Breastfeeding, when possible, is the best option for the baby from a health and nutritional standpoint.
The mother’s milk provides the baby with all the energy and nutrients it needs in the first months of life, and continues to meet about half of the baby’s nutritional needs for the next six months, according to the World Health Organization.
However – and beyond a number of personal, medical or financial reasons why a woman may not be able to do so – there are still many myths that may dissuade a woman from trying.
The BBC asked two experts to explain some of the most common ones and detail why they are not true.
Catriona Waitt is Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Global Health at the University of Liverpool and a research fellow at Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Uganda. Alastair Suttcliffe is Professor of General Pediatrics at University College London.
Myth 1: It is common for breastfeeding to hurt and injure nipples
Waitt: This is a bit difficult to answer, since initial discomfort is perfectly normal and the nipples may hurt at first until they get used to it.
However, breastfeeding should not cause severe pain. That would indicate that there is a greater chance that the nipples are infected or that the baby is not latching on correctly.
Some discomfort may be normal, and it may take some time to get used to breastfeeding, especially for new mothers. If it causes too much pain and distress, it is something that requires a consultation with your doctor, nurse or midwife.
Myth 2: You won’t be able to breastfeed unless you do it from the beginning
Sutcliffe: Anything that encourages women to breastfeed is good for health on many levels. Any artificial restriction on human behavior that adds rigid limits is not based on science.
But there are many benefits of immediate breastfeeding.
Nutrition is the most obvious. It also helps the uterine contraction process, which can help prevent or slow postpartum uterine bleeding.
Also, in the first few days after birth, the human body produces a specific protein-rich substance called colostrum. It is a rich substance that starts the breastfeeding journey.
Myth 3: You cannot take any medication while breastfeeding
Waitt: That’s usually the first question every mother anywhere in the world asks: Is it safe for my baby for me to take my medication? The truth is that many drugs reach the baby at very low levels.
If a doctor tells you that you need to take medication, ask him or her, but it is very likely that there is no objection to doing so.
What the baby needs, more than anything else, is a healthy mother. Most common medications to treat infections, depression or pain in general are probably safe.
As for drugs that should not be used while breastfeeding, there are very few. They are usually to treat specific and very serious medical conditions, such as cancer.
There are other drugs that need to be carefully considered in terms of risks and benefits.
Any woman who is prescribed medications while breastfeeding should feel empowered to ask her doctor questions.
The ones to be wary of are over-the-counter remedies, such as cold or flu remedies that contain decongestants. These can reduce your milk supply.
And always be wary of herbal remedies, as you never know exactly what’s in them, and many have not been adequately studied.
Myth 4: You should only eat unseasoned foods and avoid spicy foods before breastfeeding
Waitt: There is nothing you can’t eat while breastfeeding. However, the exact composition of your milk is affected by your diet.
In some cases, a woman may notice a pattern. For example, I noticed that one of my children, when drinking a citrus juice like orange juice, became very irritable.
But there is nothing that can be harmful or medically wrong and should be avoided.
Myth 5: You can’t use formula milk if you want to breastfeed
Waitt: There is no absolute truth. However, a lot of milk production is basically regulated by supply and demand.
A woman’s body is amazingly made to produce enough milk for the baby. When the baby sucks on the nipple, hormones are triggered to produce the right amount of milk.
So no matter if you are feeding a small baby, a big baby or even twins, your body will produce enough milk.
If you start formula feeding, that chain is broken. Your body no longer receives enough signals that the baby needs more. If you have difficulty with your milk supply and start introducing formula, that may give you temporary relief, but it can make the situation worse.
On the other hand, if you have a bad night, or you are sick or exhausted and your partner feeds your baby formula on occasion so you can rest, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to breastfeed later.
Myth 6: You should not breastfeed if you are sick
Sutcliffe: No, that’s a myth. The only circumstances in which you shouldn’t breastfeed is if you have HIV or hepatitis.
These viruses can be passed through breastfeeding.
In most cases it is safe to continue breastfeeding when the mother is sick, because her body produces antibodies that also protect her baby.
It is extremely rare to see an illness in an infant that has been transmitted through breastfeeding.
Myth7: It is difficult to wean a baby if you breastfeed for more than a year
Waitt: The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively for six months, and then introducing complementary nutrition but continuing to breastfeed as long as you want.
There is no recommended time to stop.
In some high-income countries, such as the United Kingdom, most babies stop breastfeeding between the first and second year of life. While in low-income countries such as Uganda, breastfeeding continues until 2 or 3 years of age.
A global problem is that many countries do not have sufficient maternal leave to allow mothers to breastfeed exclusively, as recommended by the UN.