Skip to main content

National Breastfeeding Week: Debunking myths, setting the records straight

Age-old myths have influenced the breastfeeding practice for many decades, cutting across generations and continents. Each generation of women believe in the same myths, but medical doctors and reproductive health experts say most of these myths are not scientifically proven .
Every nursing mother knows a handful of dos and don’ts, when it comes to breastfeeding, but do they have a medical backing?

Nursing mums always have people dishing out advice on breastfeeding options, but this rather strengthens their  beliefs in   myths.
Some of the common myths are;
# Nursing hurts the nipples
# Breasts sag after nursing
# Exercise gets milk sour
# Small breasts can’t produce enough milk
# stop breastfeeding when you fall pregnant
# Milk turns sour if you skip a day
The myths surrounding breastfeeding are myriad, but what do the experts say?

Breastfeeding Myths :What the experts say

One of the most common myths women have come to accept is that breastfeeding causes breasts to sag, but Matt R. Schulma, M.D Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery @ the Mount Sinai school of Medicine in New York says that is not true.
“Droopy breasts are a result of pregnancy because hormonal changes  cause the ligaments underneath them to loosen and stretch. As you gain weight and get heavier, your breasts become larger,and they may begin to sag”.
Some women also believe that the milk turns sour when a woman falls pregnant, and should stop breastfeeding.
Patience Ijang, Reproductive Health Nurse at the Logbaba District hospital says scientifically,pregnancy does no harm to the milk.

“Milk doesn’t get bad because a breastfeeding woman falls pregnant. The quality of the milk remains the same, and she can continue breastfeeding till the arrival of her new baby”.
It is also widely believed that if a woman fails to breastfeed for some days, the milk turns sour and she should stop breastfeeding. Mme Nguemtchueng Monica
Assistant Nursing Cordinator, Chantal Biya Mother and Child Centre says skipping a breastfeeding day is not a good reason to stop breastfeeding.

” A woman can continue breastfeeding even after having stopped for sometime. As long as the milk hasn’t yet ceased , she should continue breastfeeding. However, she could squeeze out the milk from time to time to prevent painful breasts and permit the continuous flow of fresh milk”.
Another worry for a particular group of women is the quantity of milk their bodies can produce a day. Experts say nursing mums are required to consume up to 1800 calories a day. This means eating healthy foods that favor adequate flow of milk.

Myths surrounding breastfeding is a conern to all health care  givers. UNICEF parenting also goes ahead to  also debunks fourteen myths ( hypertext) women have believed for decades.
Dr Michele Griswold further addresses the issue of  myths on a UNICEF Mini Parenting Master Class on breastfeeding click on the following link to watch. https://youtu.be/mTm9zvz5-Dc .

And is it really normal for a breastfeeding to hurt? Not at all, says Dr Jane Morton , clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stadford University, and Breastfeeding Expert in Meno Park, Carlifornia.
” It’s common to feel discomfort at first, pain is a sign that your baby isn’t latching unto your breasts properly. Instead of focusing only on your nipple, she should open wide and pull nipple and breasts deep into your chest”.
Myths about breastfeeding continue to prevent babies from getting the best of their mums. However, health experts’ greatest wish is that all women will  embrace the scientific truth on breastfeeding in order to improve  this fulfilling experience.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Breaking the Cycle: Confronting Gender-Based Violence and Drug Abuse in Bamenda

In a bid to tackle the pressing issues of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and drug abuse, the "Adjust for Me" project, implemented by Common Action for Gender Development (COMAGEND), has been making strides in the Ntarikon 2 community, Bamenda. The project, which aims to raise awareness and educate the community on the causes, consequences, and prevention of GBV and drug abuse, has been well-received by community members. According to Nde Christopher, a community spokesperson trained within the context of the project, the initiative has been instrumental in sensitizing the community on the ills of GBV and drug abuse. "We have organized door-to-door sensitization efforts, reaching many community members and educating them on the importance of addressing GBV and drug abuse," Christopher explained. The project has also provided a platform for community members to share their experiences and concerns regarding GBV and drug abuse. Swirri Adeline, a community member who parti...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Reign of Terror in Menchum: A Horrific Encounter on the Wum-Bamenda Route

                                            The reign of terror in Menchum once again manifested itself in horrific fashion on the Wum-Bamenda road on Wednesday 5 June 2024, turning an ordinary morning journey into a nightmare. As passengers like Pa Cheghe Bang Mathias left Wum and the surrounding area s  for Bamenda, they found themselves trapped in an ambush by a band of armed men claiming to be Amba fighters. The peaceful atmosphere of dawn was transformed into a scene of panic and desperation as the assailants, armed with violence and brutality, demanded the ‘support’ of the travelers . Witnesses revealed that  the attackers targeted one bike rider  in particular . Using the opportunity ,   the attackers  rob bed  passengers of their valuables, including phones and personal belongings.   (C) Credit Photo anonymous              The desperate attempt by the bike-man  to flee from the assailants ended tragically, with the passenger, Pa Cheghe Bang Mathias, being shot, while the rider ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Traditional Leaders Urge Government to Address Drug Abuse in Ntarikon 2 Community

On November 20, 2024, community spokespeople from the Adjust for Me project engaged religious and traditional leaders in an open discussion during a door-to-door sensitization campaign in Ntarikon 2. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about the growing concerns of drug abuse and gender-based violence (GBV) within the community. Through this dialogue, the project sought to educate both youths and religious leaders on the dangers of substance abuse and to address how gender-based violence can be reduced in both the church and local communities. Many religious leaders expressed that while some progress has been made, the increasing prevalence of drug abuse among young people remains a pressing concern. "Our youths are falling victim to drugs, and it's taking a toll on their health, well-being, and futures," one community leader remarked. The discussion linked the rise in drug abuse to the economic challenges and ongoing socio-political unrest that have left many youths ...
Post a Comment
Read more