Breastfeeding is one of the single most challenging and rewarding experiences most new mothers go through - aside from bringing the baby in to the world in the first place! From cracked nipples, perfecting the "latch", relaxing in to it and finally being so good at it that no-one even knows you are doing it, it can be a cause of huge stress and concern for a new mummy.

We have compiled the list below to highlight some of the more popular "old wives tales" associated with breastfeeding. Hopefully they will help you find your way through this potentially difficult time without the added challenge of weeding out the information that simply isn't true. Most new mummies have got enough on their plate without the added worry of made-up facts and half truths!

See which ones you thought were true or false in relation to successful breastfeeding - there may be some in there that surprise you!

Breastfeeding makes your boobs sag!

Nope! The only thing that makes breasts sag is allowing the ligaments that support them to become stretched. Fopr most women this process starts with the on-set of pregnancy as this is when most women's breasts increase in size. It is crucial at this point to make sure you are professionally fitted for a bra and that it provides the required support. This will go a long way to ensuring your breasts are not rendered saggy! It is not the breastfeeding that is to blame as by then the damage is already done!

“If you let your baby feed for a long time you will run out of milk!”

Nope! Your baby cannot use up your milk as it is continuously produced as soon as it is removed. Your breasts may feel less “full” and solid as a feed goes on, or even as the months of successful breast feeding continue, but this is simply your supply adjusting to meet demand.

“Breastfeeding hurts!”

Unfortunately, its yes and no on this one! Breastfeeding can feel tender for the first week or so until you find the right latch for you and the baby and your nipples are used to it! (Breastfeeding can be quite a change from the activities your nipples experienced previously!) However, once the baby is feeding well and you are settled in to a good routine, breastfeeding should NOT hurt! If it does, seek support from your health visitor, local support groups or a lactation consultant. There are loads of useful links showing the amazing range of support available on our main web site. It could mean you have thrush, mastitis or even just need to improve your latch, and you should not be suffering in silence!

“You’ll need to drink more milk in order to be able to produce more milk”

Nope – otherwise the herds of dairy cows roaming the plains of England would have tubes running from their udders in to their mouths! No other mammal needs to drink milk to make milk, so why should we? However, it is important to make sure your diet is as balanced and healthy as possible – not least because having a new baby can be exhausting and keeping yourself well can make things a lot less stressful! Its also worth remembering that the nutrients you put in your body end up in your milk and therefore in your baby's body, so you will be staying healthy for both of you!

“Giving your baby occasional formula cancels out the benefits of breastfeeding”

Obviously we live in the real world and sometimes it may not be possible to solely breastfeed your baby. It is usually worth waiting a few weeks if you have to introduce a bottle as this can reduce your milk supply (remember the supply and demand – you will only produce what your baby needs so if they don’t drink as much, your “production” will go down. ) Research shows that the more breast milk a baby gets, the better, so even if this has to be augmented with formula they will still feel the benefit. (This is not true in the case of asthma and eczema as the same research shows that the longer babies can avoid breast milk substitutes the less likely they are to develop these conditions.) One way to avoid having to mix breast with other milks is to express breast milk and administer it like formula (E.g If you have to return to work). This will stimulate supply and make sure you keep producing the required amount, and also ensures your baby is getting the best of both worlds - even if they can’t enjoy skin to skin contact with you, they are at least drinking the best possible milk!

“Cabbage leaves in your bra are all you’ll need to avoid cracked nipples!”

Yes and No....if only it were that simple for all women! Cabbage leaves (Savoy only) have been proven to soothe sore nipples as they contain a healing enzyme – they are also usually deliciously cool and soft straight from the fridge so they can certainly help with any soreness. Some women recommend putting pure lanolin cream on your nipples before and after every feed. Some women just tough it out! An important note is to make sure you keep your nipples scrupulously dry and clean between feeds as this will also help the healing process and guard against infection. It is also perfectly possible to breastfeed with bleeding nipples (although the baby may spit up slightly more often), but if your nipples bleed for more than a few days then seek help from a lactation consultant or other advice source to ensure your latch is good.

