Healthy Pregnancy

On my birthday I wondered what my mother was thinking before she went into labor?

Had she taken any childbirth classes? (No.)
Was she informed on what was going to happen with her body? (No.)
Was she scared? (Yes!)
Was my Dad going to be with her during labor and birth? (No.)
Was she allowed to make her wishes known to her OB? (No.)
Was she put under for the birth? (Yes.)
Did she have help at home after the birth? (Yes, her mom.)
Was she planning to breastfeed? (Yes.)

These questions are as common as mosquitos in the woods. They were common when I was born and still are today. The answers above were the norm in my mom’s day. How lucky we are that today’s answers are different .
Today we have professional people such as doctors, midwives, hospital staff, and doulas who will listen to the needs and wants of the birthing moms. There are options!

There are options for inducing labor, options for pain relief, options for pushing, options for feeding your baby, whether it’s breastfeeding or bottle, placenta encapsulation or not, immunization options and the list goes on & on.

Comparing the answers to my moms birthing experience and todays birthing moms I want to think that today all of the “no” answers would be “yes.”

These are things that I see or read every day: From my clients, from professionals and websites focusing on newborn issues. Each one of these statements could be an entire post. As time goes on, I hope to link each myth with a thorough explanation as to why it’s a myth. But for now, read these and remember they are MYTHS!

Breastfeeding is painful for the first few weeks.

Engorgement is normal and is a sign that everything is going well.

There is not enough milk during the first few days after the birth, so most babies need some formula until the milk “comes in.”

Many women do not produce enough milk.

A baby should be on the breast for a certain amount of time.

A mother should wash her nipples with soap before feeding the baby.

Pumping is a good way of knowing how much milk you have.

If a mother is planning to breastfeed, she should buy a pump.

Infant formulas are almost the same as breast milk.

Doctors know a lot about breastfeeding.

Some babies are lactose intolerant.

Nipples need to “toughen up” in order to breastfeed.

If you give a baby a bottle, he will not like the breast any more.

If you breastfeed you will sleep less than if you bottle feed.

You can’t eat your favorite foods if you breastfeed.

Breastfeeding makes your breasts sag.

If you breastfeed, everyone can see your breasts.

After 6 months, breast milk provides no more benefit to the baby.

If you have twins or more, you will definitely need to use formula.

Your baby will sleep longer at night if you give her a bottle of formula.

If your baby doesn’t breastfeed in the first week, he probably never will.

If you have flat nipples, your baby won’t be able to breastfeed.

Have you encountered any myths about breastfeeding? Have you heard some things that just don’t sound right? Please, post them here in the comments box. I would love to hear from you!

Written by Renee Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC. Renee is a lactation consultant in private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is available for home/hospital visits and phone consultations. Renee can be reached at www.second9months.com

You already know that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus. Even moderate drinking can cause devastating brain damage. But what about breastfeeding? Does that glass of wine you enjoyed with dinner pass into your breast milk?

The short answer is, “yes.” The alcohol you consume enters your bloodstream almost immediately and, therefore, is in your milk rather quickly. Even though the alcohol does transfer to your milk, the amount of alcohol your baby experiences is much less than the amount you drink. Unlike the placenta, the breast provides some protection from most toxins in your bloodstream. According to Dr. Thomas Hale, the dose of alcohol in milk is less than 16% of the mother’s milk.

The amount of alcohol in your milk will peak 30 to 60 minutes after you enjoy your drink. After that time, the alcohol level decreases rapidly as long as you don’t have another drink. Alcohol is not stored in your milk. It quickly dissipates as your blood-alcohol level decreases.

There is no need to “pump and dump” if you enjoy an alcoholic beverage. But it is a good idea to time your drink for just after a breastfeeding session. That way most of the alcohol will be out of your bloodstream by the time your baby wants to eat again.

What about alcohol and milk supply? Many mothers are told to drink a beer so their milk will “come in” faster. Perhaps your mother advised you that beer would increase your supply. On the contrary, we now know that alcohol inhibits oxytocin release. Since oxytocin is responsible for your milk-ejection reflex or let down, alcohol consumption actually decreases the amount of milk released from the breast during a feeding.

Drinking during breastfeeding is a personal choice—one of many decisions that you will make as a mother. The bottom line is that alcohol in moderation, keeping in mind the timing of your drink, is probably not harmful. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists alcohol as “usually compatible” with breastfeeding. Excessive drinking can, however, lead to developmental delays.

Your milk is the best thing for your baby. Planning your alcohol consumption is advised over using formula to replace milk that may contain a small amount of alcohol.

Written by Renee Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC. Renee is a lactation consultant in private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is available for home/hospital visits and phone consultations. Renee can be reached at www.second9months.com