Can there be something more precious than participating in the creation of life? Just the news of having a child on the way sets the stage for a life-altering transition. Young mothers (often nervous and bursting with excitement) want to get it right from the start.
Even those who may have never shown a genuine interest in ‘childing’ suddenly become avid readers of parenting books. Their concerns regarding healthy mother-baby bonding, safe pregnancy, and infant nutrition are valid.
However, one downside of the Age of Information is the possibility of falling for misconceptions, experience-led opinions, and lies. In this article, we will dwell on four widespread lies about infant feeding that young mothers are vulnerable to believing.
You Cannot Make the Right Nutritional Choice for Your Baby
Trembling, frail, and helpless newborns are dependent on their primary caregivers for nutrition and sustenance. The best-known food for infants has been the mother’s milk since time immemorial. It is often called ‘liquid gold’ as it plays a vital role in the development of the baby’s immune system.
However, several valid reasons make breastfeeding challenging, including lactation issues. Other barriers may involve public embarrassment, pain, latching problems, etc. Whether or not to breastfeed must primarily be the mother’s decision. But she must be given the autonomy over choosing the alternatives.
For example – the most common alternative for breastfeeding is homemade or commercial baby formulas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discourages homemade formulas due to problems of nutrient composition.
But that doesn’t automatically make commercial formulas the better choice. The World Health Organization (WHO) slammed infant formula manufacturers for their misleading claims and tactical marketing. This is just a ploy to lure vulnerable and desperate mothers.
The issue has reached historical proportions as babies (mainly premature and with low birth weight) have suffered a life-threatening condition from Enfamil and Similac’s baby formulas. The condition, called Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), affects the baby’s intestinal lining and can lead to death in severe cases. Parents have even filed an NEC lawsuit against the baby formula manufacturers who kept profits over innocent lives.
No settlements have been made yet, but TorHoerman Law states that the first Bellwether trials will begin in early 2024. In light of this, young mothers need to stand up for their infants. For premature and underweight babies, it’s best to feed them from a milk bank if breastfeeding is ruled out.
In case you’ve fed them baby formula, keep a close eye on their health. If you notice symptoms like –
- A swollen belly
- Belly discoloration – grey, blue, or red
- Constipation
- Dark or bloody stools
- Diarrhea
- Unstable body temperature
Contact your healthcare provider immediately. Ideally, let them know your concerns before hospital discharge so they can suggest good breast milk alternatives. Even in general, human milk banks are better than store-bought formulas. Just ensure that the bank collects, stores, and distributes the milk hygienically.
What is most important to remember is that you need not be clueless and fall for misinformation. Wield your maternal power to choose what’s best for your child’s health.
Breastfeeding is Easy and Painless
A study published by the National Institutes of Health described breastfeeding for what it is – a sacred and intense biological dialogue, not just a meal at the breast. Besides receiving their required nutrition, the infant is simultaneously engaging in a multi-fold exchange.
This act encompasses hormonal, psychosocial, and biochemical processes. Meaning, the mother and the baby are forming a lasting bond (almost an extension of the intrauterine interaction). But the process must be allowed time to happen smoothly.
Young mothers often believe that breastfeeding should be easy since it’s a natural process. Even so, it is also a learned skill which requires the mother’s time and effort. Exposing this lie is crucial in light of the incredibly low breastfeeding rates, especially across North America.
If you or someone you know is reconsidering breastfeeding because it’s painful or inconvenient, remember that it gets better with time. Besides the high-quality nutrition your baby could miss out on, you risk losing that precious bonding time.
Here are a few tips to make your breastfeeding journey more comfortable –
- Support your body by resting comfortably on a couch or bed. Prop the backdrop with a stack of pillows for added convenience.
- Ensure your breasts also have ample support, as they will naturally be heavier. Hold your breast in a Hamburger or C-Hold just opposite your baby’s nose.
- If it’s difficult to go without a bra all day (or night), invest in a good nursing or soft, wireless bra.
- Try out different breast holds in case the nipple is sore, as each hold puts pressure on a different area.
- Before every breastfeeding session, take some time to relax your body and mind. This can be as quick as a few minutes of inhaling and exhaling.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, nipple soreness lasts a few days, but it’s vital to continue breastfeeding. If the pain persists, contact your healthcare provider.
It’s Okay to Eat Whatever You Want While Nursing
If you are what you eat, so is your nursing baby. A woman’s body is amazing as it produces milk according to the infant’s current requirements. Remarkably, your baby’s saliva sends specific messages to your body for milk composition.
For instance – if your baby has the flu, the breast milk will adapt itself with a higher concentration of antibodies to fight infection. Similarly, colostrum (first milk) is higher in protein compared to mature milk.
But all these nutrients largely depend upon the mother having a healthy and balanced diet. To help your body accommodate the needs of your child, you must adjust your diet accordingly. Healthline recommends avoiding the following five foods while nursing –
- Fish with a high mercury content, including king mackerel, bigeye tuna, and orange roughy
- Herbal supplements, mainly because they’re vastly unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Alcohol, but if you choose to consume, have no more than one glass and breastfeed after two hours of consumption
- Caffeinated drinks like soda, coffee, and some teas. It’s best to avoid altogether or consume 300 mg or less a day.
- Highly processed foods like deep-fried, packaged easy-to-cook meals, and sugary foods
That being said, this lie is often two-fold. Many young mothers also believe that breastfeeding will help them lose weight, so they’re eager to do more of it. This is not feasible because your baby only needs a certain amount of food each day. Plus, you may burn calories but not all nursing mothers notice a huge difference.
Weight loss (even post-pregnancy) is a result of a combination of efforts in different areas. Some ways to support postpartum weight loss include eating balanced meals and avoiding foods high in sugar and unhealthy fats.
It’s Important to Stick to a Feeding Interval
With a baby in the home, routines seldom go as planned. So is the case with your baby’s breastfeeding ritual. UNICEF’s Baby-Friendly Initiative published a guest blog where a breastfeeding counselor, Emma Pickett, discussed the dangers of obsessing over a routine.
A scenario like this is all too common – a young mother gradually gets comfortable with her breastfeeding rituals. She observes that her baby displays hunger cues every hour or hour-and-a-half. After feeding, the infant sleeps peacefully. Also, there’s been a set napping time during the afternoon for a few weeks.
Unexpectedly, one fine day the baby shows hunger pangs every 40 minutes as opposed to the routine one hour. Plus, the mother has to alternate between breasts, and the child seems to be insatiable. In such a case, it’s understandable to fear that there’s something wrong with your breasts or the baby.
However, it could simply be a natural process of growth. Pickett suggests taking the route of responsive feeding. She offers a brilliant analogy by comparing a baby’s changing cues to an adult’s hunger pangs. Most of us grab a snack or a drink as and when we want, depending on our appetite or mood.
Nobody gives a thought to the time, but growing infants are forced to follow an artificial routine. Also, the size of your breast does not determine milk storage capacity (in case you’ve ever worried about that).
Do monitor your baby’s changing hunger patterns and keep in touch with your healthcare provider. But remember to not stress about it too much; let your baby grow at their own pace.
Parting Thoughts
A mother is trusted with the heavy and sacred responsibility of taking care of her child. However, poor childbirth or breastfeeding outcomes can increase postpartum anxiety. The situation only gets worse when the young mother feels isolated or pressured to follow third-party advice.
In case you’re wondering, your maternal instinct or intuition is real and could play a key role in decision-making. So, the next time you feel something is off, it’s better to clarify than sit back and regret it later.
Most importantly, don’t fall for the lies that threaten to steal the magical experience of motherhood.