26 facts on breastfeeding

The fact that breastfeeding is natural, however, doesn’t take away the fact that there are several myths, misconceptions and a lot of debates over the value of breastfeeding. We want to clear the air, so to speak by giving you the facts…just the facts.

Click next to read all the facts you need to know about breastfeeding..

Breastfeeding Fact 1

Breastfeeding causes a mother to produce oxytocin which makes her have contractions that helps to shrink the uterus after giving birth-making it a bit easier to fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes sooner rather than later.

Breastfeeding Fact 2

Breastfeeding burns about 500 calories daily. This may help with regaining your figure.

Breastfeeding Fact 3

Your ability to breastfeed your baby is not dependent on your breast size. Your breasts will be larger during pregnancy and for the duration of the time you breastfeed due to milk production.

Breastfeeding Fact 4

Some mothers are unable to produce enough milk to breastfeed their baby. This should not be looked upon as failure or inadequacy. Remember…not all women can conceive. Does this make them failures as women or mothers (who adopt)?

Breastfeeding Fact 5

Lack of water consumption, calorie intake, stress and infrequent breastfeeding all cause a decrease in milk production.

Breastfeeding Fact 6

Women do not automatically produce the amount of milk necessary to feed their baby. Milk production starts out small and grows to meet the demand.

Breastfeeding Fact 7

Babies instinctively know how to suck. They may need a little bit of help learning to latch on in the first hours of life, but will soon ‘get it’.

Breastfeeding Fact 8

Many first-time mothers need assistance and advice in learning to breastfeed. Yes, it is a natural process, but the mechanics are something to be learned and perfected.

Breastfeeding Fact 9

Your baby controls the flow of milk while nursing. A baby’s sucking motion expresses the milk from your breast. It doesn’t flow continually while they are latched onto the breast.

Breastfeeding Fact 10

Your baby can breathe and rest without letting go of the breast.

Breastfeeding Fact 11

Babies who are breast fed can taste the foods you eat through your milk.

Breastfeeding Fact 12

Babies who are breast fed do have a better immunity to some illnesses. This is due to the nutrient-packed, antibody-packed colostrum or ‘first milk’.

Breastfeeding Fact 13

There is evidence that women who breastfeed lower their chances of contracting breast, uterine or ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

Breastfeeding Fact 14

Breastfeeding in Public in Singapore is legal. However there are some who view breastfeeding in public rude and ill-mannered. Use your discretion when feeding your child.

Breastfeeding Fact 15

The majority of breastfeeding mothers (over 75%) use breast pumps to express milk for bottle feeding by the baby’s father, grandparents and/or other caregivers after they return to work following maternity leave.

Breastfeeding Fact 16

Babies who are fed expressed milk from a bottle receive the same health benefits as those who are solely breastfed.

Breastfeeding Fact 17

A mother’s nipples can become infected-making nursing painful or possibly impossible.

Breastfeeding Fact 18

There are creams you can use to soften and protect your nipples from chafing and cracking.

Breastfeeding Fact 19

Thinking about your baby or other strong emotions can cause milk to be involuntarily expressed.

Breastfeeding Fact 20

Your milk appearance will change from time to time. Do not stress out. It is normal for milk to fluctuate in appearance from time to time.

Breastfeeding Fact 21

Exclusive breastfeeding is 98-99.5% effective in preventing pregnancy as long as all of the following conditions are met: Your baby is less than six months old Your menstrual periods have not yet returned Baby is breastfeeding on cue (both day & night), and gets nothing but breastmilk

Breastfeeding Fact 22

If baby is gaining well on mum’s milk alone, then baby is getting enough. A 5-7% weight loss during the first 3-4 days after birth is normal. Baby should regain birth weight by 10-14 days.

Breastfeeding Fact 23

There are peaks and valleys with breastfeeding and sometimes you will thoroughly enjoy it, and sometimes you will resent it–but in the end you will not regret one day that you stuck with it.

Breastfeeding Fact 24

Best way to stimulate supply is to nurse baby frequently and on demand. Baby's suckling will stimulate milk supply better than any pump.

Breastfeeding Fact 25

The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. The natural age of weaning for a human child is between 2-7 years.

Breastfeeding Fact 26

Breastfeeding is undeniably beneficial to both mother and baby. But breastfeeding should not be used as a mark of successful motherhood. The mother who chooses not to breastfeed or who (for whatever reason) cannot breastfeed, is no less a mother, doesn’t love her child any less and is just as likely to have the next Bill Gates in her arms.

Written by

Darla Noble

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