11 Breastfeeding Myths New and Veteran Moms Believe

Do you know fact from fiction when it comes to breastfeeding? The rules of breastfeeding or bodyfeeding have changed so much in our history that it isn’t surprising that many mamas (myself included for most of my life) believe some things about breastfeeding that aren’t true — even after nursing several babies. You might have nursed two babies and learned something new with baby three or four, or maybe still never learned what I’m about to tell you. It wasn’t until I nursed my third baby and completed a lactation program that I learned a lot of what’s included in this article. Keep reading to see if you believed any of these breastfeeding myths and let me know if I missed some!

This post contains affiliate links which, at no cost to you, allow me to earn a small commission on any purchases you make from the recommendations I share. This helps keep my website running so that I can offer you free content and resources! All items have been sent in for review by the brands or purchased by me to ensure a fit; I won’t recommend something if it doesn’t pass my rigorous testing as a scrunchy mom & someone who works with families. Please also keep in mind that any information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not in any way medical advice or a replacement for seeing a medical professional.

Breastfeeding Myths

I don’t have enough milk

New mothers are sometimes supplement because they think their milk production isn’t good enough. The truth is, it isn’t as simple as saying you don’t make enough milk. Are you basing the fact that you don’t make enough milk on videos and photos of the overflowing freezer stash of over suppliers or comparing breastmilk intake to formula intake? I discuss a variety of reasons for perceived low milk supply with my clients whenever this comes up. It’s rarely something drinking milk tea or eating lactation cookies will fix long term.

If continuing to breastfeed is important to you (and even if you want to stop breastfeeding), reach out to a qualified lactation consultant for information and support. A functional evaluation needs to be done to assess latch, glandular tissue, schedules, body tension, medications and more in order to help with your milk supply. It could be as simple as having more skin-to-skin time and breastfeeding on demand to create a supply for the demand, or it could be that the supply is a symptom of a bigger issue (or multiple things).

My milk hasn’t come in yet

This is a big one that most people say. Did you know that a mother’s milk starts to come in at about 10-14 weeks pregnant? That means your milk is in and ready by the time baby is born (even if pre-term). Though colostrum isn’t thought of as milk, it is indeed the first milk and necessary to coat your newborn’s virgin gut, which was open to drink amniotic fluid in the womb. A mother’s milk increases in volume a few days after delivery, with some exceptions like if you had an epidural. Mother’s who have had an epidural or prolonged IV time will experience a delay in the volume until the puffiness from extra fluids in the body dies down.

My baby doesn’t want to breastfeed anymore

It’s unusual for babies to self-wean prior to one year. Before you assume they’ve given up on breastfeeding, think about some surrounding factors:

• Are they going through a developmental leap?
• Are they easily distracted or more particular about where they breastfeed at certain times of the day?
• Did your baby recently fall or hit their head? (If so, get their neck looked at.)
• Are they teething?
• Do they have an unaddressed tongue or lip tie?
• Did you try a different side and types of positions to find a good fit?
• Have you seen a lactation consultant?

Breastfeeding hurts

The first 2-4 weeks of breastfeeding/bodyfeeding can be tough; there’s a learning curve with each baby, too. But if breastfeeding hurts, there could be something else going on that needs to be addressed. It could be a poor latch, a lip/tongue tie, or nursing aversion. If it’s a nursing aversion, nursing will hurt for 3-4 seconds at the beginning of feeds and may no longer hurt after 3-4 days. Either way, see a lactation consultant.

My baby is hungry at birth

This is a fun fact — babies aren’t hungry at birth, they’re constipated! Yep, your little one is full of that sticky meconium poop and their little tummies need help pushing it out so infants “nurse” for the sucking motion to get their bowels moving and the poop out. This instinct also informs the mom’s breasts of her baby’s birth, weight, age, and possible future lactation needs so that the breasts’ milk volume can increase accordingly.

We know what’s in breastmilk

We know that breastmilk is a living thing with antibodies, nutrients, and at least 250 other goodies inside but there’s likely so much more. Like the ocean, we’re still studying breastmilk so we don’t really know everything that’s in it yet. Interestingly, it’s mainly formula companies that have paid for this research in order to try to replicate breastmilk as best as they can but breastmilk can adapt to your child’s needs if they are sick or getting older where as formula remains the same in calories and all other content.

I can introduce solids at 4 months old

There are SO many pediatricians who will still tell (and pressure) parents to start baby cereal and other solids at a baby’s 4-month well check. No. Research has been done to look into this and the World Health Organization and American Association of Pediatrics revised the recommendation several years ago that babies wait to introduce solids until at least 6 months of age (or older) and meeting all signs of readiness due to the virgin gut mentioned above.

