SINGAPORE : You're not feeding him enough milk. Look, he’s hungry again. Formula is better. This was what well-meaning relatives told first-time mum, Elaine Chan, when she was breastfeeding her newborn son.
“I was set on breastfeeding, but my in-laws had some misconceptions about it. This caused some friction in the family during the early months,” said the 29-year-old technical assistant.
As in Chan’s case, such scenarios are not uncommon among breastfeeding mothers. Despite increasing awareness on the benefits of breastfeeding in recent years, lactation experts TODAY spoke to said that misconceptions about breastfeeding are still rampant (see Breastfeeding myths debunked).
Breast milk has been proven to prevent infections, allergies and obesity in babies.
The Health Promotion Board (HPB) encourages mothers to “start breastfeeding exclusively as soon as the baby is born, for at least six months and after, as long as mutually desired”.
A 2007 clinical study conducted by the National University of Singapore on 450 women found that those who did not receive antenatal education were less likely to breastfeed exclusively after delivery, compared to those who had.
Senior clinical research coordinator and lactation consultant Mrs Doris Fok, who was involved in the research, said: “The mothers who did not breastfeed their babies were not as well-educated about breastfeeding. With the lack of family support and education, they didn’t think that breastfeeding was a lifestyle that was possible for them.”
Dr Lim Hui Ling, a senior family physician at International Medical Clinic, who has an interest in breastfeeding, said that she has seen many mothers give up breastfeeding because of traditional beliefs and myths, as well as pressure from their relatives.
Ms Betty Lee, a lactation and prenatal consultant in private practice said that even for those who attempt to breastfeed initially, lack of family support can cause them to give up later on.
“I tell them to try, but their in-laws or husbands may tell them otherwise. Many mothers start out with the best intentions, and then give up after two months,” she said.
Incorrect advice given by doctors who are “not well informed” about breastfeeding can also sabotage a mother’s efforts to breastfeed, said Dr Lim, who has seen mothers who were told to stop breastfeeding by their family doctors because of prescribed medication another breastfeeding myth.
But are there instances in which a mother cannot breastfeed?
In rare cases, a mother may be unable to breastfeed due to “overwhelming health concerns” such as AIDS and active tuberculosis.
“Those on certain strong and toxic medication, like cancer drugs or drugs that affect the immune system and brain function, should also not breastfeed,” said Dr Lim.
In addition, mothers who have had their milk ducts cut in certain breast enhancement surgeries will have problems breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding Myths Debunked
Myth 1: Women with small breasts cannot produce adequate milk for their babies.
Lactation consultant Betty Lee has seen many mothers with cup AA-sized breasts
successfully breastfeed their babies.
“Some mums think they don’t have enough milk and start supplementing with formula. This causes the milk production to go down further,” she said.
What they don’t know is that milk is produced due to a supply-demand effect.
The baby’s suckling stimulates the brain to produce hormones that will cause milk to be produced. “It’s like a water tank. The milk is replaced only when it is emptied.”
Myth 2: Breastfeeding is tiring.
On the contrary, breastfeeding releases a hormone, oxytocin, which induces a feeling of relaxation in the mother.
“This helps with mother-baby bonding and helps the mother to sleep more easily
but does not tire her. It’s the demands of caring for and adapting to a new baby that makes any new mother tired,” said Dr Lim Hui Ling of International Medical Clinic.
Myth 3: Women with flat or inverted nipples cannot breastfeed.
According to Ms Lee, about 3 per cent of mothers she counsels have flat or inverted nipples, but they can still breastfeed even though they may experience some difficulties in the initial months.
“It’s all in the mind,” said Ms Lee. “Breastfeeding is not called nipple feeding for a reason. In proper breastfeeding, the baby latches onto the areola (the breast tissue around the nipple) instead of the nipple.”
Myth 4: Breastfeeding mothers who are taking prescribed medication or
antibiotics should stop breastfeeding.
According to Dr Lim, it is “extremely rare that a mother needs to stop breastfeeding just because of a prescribed medication, especially for simple short-term illnesses”.
She added: “There is usually a choice of a few different drugs to treat most medical conditions. A knowledgeable doctor can choose one which is suitable for a mother so that she can continue breastfeeding.”
- TODAY/ar