Expectant mothers are bombarded daily with useful and not-so-useful information, from family members to nosy neighbors to the stranger on the street. Everyone, in their own way, is an expert on childcare and breastfeeding.
For new moms, keeping up with infant feeding routines and attending to their many individual needs is usually quite a humbling experience. Some mothers find the pressure even greater when there is no support system to lean on during this time, while for others this is a blissful time when family members and friends run around to help them focus solely on caring for their newborn.
Breastfeeding is an important part of child care and the only medium through which the child receives all the requirements for a healthy growth phase. Breast milk contains antibodies and fatty acids, which are an essential part of the baby’s nutrition and serve as first aid and protection against diseases and infections.
Some breastfeeding myths have led young mothers to make mistakes and beliefs that have not helped them in raising children but rather caused even greater problems. Therefore, it is advisable to seek professional help from well-trained professionals who have more knowledge about such issues.
Below you will learn about the disadvantages of breastfeeding and how to deal with them.
The disadvantages of breastfeeding are mostly situations that make breastfeeding uncomfortable and stressful, but if you understand them, you can overcome them.
- Discomfort: new mothers feel uncomfortable in the first few weeks after giving birth. The breastfeeding process can be uncomfortable for them at first, but once they and their baby get used to the system that works for them, it gets easier. It takes patience and mindfulness to understand the baby’s feeding behavior and the method of attachment.
- MILK SUPPLY: One myth that has not been proven true is the claim that small breasts determine milk flow. This is an unfounded fact, as the size of the breasts does not affect milk production, but rather the stimulation of the mammary gland is responsible for it.
- Curbing caffeine and alcohol intake: For mothers who like to consume caffeine on a daily and hourly basis, it is advisable to drastically reduce the intake so as not to upset the baby’s internal clock. Alcohol consumption should be as low as possible, preferably not at all during this time, so as not to disrupt the child’s nutrient absorption.
- FORMULA FOR NEWBORNS: Breast milk is a healthy meal that contains all the nutrients a child needs, so it is not necessary to include breast milk in the child’s diet before six months of age. An exception to this rule is mothers who do not produce enough milk; they can introduce formula at four months.
- MEDICATIONS: Medications used to treat fever and minor illnesses of the mother do not affect the breastfed infant because the taste of breast milk changes only slightly for the infant. A sick mother can continue to breastfeed her baby as long as it is not a high-risk illness, because breastfeeding protects the baby better. After all, the mother’s body produces antibodies that fight her illness; these antibodies are transferred to the baby and protect it from infection.
Your baby is breastfed well if he or she sleeps more than two to three hours after meals, if he or she has bowel movements three times a day, and if diapers need to be changed regularly.
World Breastfeeding Week aims to help new mothers. Therefore, this article will help teach new moms these facts that will help them breastfeed their baby better.
If you have any questions, you can leave a comment below.