12+ Breastfeeding Myths (and Facts) Every New Mom Should Know

Myth 2: Formula is evil, and breast milk is a magical cure-all

There are countless benefits of breast milk, as follows: 

• Fewer ear infections;
• Fewer respiratory illnesses;
• Fewer bouts with diarrhea;
• A decreased risk of conditions (e.g., leukemia, diabetes).
• And more

That said, the myth about breastfeeding being the cure-all solution for your child’s health can be misleading. Indeed, breast milk is only one part of a healthy lifestyle for your child. It has many long-term health advantages, but diet, exercise, parenting styles, and genetics all play a role in your baby’s health. Additionally, as any university student who survives on pizza and noodles can attest, humans are shockingly good at living on all types of food.

Formula will not ruin your baby. However, two things can both be true:

• Babies can thrive on formula
• There will never be a formula that can come close to the complexity and elegance of human milk.

Breast milk is a living substance. It changes to meet the baby’s needs throughout the day. For example, in the evening, a lactating body will produce milk with more melatonin (a hormone that helps humans sleep).

Still, formula isn’t evil. In circumstances where formula is necessary or a choice, the bottom line is this: Formula is food - combining various types of nutrition. Formula will feed your baby. And fed is best.

“I was devastated when I had to switch to formula. But my baby thrived, and I realized that fed is best. It wasn’t about the method but the love and care I was giving.” (Lisa, Mum of 2)

Myth 3: Pain is normal when breastfeeding

Pain is common, but never normal. As with many new practices and sensations, breastfeeding can be uncomfortable for the first week or two. Beyond that, extremely painful lactation, bloody nipples, or damaged nipples are never normal and should be treated.

Many of these painful problems can be due to a common issue with a baby’s oral tissues; tongue-tie. If you suspect that your baby has a tongue-tie, visit a certified lactation consultant to assess the feeding function. Your baby might benefit from an ear, nose, and throat specialist or a pediatric dentist. These specialists can diagnose and treat tongue-tie.

Remember, just like with adults, if one area of a baby’s body has tightness, it is likely there are tight and sore spots elsewhere too. A specialised osteopath or a reflexologist may be able to help.

Some other causes of pain while breastfeeding are poor positioning of the baby while feeding, a vascular condition called vasospasm, or inverted nipples. Breastfeeding positions can help a lot (with good support from choosing the suitable nursing pillows); some mums swear by lanolin oil, and some use a nipple shield to save their breasts from overly eager baby teeth!

“My nipples were cracked and sore, and I thought it was normal. A lactation consultant helped me fix the latch, and it made breastfeeding so much easier.” (Jess, Mum of 2)

If you think you may have one of these problems, again — contact an IBCLC, who can assess your specific situation and help make breastfeeding much less painful. You should also check out our Breastfeeding 101 guide!

Myth 4: All women will make enough milk if they work hard enough OR small breasts make little milk

This notion creates a culture of shame around mums who are unable to produce enough breast milk, which also ties into common myths about breastfeeding. Some healthcare providers even contribute; it’s often suggested that if you don’t make 100% of your baby’s milk, you should stop trying altogether. Mum shaming is disgraceful – every single mum is just doing the best they can.

“I pumped and pumped, for two weeks with nothing but a few ml’s to show for each time. It was painful, and nursing didn’t work out… I called my midwife in tears, heartbroken that I couldn’t fulfill my baby’s needs. She told me to allow myself to ‘fail’ at this one tiny thing that an upset mum was worse for my baby than a happy mum who feeds her formula.”  (Erika, Mum of 2)

Several factors can make milk production challenging. Blood loss during birth, retained placenta, hormonal imbalances, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or being over the age of 35 are all potential causes. Your breast size has nothing to do with your ability to produce enough milk for your baby.

