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Myths & Facts |
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| After labor of a new mother, the baby
should not be kept next to the mother at night,
because sometimes mother can sleep over the baby
and smother him. |
| Fact
: All mothers are always very alert about
their babies even in sleep. Even a little cry
from the baby will awaken the mother. Hence, a
mother can never sleep over the baby unless the
mother is mentally disturbed. |
| Mother should not breastfeed in lying
down position because breasts can suffocate the
baby. |
| Fact
: Mother can very well feed the baby in
lying down position & there is no risk of
baby being suffocated. |
| Baby needs extra water in hot season
in first six months of life |
| Fact
: Exclusively breastfed baby does not need
any water in first six months of life. It may
lead to various infections. Mother's milk contains
enough water to provide for baby's requirements
even in hot seasons. |
| Nipples & breasts should be washed
before very feed so that they remain clean |
| Fact
: Frequent washing of breasts & nipples
especially with soap & water removes the oil
from the skin of areola & nipple thereby making
it dry & cracked. It should be washed only
during bath once a day. |
| Breastfeeding mother should eat certain
food items & avoid some others. |
| Fact
: This is not true. Mother need not eat
the traditionally offered fat rich foods. Similarly,
there is no need to avoid any specific dietary
item unless the mother is definitely allergic
to that food. She should eat a well balanced diet
(Cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits & milk).
However, she should avoid eating outside to prevent
infection. |
| Mother can produce milk only for one
baby. Hence, twins need to be topfed in addition
to breastfeeding. |
Fact
: Twins can be fed simultaneously at both
breasts, which will increase the  supply
of milk, as more suckling will make more milk.
There is enough milk for both babies for atleast
six months. A mother needs to be reassured and
supported in breastfeeding her twins. |
| It is dangerous to breastfeed during
menstrual period. |
| Fact
: It is completely safe to breastfeed during
menstrual period. It cannot make the baby ill. |
| Left breast produces drink for the baby
while right breast produces food. Hence, baby
should be fed from both the sides. |
| Fact
: Both breasts produce similar milk. However,
both breasts in the initial part produce foremilk
(rich in sugar & water) and in the later part
produce hind milk (rich in fat). Hence, mother
should feed completely from one side so that baby
gets both foremilk & hindmilk. |
| Jaundice in the newborn baby is due to
certain items in her diet. |
| Fact
: Many babies get jaundice in first 7 days
of life. This is natural & not related to
mother's diet or breastfeeding. However all babies
with jaundice need a medical opinion to decide
the need of investigations & treatment. |
| A breastfed baby must move his bowels
a few times daily |
| Fact
: Infants have variable stooling patterns.
While at one extreme, some may move their bowels
5 - 6 times daily, at the other extreme, some
may move their bowels once in 4 - 5 days. Most
breastfed infants have stooling patterns that
fall within these extremes. These are all considered
physiologic variations and are acceptable. |
| A baby who wants to nurse constantly
is not getting enough milk. |
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Fact : There
can be many reasons why your baby is suddenly
nursing constantly. It might just be what is
normal for your baby. It might be a growth spurt,
where the increased nursing will increase your
milk supply. Sometimes a sudden increase in
nursing can precede a baby getting sick. Nursing
more can provide valuable protection from illness,
as the baby will be receiving more antibodies
and immunities during this time.
If your baby is age 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months,
6 months or around those ages, he/she is probably
going through a growth spurt. The increased
time at the breasts ensures that your milk supply
is increased adequately enough to sustain the
baby through the next growth period.
In addition to the above-mentioned growth spurts,
which are the most common cause of, increased
nursing, some babies also pick up their nursing
for other reasons. Are there significant changes
in your life, for instance a move or a vacation
or visitors in the house? Have you been away
from baby more than usual recently? Is the baby
getting sick or starting to teethe? Often changes
in routine or new stages of development in the
baby trigger increased desire to nurse for comfort.
On those days when all you feel you have done
is nurse-give yourself credit for what you have
accomplished - meeting the needs of your baby!
Facts
For Life |
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