, she should be willing to switch back and forth," says Haldeman. She notes, however, that mothers who limit their babies to one bottle per day tend to have less of a struggle.

Myth #6

Don't nurse if you have a blocked duct or a breast infection

Truth:
The opposite is true. Ducts usually become blocked when a baby's nursing patterns change and the breast becomes overfull.

The best way to treat a blocked duct is to nurse as often as you can (and the best way to prevent an infection is to clear a blocked duct). Applying heat in the form of a heating pad or warm washcloth before nursing can also help clear a duct. And be sure your bra isn't too tight and avoid underwire bras, as they compress ducts.

If you do develop a breast infection - symptoms include redness and soreness in the breast, a fever and flu-like symptoms - see your doctor right away, as you'll need to take antibiotics. You will still be able to nurse with a breast infection.