Being a new mom comes with different feelings, anxiety, curiosity, and the constant search for what’s best for your baby. One of the major challenges new moms face after delivery is figuring out how to feed their little ones.
It’s not uncommon to hear questions like: Is breastfeeding compulsory? Can I give my baby water while doing exclusive breastfeeding? How often should I breastfeed my baby? What food should I eat or avoid while breastfeeding? Is my baby getting enough milk?
What is Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is the natural way of feeding a baby with milk directly from the mother’s breast or expressed from a feeding bottle. It provides complete nutrition and protection for newborns, especially in the first six months of life.
The World Health Organisation ( WHO) says It is the perfect food for newborns and babies within 6 months of agebecause it provides complete nutrition and protection for babies.
Importance of Breastfeeding
- Perfect Nutrition: Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals) needed for a baby’s growth and development.
- Boosts Immunity: It provides antibodies that help protect the baby from infections, allergies, and illnesses such as diarrhea, ear infections, and respiratory diseases.
- Promotes Healthy Growth: Breastfed babies have a lower risk of obesity, diabetes, and certain childhood illnesses later in life.
- Bonding: Breastfeeding fosters emotional closeness between mother and baby through skin-to-skin contact.
- Benefits for Mothers: It helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size, reduces postpartum bleeding, lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and may support weight loss.
- Improved Cognitive Development: Children who are breastfed tend to perform better in cognitive tests.
- Mental Health: Breastfeeding may also reduce the risk of postpartum depression for mothers.
Breastfeeding Myths vs. Facts
There have been several myths about breastfeeding, but here are the facts to guide us properly.
Myth 1: Exclusively breastfed babies need drinking water to support breast milk.
Fact: Exclusively breastfed babies don’t need drinking water. Breast milk contains enough water for the baby’s well-being. The recommendation is no food or drink other than breast milk for the first six months of life.
Myth 2: The first breast milk produced after delivery is not enough for the baby.
Fact: The first milk, called colostrum, is more than enough. It is the most important and richest milk, often referred to as “liquid gold.” Mothers should ensure their babies get it.
Myth 3: Modern formula milk is the same as breast milk.
Fact: Breast milk is far better than formula. Formula is processed food, while breast milk is natural and contains living cells, hormones, and antibodies. Formula lacks the dynamic, protective qualities of breast milk.
Myth 4: Small breasts produce less milk.
Fact: Breast size has no impact on milk production. With proper nutrition, the breasts will produce sufficient milk for the baby.
Myth 5: Breastfeeding is easy.
Fact: Breastfeeding takes practice and support for both mother and baby. The mother must practice the right sitting position and how to carry her baby properly. She must ensure that the baby’s mouth covers the areola, not just the nipple, so the baby can latch properly.
Myth 6: You can’t get pregnant while breastfeeding.
Fact: Breastfeeding can delay ovulation, but it is not a reliable form of contraception.
Myth 7: Breastfeeding is always painful.
Fact: While some initial discomfort is normal, persistent pain is not. With proper latch and positioning, breastfeeding should not be painful..
In Conclusion
Every parent desires to raise a healthy child, and breastfeeding has been proven to be the safest and most beneficial feeding method. Beyond nutrition, it builds emotional closeness between mother and baby which is something truly priceless and deeply cherished.