It’s recommended that babies ingest only breastmilk (or artificial breastmilk) for the first 6 months or more and meet all of the signs of readiness to ensure the gut is properly coated and closed before introducing other foods. This means your baby could be 6 months old or 8 or 10 months old before eating solids. It’s not a milestone or a race. In fact, you may protect your baby from future GI issues as an adult by not giving things like rice cereal or oatmeal or baby food before they are ready.

What are some signs of readiness?

Your baby should meet all of the below signs of readiness to eat solids and be 6 months or older before starting baby-led weaning or purees. They can still feel the textures of foods and explore the foods as an early sensory introduction before eating them, though!

• Sitting up unassisted (no pillows or anything else holding them or propping them up)
• Purposely reaching for something
• Has an interest in food
• Can pick up a utensil or food item and bring it to their mouth themselves (babies do this without intent or control as early as 4 months, so be sure it’s intentional and they’re over 6 months old)

Your baby’s gut microbiome is also a really important factor in solids readiness. If they’ve had any antibiotics, were born via cesarean, or you had antibiotics while pregnant not only is skin-to-skin important but your baby may need some gut support. A gut test from Tiny Health could be beneficial.

Listen to my podcast episode about infant gut health here.

I need a pump

If it makes you feel comfortable, order a pump and put it away in your closet to have for an emergency. Several moms have told me that they love having the Hakka pump to collect all the extra letdown from the opposite breast while nursing in the early weeks but more and more lactation consultants no longer recommend a Hakka for this use as the suction can still encourage letdown, thus leading to an increase in milk supply and engorgement. A little catcher that does not suction on but simply sits in your bra may be a better fit.

An electric pump or manual pump should be reserved for if you have time away from the baby but need to maintain your supply, or if the baby isn’t nursing as much due to teething and you’re worried about a dip in the supply (but also really need to let some of the milk out) or you are going back to work. Pumping while nursing at home can overwhelm and stress out the lactating parent, sometimes moms give up on breastfeeding because it’s all too much. So, unless you need to pump, don’t add it to all of the other things you need to do as a new parent. It’s a very important tool to have but not every breastfeeding mother needs to pump.

Want more pumping advise? Pumping expert Dr. Diana Dixon shares pumping secrets in this podcast episode

Babies get more milk with a bottle

Here’s the BIG problem with bottles — they have parents looking at the number of something versus their baby. Unless you’re on a diet that requires counting all of your calories, you’re probably not eating based on a number, right? Breastfed babies will eat until they’re full or nurse for pain relief (yes your breastmilk does that!) or comfort. Don’t ever force them to eat more or not feed a hungry baby because they already ate 10 minutes ago or more. Nursing babies get just as much (and probably more) milk direct from the breast than a bottle because they don’t lose milk in the transfer and they get to drink until satisfied.

Unless your baby is underweight and needs the attention of an IBCLC for a specific feeding plan, feed on demand at breast. When you are bottle feeding it is easier to not notice the cues of your baby and rather than baby being able to pull away when finished, they may need to take in more than they want depending on how the bottle is being fed to them in order to essentially not drown in the milk being given. Each brand or type of bottle nipple offers a different milk flow (even if they’re the same level or size) too so it can be hard to find the right flow for your little one at first — they may get too much or not enough.

Breastfed babies don’t get sick

Well, babies who are breastfed definitely have antibodies, but they can still get sick. When babies are always in the same environment as their mom, the breasts make milk full of antibodies to protect the baby from that environment. But if baby goes to daycare or stays at someone’s house and mom isn’t there, the breastmilk can’t create antibodies specific to baby’s environment.

One trick some moms use is to nurse baby in their environment for 5-10 minutes at pickup time or to smell them or a blanket from their school to get the bacteria and other things baby may have been exposed to while away.

Breastfed babies aren’t satisfied and wake up a lot

Actually, breastfed babies sleep very well because they’re satisfied and sleep safely. How are they sleeping safely? Because breastfed babies are wakeful, they can be checked on and fed during critical times to avoid SIDS. These babies are also satisfied because they’re getting more connection with parents through a 24-hour day, not just an 8-hour day with nothing at night. Artificial breastmilk/formula takes longer for a baby’s body to digest and has sleep-inducing properties in it that create deeper sleep. But when it comes to newborns, you actually don’t want deep sleep for safety reasons. I talk about the myths of infant sleep in this podcast episode.