Breast milk is the ideal food for the baby ; all national and international guidelines on child nutrition advise exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continue to offer breast milk even beyond the second year of age, if mother and child so wish. On breastfeeding every grandmother, mother or aunt feels they can have their say and so many false myths are born, let's try to discredit some of the best known and to underline some sacrosanct truths.
False myths about breastfeeding
Breastfeeding makes you fat . Breastfeeding requires an energy expenditure of about 350/500 calories per day more than normal. The exact opposite is therefore true: breastfeeding helps the new mother to get back into shape faster after giving birth.
Drinking beer increases milk production . Not only is it not true, it is also harmful . In fact, breastfeeding women should refrain from drinking alcohol as alcohol can harm the baby's health. An exception to the rule is occasionally granted, especially when the child is grown up, but only to drink two fingers of beer or wine, on rare occasions.
If the mother plays sports, the milk becomes sour . Physical activity does not make acid milk . A constant and regular physical exercise has never hurt anyone and, indeed, its benefits are known. If the new mother wants to go to the gym, let her go ahead; health and mood will benefit you, without detracting from the production and taste of milk.
Nursing mothers have to drink a lot to increase production . Certainly it is important that the mother maintains a good hydration and therefore drink enough. However, milk production does not depend on what you drink or what you eat. It is the suction that ensures that there is enough milk for the child's needs.
The breastfeeding woman cannot get pregnant . Getting pregnant when breastfeeding is more difficult, but not impossible.
Breast milk is heavy; difficult to digest . Breast milk is the ideal food for the newborn and is suitable for the digestive system of the baby. Furthermore, it is more digestible than formulated milks.
Prolonged breastfeeding makes no sense ; in fact, over time, breast milk loses its nutritional characteristics and is not recommended after the year. Breastmilk adapts to the needs of the child and changes over time, but this does not mean it loses its nutritional value for the baby for whom it is intended. Indeed, as already mentioned, the national and international guidelines advise to continue until the completion of the second year, and even beyond.
Mothers with strong myopia cannot breastfeed . The contraindications to breastfeeding are very few and among these the strong myopia does not appear. It is true that during breastfeeding a deterioration of vision can occur, but usually it is a transient problem. If you are not sure about this point, contact your ophthalmologist.
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The truth about breastfeeding
To increase milk production it is often necessary to attach the newborn to the breast . Frequent suckling and proper attachment of the newborn to the breast favor production that is adequate for the needs of the child.
If the baby does not stick well, the sinuses may come to the breast . It is important to properly attach the baby to the breast to protect himself from problems such as poor productions and breast fissures. In case of problems, contact a midwife.
The nursing mother must not smoke . The mother smoker must stop both during pregnancy and during breastfeeding, because this habit can seriously harm the health of the child. Regardless of breastfeeding, you should never smoke near a newborn, nor to older children. It is also a good idea for a breastfeeding mother to not drink alcohol or abuse coffee and other caffeinated drinks.
The breastfed baby does not need anything else up to six months . Breast milk satisfies all the nutritional needs of the child, up to 6 months, when the national and international guidelines on child nutrition recommend introducing other foods, without ceasing to breastfeed. Breastfed babies, for the first 6 months of life, therefore do not need anything else, not even herbal teas or water.
Breastfeeding is good for the baby . Breast milk strengthens the immune system and protects against infections; infants breastfed are in fact less exposed to respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal infections. Reduces the risk of allergies; it is associated with a lower risk of obesity; reinforces the emotional bond between mother and child.
Breastfeeding is also good for the mother . Breastfeeding is a protective factor against breast and ovarian cancer; helps to get back in shape after giving birth; reduces cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.