August is National Breastfeeding Month. Whether to breastfeed is up to every expectant mother, and there may be reasons to favor one decision more than the other. For example, some mothers choose not to breastfeed once they learn their baby has galactosemia, a condition which can make dairy products and breast milk dangerous for their child.
If it is right for you and your baby, breastfeeding offers many advantages. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, breastfeeding can provide “lifelong benefits and protection against many diseases including diabetes, obesity and asthma.” Babies who breastfeed are also at lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Consuming breast milk can also, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lower your baby’s risks from some common illnesses, such as ear infections and stomach bugs.
In addition, breast milk provides good nutrition and gives babies antibodies that make them better able to resist future illnesses. Babies find breast milk easier on the digestive system than formula, and many moms and babies enjoy the warmth and closeness experienced through breastfeeding.
The benefits to the mother that Johns Hopkins Medicine cites include lowered risks of breast cancer, postpartum depression and other diseases and conditions. Another advantage they give is the affordability of breastfeeding (i.e., free). The process involves significantly less preparation than what formula requires as well, enabling moms to more easily manage travel and day-to-day errands. Women who have breastfed typically find it less challenging to return to their pre-pregnancy weight than moms who use formula too, possibly due to the calories burned in producing milk.
Despite breastfeeding’s many benefits, common myths about it can cause unneeded anxiety or cloud decision making. For example, the process of sharing milk with your baby is not supposed to cause pain. Sometimes a latch that doesn’t work can, however, result in discomfort. If you are having trouble breastfeeding, ask for assistance from a lactation consultant through your health care provider — such as Eskenazi Health Family Beginnings — or free local services. For example, you can reach out to the support line run by the Marion County WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program at 317-221-7407. Do not hesitate to share concerns with a consultant. It is common to have difficulty with breastfeeding in the beginning.
On HealthyChildren.org, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) breaks down several other common breastfeeding inaccuracies that may worry new or expectant mothers. These include:
• Myth: Small breasts provide less milk for the baby than larger ones. False.
• Myth: A woman must prepare her breasts for the process. False. The body does that on its own. Attempts you make to toughen your breasts could cause issues with breastfeeding and bring on early labor.
• Myth: The shape and size of the breasts are always destroyed by breastfeeding. False. While breast consistency alters, most women find their breasts look the same post-breastfeeding.
• Myth: There is a one-year deadline for breastfeeding. False. The AAP recommends continuing breastfeeding months after you are feeding your baby solid foods. They explain that breastfeeding can lead to benefits past the child’s second birthday. They do recommend only breastfeeding — with no solid food — for the first six months.
• Myth: Sexual arousal caused by breastfeeding is unnatural. False. It’s perfectly normal.
• Myth: Breastfeeding prevents pregnancy. False. It does make pregnancy less likely, but it certainly isn’t contraception.
These are not the only myths you will hear. Check out credible sources when making decisions about your health and your baby’s, such as HealthyChildren.org (also available in Spanish: HealthyChildren.org/Spanish/Paginas/Default.aspx). You should always feel comfortable asking your medical providers questions as well. If you are looking for a new provider for your maternal care, please reach out to Eskenazi Health Connections at 317-880-7666.
Ananda Kannappan, M.D., primary care physician and Lifestyle Medicine practitioner with Eskenazi Health Center Grande