“If a baby feeds for more than ten minutes he is comfort feeding and will end up spoilt”

Nope! Human milk changes during the course of a feed - the initial gulps are a thirst quencher which is then followed up by more fat rich milk as the feed develops. This is why there is no need to switch breasts during a feed, unless the baby finishes with one and then still seems to be “rooting” for more. It is very important that the baby feeds for long enough to get the fat rich “hind milk” during every feed. It is also important not to rigorously time feeds so that you can let your baby can tell you when he/she has had enough. Babies have been breastfeeding for centuries without the benefits of health professionals, watches and websites! Most babies will go through the odd phase of staying on and suckling for comfort after they have finished their main feed, but as you become familiar with your child’s routine, so will you be able to tell when they are full & happy even if they haven’t quite let go yet!

As for “spoiling” them – babies have one way of communicating and that is to cry – think of it as their way of talking! They feel the same strong, base emotions that we do and have an innate sense of what they need to thrive – if they are hungry, scared, cold, lonely or just plain bored, they will tell you by crying. You are not spoiling them by responding to these needs. No baby has it in their arsenal to manipulate you – that is a special treat for mummies that comes later with toddler-hood!

“Women with fair skin are more likely to get sore nipples”

Nope! And that’s that. There is absolutely no clinical research to back this up - trust us - we have looked.

“You need to prepare your nipples for breastfeeding”

Nope! We suspect the local nipple clamp shop may be behind this particular myth. It will make no difference to your experience of breastfeeding to “prepare” your nipples and realistically nothing can prepare you for a half hour feed every two hours from a tiny, hungry sucking machine! If you want to prepare for breastfeeding then prepare your brain & your emotions and let your nipples take care of themselves!

“Breastfeeding can help you lose weight!”

FACT!! Yay! Some women find breastfeeding is a very effective method of shifting the pregnancy “fat-stores” laid down by your body. Some women find that these stores remain during breastfeeding to support the production of milk, but often they find when they give up breast-feeding, the weight is easy to lose. Anyway, if mummy wants cake then who are we to deny her....?

“Breastfeeding is an effective form of birth control”

Well, some might say having a child is the most effective form of birth control! Sadly, this particular breastfeeding legend is not true for all women. Breastfeeding delays the return of your periods however, when your cycle begins again, you will ovulate before your first period starts which would make you fertile before you were aware you could conceive again. Most women find this method to be 98% effective if they breastfeed on demand for at least 6 long or ten short breast feeds in every 24 hour period, and their baby is still less than 6 months old. However this is not fool proof and if you are unsure or absolutely don't want to get pregnant again, you should always supplement with another method of birth control!

“You cannot breastfeed with pierced nipples!”

Nope! It is worth removing the jewellery before trying as this can damage your baby’s soft palate and interfere with breastfeeding, but a pierced nipple can take as long as six months to start healing and a professional piercer can help ensure the holes do not close, so having a pierced nipple should not hinder breastfeeding!

“Women with smaller breasts produce less milk than those with large ones!”

Beyond nonsense! We shouldn’t even dignify this with a response...

“If you eat garlic/curry/chocolate your milk will taste of it”

Well, some women report this to be true (how do they know?!?), but the fact remains that breast fed babies from all cultures and backgrounds drink breast milk having never tasted anything else and love it! Don’t waste time worrying about “tainting” your milk with strong flavours. If you like something then chances are it will be to your babies taste as well – they were eating the same as you for nine months after all...

“You must feed your baby every three hours for ten minutes at each breast”

There are plenty of “formulas” and plans for ensuring “accurate” feeding and for a lot of women this provides a reassurance that trusting your instincts does not! Remember your child is not all that dissimilar to you in that sometimes they may feel like a snack, sometimes they may feel like a full three courses and sometimes they may not be hungry at all! As long as your baby seems healthy and alert (you will be able to tell this better than anyone), as long as they are daily producing at least 6/8 wet nappies and 4/6 soiled ones, and as long as her poo is yellow, sweet smelling and the consistency of scrambled eggs (ie Not green and watery which can be a sign of something else), then you and the baby are doing fine!

We hope you found this attempt to gazump some damaging myths and legends useful. If you have any more to add then we'd love to hear them - simply contact me on my e-bay user id as above.

Just remember that by even trying to breastfeed you are doing the best you can for your baby and you should be justifiably proud of yourself. There is lots of help out there if you need it and you are not alone if the going gets tough!

Happy Breastfeeding from all at 

(Guide written by Sam - mummy to breastfed-baby-boy, now two and a half, and 33 weeks pregnant with baby number two)