Beware of Untrue Breastfeeding Facts
As a mother of three children who were breastfed, I feel that I am quite knowledgable on the topic of breastfeeding. So when I run across articles online that are full of untrue breastfeeding "facts" it really irritates me because of what these untrue "facts" could do to a new mother's chances of breastfeeding successfully. Untruths could cause a new mother to become frustrated when the things she reads are not working for her. The more frustration a new mother has to deal with, the less likely she will have a successful breastfeeding experience and even more less likely that she will continue with breastfeeding in general.
One of the best ways to avoid untrue breastfeeding facts is to make sure you are getting your facts from a knowledgable source. I previously wrote an article about the best websites for breastfeeding information. All of the websites that I listed are reputable and have an abundance of wonderful information that any new mother can be assured is true and helpful. Many of these sites even have message boards, or forums, where mothers just like you are able to ask questions and voice their opinions and concerns. If you have a question that you can not find the answer to then jump right into the forums and ask your questions. You will more than likely have an answer by the end of the day. I'm also sure that there are even more great mothering and breastfeeding websites out there that are full of information that I am unfamiliar with.
Another way to avoid untrue breastfeeding facts is to ask friends and family members who have been where you are. If you have a sister, aunt, cousin, best friend or even a sister in-law who has already been through the experience of breastfeeding their child or children, it may be very helpful to take the time to sit down with them and ask them all of the breastfeeding questions that you may have. I can almost guarentee you that she will be able to share her knowledge with you and may even be able to point you in the right direction to a spot that holds even more trusted information.
Good books are another way to avoid untrue breastfeeding facts. The majority of experienced breastfeeding mothers will have a favorite book filled with breastfeeding information. These books will be a personal preference since everyone has different breastfeeding ideals for their family. So one book recommended to you by you best friend may not be a book that you will enjoy because your ideals are not the same as your friend's. Luckily most public libraries have many different books on the topic of breastfeeding for you to browse through. There are books from the most hardcore breastfeeding lactivists to the easy going "here are the facts and only the facts" books. You are sure to find one that fits you and your breastfeeding goals whether those goals are to just make it from one day to the next or to accomplish extended nursing through your child's toddler years.
If you think the breastfeeding information that you have discovered is weird, wrong or just not what you think it should be then I recommend that you avoid that information. If you find some breastfeeding information that you know is untrue then it's probably best to avoid that information source all together since there is no way to tell how much more of their "facts" are untrue. Lastly if you are still unsure just ask another mother who is experienced in breastfeeding, as well as the trials and tribulations that accompany this phase of life. Having the correct breastfeeding information beforehand could help make your breastfeeding experience easier, less stressful, more enjoyable and possibly help you to extend the overall length of time that you and your child are able to productively breastfeed. Beware of untrue breastfeeding facts, they can be harmful to you, your child and your breasts.
Published by Christie Silvers
In addition to online articles, Christie also enjoys writing paranormal fiction. She lives in Georgia with her husband, three daughters, chickens, dogs, and numerous cats. No, it's not a farm, but sometime... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentGood article. Lactation consultants are great resources.
I get bad advice all the time and I call them out on it. Some people need to get with the times.
Good article Christie. I think mothers attempting to nurse for the first time should really steer clear of relatives or friends that attempted to nurse but quit only a few months in. Not that they wouldn't be knowledgable to a degree, but that would be like asking someone who only showed up to class for a week or two, what would be on the final exam. Many people who quit early began to believe the untruths that are floating around or felt it was "just too difficult", thus the support might not be there. La Leche league has a great website and if you are really struggling, ask to see a La leche leader. Another nursing mother can be assigned to you to help you through the difficult times and give you a nursing companion as well.
Great article. The only thing the I kind of don't agree with is completely trusting friends and family who have been through it. There are some weird wives tales that just get passed down from generation to generation in some families. It's great to have a family support group though and if you check out the information you get from them with a reputable source like La Leche League, then you could decide for yourself armed with knowledge.
Personally when I was breastfeeding my children , I found "LaLeche" to have the most informat information anywhere.Cudos to them ,who have helped thousand of women, who didnt think they could breastfeed, or needed the extra help. I would join one of their groups, or buy their books.
Great tips. I think that for most people breast feeding works well, but sometimes it does not work out well due to health problems with the mother or child. My sisters son is allergic to any type of milk. (He nearly died before the doctors figured out what was going on. But I think he is the exception rather than the rule.
Good tips here. I wrote about breastfeeding myths, but I know there were some weird ones that I didn't cover, because there are just SO many untruths floating around about breastfeeding. Information is our best ally.