We have solutions to some of these problems. Feeding more frequently, "power pumping", or being prescribed the proper medications and supplements can help your milk supply. Some mums swear by lactation teas full of fenugreek, blessed thistle, fennel, stinging nettle, goat's rue, moringa, and milk thistle. You can do some things, and a lactation consultant can offer even more solutions to your specific challenges.

However, supplementing your breast milk with formula or donor milk is not something to feel ashamed of! If you are interested in milk donation, check out Bonny’s story. It’s thought that as little as slightly less than 100ml of mum's breast milk can make a difference. Thus, never feel ashamed to supplement your baby with other foods as your physical and emotional well-being, and arising situations require it.

Myth 5: How much you pump tells you how much milk you are making

The amount you can pump depends on the kind of pump, the proper fit of pump parts according to your nipple size, and the quality of the pump. With a good pump, we can get information about how much milk you’re making, but that isn’t the whole story.

Some people just don’t respond as well to pumping as others. Often, your baby is just better at eliciting milk from the breast than any pump.

“I could barely pump an ounce, but my baby was thriving. It took a while to trust my body and my baby’s cues over the pump.” (Emma, Mum of 2)

Learn more: Lola&Lykke Smart Electric Breast Pump, mum-voted as best breast pump of the year 7 times in a row.

Myth 6: Medications and alcohol are unsafe while breastfeeding

Most medications are perfectly compatible with breastfeeding. But which types of medicines should you take without side effects? 

Some common medications prescribed post-birth are antibiotics, pain medication, and anesthesia. Antibiotics can upset a baby’s tummy and change their poop temporarily, but this isn’t harmful. Most pain medications cross into breast milk in such small quantities that they usually are not an issue. Anesthesia clears out of your system quickly, so this isn’t a problem either.

It’s always a good idea to ask if medication, vitamins, or other supplements are safe for breastfeeding.

While not drinking alcohol is the safest option for breastfeeding mothers, moderate alcohol consumption (up to 1 standard drink per day) is not known to be harmful to the infant. You should wait at least 4 hours before you nurse or pump. It’s probably wiser to breastfeed first and drink after. Alcohol does cross into breast milk, but it immediately crosses back into your bloodstream and is metabolised.

Learn more: Can Your Diet Affect The Quality of Breast Milk?

Myth 7: Babies can be allergic to breast milk

Babies can’t be allergic to the breast milk itself, but they can be intolerant to proteins mum is eating – dairy, eggs, tree nuts – and suffer from upset tummy or more spit-up. Truly, breastfeeding myths busted that it’s rare, but a baby could develop an allergy to something in your diet and develop eczema. To treat this, you’ll need to identify and eliminate the food from your diet. 

It’s a good idea to consult your pediatrician or your GP before eliminating every potential allergen from your diet. Take a closer look at what you ingest each day!

A mum could drink a protein shake with pea powder and wonder why a baby is gassy and uncomfortable. Well, if the pea powder is limited to a few shakes per week or dropped entirely for the duration of breastfeeding, you should be good to go. It’s not necessarily complicated, but you may have to think about your foods differently!

“My baby was fussy until I cut out dairy. It wasn’t easy, but it made a huge difference.” (Julia, Mum of 2). Consulting a pediatrician before making dietary changes is important to ensure the best approach for both mum and baby.

Learn more: Colic & Foods to Avoid While Breastfeeding

Myth 8: If you’re breastfeeding, you won’t get pregnant 

“If you’re breastfeeding, you won’t get pregnant,” common breastfeeding facts and myths found in many mother & baby groups. In fact, that’s not the whole story!

According to Havard Health, regular breastfeeding can help prevent ovulation- a must-occur in order to conceive a pregnancy. However, to be successful with this birth control, these conditions must be met:

1. The baby is under 6 months and only breastfeeding; 
2. Your breastfeeding is at least every 4 hours/day and 6 hours/overnight;
3. Your menstrual cycle hasn’t returned yet (amenorrhea).

