When you are pregnant and when you are a brand new parent, you hear all sorts of breastfeeding myths and stories. I have heard everything from ‘people with small boobs can’t breastfeed’ (I can assure you that is NOT true) to ‘formula fed babies sleep better’ – again, rubbish. Babies sleep when they are tired and eat when they need to.
It’s easy for me to say, but please try not to listen to these *ahem* helpful tips. If you have a pair of boobs and a baby, you are all set to breastfeed. When my boys were born prematurely, a lot of people assumed I would not breastfeed, even though that had been my plan all along. They assumed that because they were small and weak and unable to suck, breastfeeding would go out the window. I still to this day do not understand the logic behind that. Yes they couldn’t suck – on a breast or a bottle teat. So to get their milk they would need to be tube fed. For me, the natural answer to this was to express (by hand in the first, colostrum filled day and later by pump), syringe this precious liquid down their tubes and into their tiny tummies and wait for them to grow. I was offered formula ‘top ups’ if I felt the expressing was too much or if I wanted a rest (what’s that about? – mums of full term babies don’t get offered a rest if they don’t ‘feel like’ feeding their babies?!) but for me it wasn’t an option – the boys had expressed breast milk via tubes, then via cups and finally direct from the boob.
Because I had expressed from the very start, every time they were due a feed, my supply grew in line with their needs. At every tube feed, I put them to the breast and they were provided with a dummy to suck – teaching them the relation between boobs, sucking and an empty tummy while strengthening that suck reflex. Within days, they latched and breastfeeding was never an issue.
You can feed a premature, weak or poorly baby. Babies are designed to breastfeed, and boobs are designed to provide milk. There is nothing more natural, and special care units are fantastic at supporting this with kangaroo care, tube feeds on the boob, and even teaching you to hand express those precious first drops of colostrum. Don’t give up. Your early baby needs your life giving milk – you can do it!
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I can’t imagine having a premature baby – all three of mine have thankfully stayed in til term due to great support from my consultant and midwives (I have EDS which has a danger of premature rupture of membranes) but I like to think that if they had arrived early, I would have been able to breastfeed from day 1. However, judging by the support I received for my full term baby first time round, when I was told he was ‘starving’ and I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed I’m glad I didn’t have to find out.
Looking back on it I wonder why I didn’t follow my instincts – if babies are hungry then they will feed. I guess it’s because when you’re tired, emotional and everything is different to how it was before you trust that the health professionals caring for you know what they are talking about.
No I didn’t hear anything that turned out to be false
I haven’t heard anything that turned out to be false but i am hearing more and more stories about women being asked to leave public places because of breastfeeding. I think this is absolutely disgusting , it is a perfectly natural and normal thing to do and those people that dont like it should be the ones to leave. Women should be proud to be showing love and care for their babies xx
I’ve definitely heard people worry that their boobs will be too big to feed . . . nope! Babies noses are designed to be squashed against boobs and still feed ok with out suffocating lol.
not really, i did find people looked back on their breastfeeding with rose coloured glasses though – no one told me just how hard it is – but I’ve stuck at it x
Lots of people sayiny make sure you produce enough milk otherwise baby will go hungry. I ended up having an oversupply so no issues for me xx
I was told by a few people that breastfeeding provides no nutritional benefits after 6 months.
I think everything I’ve heard about breastfeeding hasn’t been things I’ve experienced – Supply not enough, baby too early to feed, milk never satisfying the baby…! I loved breastfeeding, had a couple of painful weeks at the start and then no issues.
Good on you for persevering with feeding your beautiful prem baby – Many would have given up x
Not that I can think of, right now – I didn’t really get any advice about Breastfeeding I was just left to my own devices which is quiet daunting for a first time mum!
With a baby that didn’t sleep for more than 2 hours until 9 months, I was strongly encouraged to switch to formula to help her sleep through. I ignored everyone and carried on breastfeeding. She just liked milk. Now she sleeps 7-7 whilst a lot of my friends are hitting sleep regressions.
No, luckily friends and relatives supportive and encouraging. As they knew health benefits for mum and baby. Though unfortunately due to culture many still did seem to feel uncomfortable, embarrassed. Maybe as culture changes, and Breastfeeding more accepted. Whilst we accept this can be done discreetly :- It will be seen and accepted as ‘the norm’.
according to familly members there wasnt anything they were told that was false
That it was easy – I really didn’t think it was
I was told to unlatch baby after 20 mins and leave at least 2hrs between feeds
Not really
Yes that even though it is rewarding it can be very painful
not being able to get pregnant whie breat feeding
Not that I can think of
I dont think I was specifically told anything that wasnt true, but I did come across lots of people who had wrong perceptions of feeding because they assumed i’d switch to formula at some point, even my health visitor recommended formula when little one wasnt putting on weight due to reflux – the problem was that she wasnt keeping enough down, not that she wasnt getting enough in the first place – I ignored her as I didnt see how formula would help!
no my family and friends are all encouraging