There’ s plenty of really good and helpful information about breastfeeding available to new mums these days. But somewhere between the Internet, the abundance of insights from well-meaning friends and family, and advice from health professionals, there is unfortunately also a lot of misinformation.  We asked Munchkin’ s Expert Midwife and Health Visitor, Katie Hilton to share the top ten breastfeeding myths she hears day in, day out.  

Myth 1 – Breastfeeding is easyYes, babies and mothers are hardwired to breastfeed and for some new mothers it does come easy and naturally. But the belief that the vast majority of women take to breastfeeding seamlessly, with no hiccups, is wrong. Breastfeeding does require patience and getting a hang of it can take some time for both mother and baby. Be safe in the knowledge that you have not failed if you find yourself struggling. 

Myth 2 – Pain is normal Breastfeeding isn’ t always a breeze, but that doesn’ t mean it should hurt. It is true that you may occasionally feel some discomfort when initially starting to breastfeed, however this should not persist. The main culprits are incorrect positioning or attachment. Don’ t accept it in silence. Speak to your Midwife or Health Visitor and request a breastfeeding assessment.  

Myth 3 – You can prepare your breasts It is always beneficial to learn about breastfeeding before your baby arrives, to understand the various breastfeeding positions and the principles of effective positioning and attachment. But you don’ t, however, need to do anything to your breasts during pregnancy to get them ready. Nipples do not need to be toughened up ready for breastfeeding. If they become sore when feeding, it’ s most likely due to an incorrect latch.  

Myth 4 – Drinking more fluids will produce more milkHydration and good nutrition are of course important for breastfeeding mothers, just as they are during pregnancy. Drinking a lot of fluids will not dramatically affect your milk supply or milk quality, however being well hydrated will be beneficial. If your milk supply is low speak to your Midwife or Health Visitor about ways to boost your supply.  

Myth 5 – Breastfed babies can’t have a bottle There are a small percentage of babies who will have difficulty going back and forth between bottles and the breast in the very beginning. For this reason it is advisable to ensure breastfeeding is fully established for the first 6-8 weeks before introducing a bottle. In reality many babies are given bottles, the way a baby handles a bottle is different than when feeding at the breast.  With the right guidance, a baby can easily combine breast and bottle-feeding. The key will be selecting a bottle suitable for your baby, choose a bottle that allows your baby to feed in a similar way to the breast and enables stretch and flexibility when feeding. The Munchkin Latch bottle could be a smart choice as it meets all the above criteria, enabling your baby to successfully transition from breast to bottle and back again.  

Myth 6 – Newborn babies will feed every 2-3 Hours 

An older baby will have a more consistent breastfeeding pattern, however most babies who are under six weeks of age will feed in a more random fashion, sometimes cluster feeding closer together and on occasions going 4-5 hour stretches. Talk to your Midwife or Health Visitor about newborn babies feeding schedules and be prepared to feed on demand.  

Myth 7 – Breastfeeding mothers get less sleep Formula fed babies do generally go longer between feeds, this is because formula takes longer to digest, but that doesn’ t mean that parents of formula fed babies are having long, undisturbed nights sleep whilst breastfeeding parents struggle. Every baby is different and sleep patterns vary depending on a range of factors, other than food. Breastfeeding mothers who keep their baby close to them have the added benefit of not having to get up to prepare bottles. The surge of oxytocin released in the body during a feed also helps to lull mum back to sleep.  

Myth 8–Only birth mothers can breastfeedIt is a myth that adopted mothers cannot breastfeed. If a mother has previously breastfed her biological child, she may be able to stimulate supply purely through pumping. If this is not possible, a combination of hormones and pumping can be used to breastfeed an adopted baby. Talk to your Midwife or Health Visitor about your options well in advance and remember that every woman’ s breastfeeding experience will be different. 

Myth 9 – Breastfeeding is a form of contraception Breastfeeding can be an effective method of contraception, but only if certain conditions are met. Women can use breastfeeding as a form of contraception in the first six months after giving birth if they’ re breastfeeding exclusively (the baby isn’ t drinking anything else), breastfeeding at least every 4-6 hours and have not started their period yet. However, it’ s not foolproof and approximately 1 in 100 women who use this method will get pregnant and 2 in 100 will if they don’ t practice the technique correctly.  

Myth 10 – Start pumping immediately if you’re returning to work This really depends on your circumstances: whether you have maternity leave, how long that maternity leave is and what your working conditions will be like when you return. Working mothers do not need to stress about filling their freezer with an abundance of frozen “just-in-case”breast milk. Many mothers think they must stock their freezer in the early months if they will be returning to work full time, whilst this may be true for those mothers who are unable to pump at work, it is not true for everyone. Your employer has a duty to provide a space for you to pump. So relax and enjoy your maternity leave and breastfeeding experience.

*In collaboration with Munchkin