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SAN DIEGO
COUNTY BREASTFEEDING COALITION
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MYTHS
VS. FACTS
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| MYTH | FACTS |
| 1. There is not enough milk for the first 3 to 4 days after birth. | Infants are
well hydrated via the placenta at birth. Small colostrum feedings
(5-15 ml) are physiologic: - Appropriate for the size of the infant's stomach1 - Sufficient to prevent hypoglycemia2 - Easy to manage as infant learns to coordinate suck, swallow, breathing3 1.Scammon &
Doyle. AJDC 1920; 20:516-538 |
| 2. There is no immunologic benefit to breastfeeding after the first 3 (6, 9, 12) months. | Although the
greatest protection from infection appears to be in the first few
months of life, breastmilk continues to contain direct anti-infective
factors and immunomodulators as long as it is produced.4
As an individual's immune system is not thought to be fully mature for at least 2-4 years, breastmilk changes over time to meet the needs of the developing infant and child.5 4.Goldman, Goldblum & Garza. Acta Paediatr
Scand 1983;72:461-2 |
| 3. Breastfeeding past 2 (3, 4, 5, 6) yrs of age is abnormal and causes over dependence on the mother. | Because age
at weaning is culturally determined, not physiologically, the best
estimate of the biologically "natural" age of weaning is
2.5-7 years. This is based on anthropologic studies of non-human primates,
traditional societies, and historical data.6
There is no evidence in the child psychology or developmental literature to suggest that a longer duration of breastfeeding engenders abnormal dependence on either mother or child. If fact, the research that does exist suggests children breastfed longer are more independent than their peers.7 6. Dettwyler KA. Chapter 2, Breastfeeding: Biocultural
Perspectives, Aldine de Gruyter, NY, 1995 |
| 4. Early feedings should be timed to prevent maternal sore nipples. | Infant feeding
patterns vary widely as does maternal skin sensitivity. Sore nipples
are usually caused by poor latch-on and poor positioning, further
aggravated by unnecessary washing, lotions and creams. Timed breastfeeding
does not prevent sore nipples, but does decrease duration of breastfeeding.8
8. Slaven & Harvey. Lancet 1981; Feb 14:392-3 |
| 5. Now that DHA has been added, modern formulas are almost the same as breastmilk. | Artificial
milks (formulas) contain nutrition. Breastmilk contains species-specific
nutrition, enzymes needed to digest and absorb the nutrition, direct
anti-infective factors, immunomodulators, anti-inflammatory factors,
growth and developmental hormones and many other factors yet to be
identified.9
Because the factors in breastmilk are multi-functional and interactive, adding an additional factor to formula does not guarantee that it will act the way it does in human milk! Feeding formula in a bottle also discounts the emotional, social and developmental benefits of breastfeeding itself.10 9. Lawrence RA & Lawrence RM. Breastfeeding:
A Guide for the Medical Profession. 5th Ed, Mosby, St. Louis, 1999;
Chap 4-5 |
| 6. If a mother has an infection she should stop breastfeeding. | Acute infectious
diseases in the mother are NOT a contraindication to breastfeeding
if such diseases can be readily controlled and treated. By the time
diagnosis is made, the infant has already been exposed. Breastfeeding
should continue so the infant will receive mother's antibodies and
other host resistance factors in breastmilk.11
11. AAP, 1997 Red Book: Report of Committee on
Infectious Diseases |
| 7. Jaundiced babies should not continue breastfeeding. | Early onset
(days 3-5) jaundice is due to decreased breastmilk intake. It is the
infant form of adult "starvation jaundice".12
The more frequently an infant feeds in the first few days of life,
the lower his bilirubin will be.13 If mother's full milk
supply is not established, or the infant is not feeding well enough
to transfer the milk, supplementation with mother's expressed breastmilk
or an elemental formula could be used to lower the bilirubin in addition
to breastfeeding.12
Late onset (days 10-14) jaundice is physiologic due to a common factor in mature milk, yet to be identified, which increases enterohepatic reabsorption of bilirubin. There is no need to temporarily discontinue breastfeeding (for 12-48 hrs) unless the bilirubin exceeds 20 (rarely).14 12. Gartner LM, Herschel M. Jaundice and Breastfeeding.
Ped Clin NA, April 2001; 48(2):389-399 |
| 8. Women with small breasts make less milk. | Milk volume
regulation in lactating women is regulated by infant demand. The amount
of milk made per feeding and per 24 hours depends on the frequency
and completeness of emptying of the breasts, not the size of the breasts.
The more frequently and more completely the breasts are emptied, the
more milk is made.
The size of the breast determines only the storage capacity. Infants of mothers with small breasts may need to eat more frequently to take in the same amount of milk per 24 hrs as infants of mothers with larger breasts.15 15. Daly SE, Hartmann P. JHL 1995; 11(1): Part
1-pg 21-26; Part 2-pg 27-37 |
| 9. There is no way to know how much breastmilk the baby is getting. | Although there
is no easy way to measure the amount of breastmilk an infant is getting,
you can know if a baby is getting enough. Weight gain and stool volume
and characteristics are the best monitors of infant intake.16
An optimally breastfed infant will lose approximately 6% of birth weight by day 3 17, begin to gain weight days 4-5 (milk "coming in"), and regain birth weight by days 10-14. Thereafter the infant should gain approximately 20-30 grams/day. Stool should change from meconium to yellow, seedy, curdy by day 5. An infant with weight loss > 8% of birth weight or green stools after day 5 requires further evaluation. 16 16. Black L. Ped Clin NA April 2001; 48(2):299-319 |
| 10. Breastfeeding prevents pregnancy. | Although any
breastfeeding does not guarantee against pregnancy, a woman who is
exclusively breastfeeding, less than 6 months postpartum and whose
periods have not returned (Lactational Amenorrhea Method- LAM) has
the same chance of pregnancy as if she were taking hormonal contraception
(1-2%).18
18. Labbok M. Ped Clin NA. Feb 2001; 48(1):143-158 |
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