New mom? Read six common misconceptions about breastfeeding

When you're becoming a new mom, a lot of thoughts run through your head. All you want is for your baby to be healthy, happy, and hungry (at least hungry enough). Breastfeeding is a topic that evokes a lot of emotions among new mothers. Here, we list six common misconceptions about breastfeeding and then tell you the reality.

Six common misconceptions about breastfeeding

How much milk you produce as a mother differs from person to person

Many think that how much milk you produce depends on your body. For example, a common misunderstanding is that you won’t produce enough milk if you have smaller breasts. This is not true. The amount of milk produced is stimulated by how much your baby eats. Meaning the baby is the boss over milk production. How much “storage capacity” you have, however, may differ. So you might need to breastfeed more often to keep up with the demand.

Sore nipples are standard

As a woman, you learn to endure certain pains and just “breathe through it”. And after childbirth, all the other pains will feel like a small itch in comparison. If your nipples get sore and hurt when breastfeeding, it’s easy to think that “it's just the way it is”. However, you don't need to settle. Even though most mothers experience soreness at the beginning of their breastfeeding journey, the right positioning can help the baby to get a better latch. Hypothetically meaning sore nipples can be avoided. However, if needed there’s always your midwife or lactation consultant that can help and advise.

You shouldn’t breastfeed when you’re sick

Do you have the flu or a cold? Don’t worry. You can still breastfeed your baby. The germ-fighting antibodies will actually be transferred to your baby, helping their immune system against catching the sickness in the future. And if your baby does get sick, the recovery period could be a lot shorter and the sickness milder.

You can't eat and drink what you want when breastfeeding

A balanced diet is always good for you - no matter who you are. Whether you’re a pregnant soon-to-be mom, just started breastfeeding, or neither. Eating well-balanced meals is a crucial part to staying healthy and energetic. However, in general, there’s no need for a change in diet. If your baby suffers from colic, stomach aches, or is unhappy, your midwife might recommend you to test excluding milk or other foods that might affect the baby’s stomach. The baby will get a taste of your favorite foods from being in the womb. And, don’t worry about having a glass of wine from time to time. Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is not dangerous for your baby. However, high alcohol consumption while co-sleeping or taking care of your baby is never recommended.

Here are our tips for a balanced diet

Exercise will affect the taste of the milk

Exercise is a healthy activity for everybody, including breastfeeding mothers. Some people believe that exercise might affect the taste of the milk. However, there’s no evidence to support this. So go on, go for a workout if you want to.

Here are some tips for getting started with exercising after pregnancy

Breast Milk goes bad immediately

At room temperature, fresh milk is good for about 4-8 hours. You can keep it in a cooler with ice packs for 24 hours or in the back of the refrigerator, away from the door for 3-5 days. Frozen milk is good for up to 6 months.

Read the full article about breast milk

Breastfeeding with products from Najell

Did you know that all of our products are designed with breastfeeding in mind? The Najell Pregnancy Pillow includes two integrated nursing pillows. This gives you the possibility to find a good, comfortable position for both you and your baby. When you're out and about, carrying your baby around, we've made it easy for you to breastfeed in the baby carrier. Najell Baby Carriers are all designed to ease the access to the mother’s breast. The Najell Wrap can be used skin to skin and is easy to breastfeed in. And with the Babynest SleepCarrier it is easy to fold down one side of the nest. Meaning you can breastfeed the baby lying down, without having to move the baby from the babynest.