That’s why it’s not a safe choice to choose breastfeeding for contraception. If you are not ready for another baby, it’s best to discuss suitable birth control options with your healthcare provider. Usually, low-dose birth control pills will be extremely excellent for breastfeeding mothers. In addition, your partner should use condoms and spermicide, but these options do not include chemicals or any similar properties that potentially affect your milk supply. 

Learn more: What They Don’t Tell You About Breastfeeding Whilst Pregnant

Myth 9: All healthcare providers know all about breastfeeding

Not all healthcare providers receive comprehensive training to address every breastfeeding-related challenge. In many cases, only basic guidance is provided, leaving out critical details on issues like latching and milk supply. To ensure your specific problems are addressed, it’s advisable to consult a lactation specialist who can offer targeted support and solutions tailored to your unique needs.

Besides that, you should learn about breastfeeding by joining breastfeeding classes and support groups. Understand that Lolalykke offers all-rounded mamahood manuals to empower a wonderful breastfeeding experience. 

Myth 10: Exercise affects the taste of your milk

A rising number of concerns regarding exercise while breastfeeding. In which, “Does exercise change the taste of milk supply?” might be the most discussed. Truly, there are common myths about breastfeeding to that belief. 

“Maximal and submaximal exercise can result in lactic acid accumulation in breast milk that is high enough to “sour” the taste of the milk,” Dawnine Enette Larson-Meyer, Ph.D, R.D says. There’s, however, no clear conclusion here because the study didn’t focus on moderate levels. In addition, your baby might refuse to feed due to the sweat’s saltiness left on your nipples - potentially causing the strange taste. 

On the other hand, exercise can benefit you a lot after childbirth: keep in shape, improve heart health, reduce stress, prevent postpartum depression, and encourage sound sleep. If so, how soon can you start exercising? The answer is “within a few days of a vaginal delivery” and “2-6 weeks of a C-section”. That’s not a joke, but you need to have approval from your doctor first. 

Myth 11: You should not breastfeed when sick

It’s time to dismiss the outdated myth that being sick is always harmful to your baby while breastfeeding. The fact is, breastfeeding while you’re sick isn’t just safe—it’s beneficial. Your breast milk contains potent antibodies that help protect your baby from similar illnesses.

Worried about your milk supply? There’s no need. In fact, stopping suddenly could increase your risk of mastitis. That’s why you shouldn’t stop breastfeeding without professional guidance. Instead, focus on good hygiene: wash your hands before feeding, sneeze into your elbow, and use hand sanitizer when needed. These steps help reduce the spread of germs, keeping both you and your baby safe.

But the reality is, breastfeeding while feeling unwell can be challenging. Feeding your baby can be exhausting and may worsen your condition if you’re not careful. Don’t overlook the essentials to support your recovery: stay hydrated, add nutritious snacks to your diet, and prioritize rest. If needed, combining breastfeeding and formula can help you lighten the load. When you’re sick, seeking prompt medical advice when needed is also highly recommended. 

Myth 12: It’s safer for your baby if you wash your nipples before breastfeeding

When first starting out, you may experience nipple soreness and discomfort, which is commonly known as symptoms of nipple chafing. It can be due to your baby’s position, sucking, and sometimes your nipple care routine. Don’t worry–it takes a little patience and practice to get everything just right.  

As for washing nipples every time before breastfeeding, there’s no need. Babies are naturally comforted by their mother’s scent and sound, so washing nipples is unnecessary. Besides that, breast milk contains infection-against properties and natural moisturizers, helping heal nipples for each breastfeeding. 

Some suggest using soap or shampoo on your nipples, but that’s not necessary again. Just wash your nipples and breasts with water and clean your hands to remove any possible infection risk. 

Learn more: Best Tips and Advice for Nursing Your Baby

The bottom line

Remember, the key is to find what works best for you and your baby, without feeling pressured by myths and misconceptions. Always seek support when needed and prioritize your and your baby’s well-being.