Breaking The Myths Related With Exclusive Breastfeeding Idea
In India, it is normal if you find a mother of 4 months old giving solid to her baby. While doctors recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months, here we got mother in laws and relatives to decide till when mothers can breastfeed her baby. I personally believe that rather than deciding for a baby, it is better to let the baby and mother decide when they want to give up on breastfeeding. I am a mother of a two years old daughter and I am sharing my experience with you.
How long one should breastfeed exclusively?
I was told to breastfeed 4 months but I denied and exclusively breastfed her for six months. She is still taking breast milk along with solid. Honestly, I am finding it a bit difficult because I have to take care of my diet so that in future, I won’t face any complications related to bones.
So, I am here to talk about all those myths shared by old people to don’t let mothers breastfeed their babies for more than 3-4 months. Sometimes, a mother chooses not to breastfeed after 3 months as she has to return to her job. That’s a different story because it is the mother who makes the decision and not the society.
Myth 1 – Breast Milk doesn’t come
When you reach 8 month of pregnancy, your body starts preparing breastmilk for your baby. And when the baby arrives, the first milk coming out from the breast is ‘colostrum’. It is a thick yellowish milk that is essential and nutrition dense for babies. When a mother fails to provide first milk after baby birth, several immunity issues arrive later in the baby.
The fact – The more you breastfeed, the more milk will your baby get. In case the flow of breastmilk is not steady in the beginning, use breast pump. I used a breast pump for a month to get the steady milk flow. For 15 days, I gave formula milk to my daughter apart from breast milk. My doctor asked me to exclusively breastfeed the baby for 6 months and I did the same.
Myth 2 – Baby remains hungry
Unless your breastmilk is not producing enough milk, your baby cannot remain hungry. And in myth 1, I have told you that the more you breastfeed, the more milk will your breast produce.
Fact is – Babies up to 6 months of age don’t need anything else except mother’s milk. Breast Milk is the perfect food for babies as it includes all the correct nutrients required by the baby in every feed. Your breast customizes the milk as per baby requirement every time! You really don’t even need to give water to your baby who is not even 6 months old. So, breastfeed your baby often (every hour for the first 3 months) for better milk flow.
Your baby is still carrying her/his stock of nutrients for the next 6 months so chill! Just feed her/him your milk and shun the society rules!
Myth 3 – Baby feels thirsty
Your baby doesn’t really require water until you start offering him/her solid food. If your baby is younger than 6 months and not taking solid then there is no point in giving water.
Exclusive breastfed babies are healthier and don’t fall sick often. They are active and intelligent. The idea of exclusive breastfeed for 6 months is not a stupidity but an initiative to give a healthy immune system to your baby.
Myth 4 – Breastfeeding supplements don’t work
You can buy GRD SMART by Zydus Nutriva. It has all essential nutrients that a mother requires during lactation period. There are more options available in the market today. Striveda is the latest product that has joined the league. I am sticking to GRD SMART because at my time, Striveda was not there.
These are the things I learnt from my experience. People blindly follow the rules set by society regarding exclusive breastfeeding. Please don’t do it for the sake of your baby! Your baby will thank you later in the coming years for listening to him/her and not the society.