Parenting: Breastfeed

Is breastfeeding inconvenient? Today's reality consists of mothers who have full-time careers, numerous volunteer positions and other obligations. The prospect of motherhood is daunting enough with the multiple life changes that it requires – breastfeeding may seem like the straw that broke the camel's back for a woman already facing a life altering event.

Before you believe that, you better read on. The following includes common worries answered by lactation consultants and experts, easing the mind of the most stressed-out mom-to-be and shedding light on the most common breastfeeding misconceptions.

Truth: According to Ginger Carney, clinical nutrition manager and board certified lactation consultant for Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn., you can stay on top of engorgement by breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and continuing to breastfeed often.

"Many moms don't realize that babies need to nurse up to 12 times a day," Carney says. "As long as the baby is offered the breast whenever he or she is hungry, a mother's milk supply will match the baby's needs. If the breasts are emptied often, they won't become engorged!"

Truth: Having babies is exhausting and breastfeeding actually encourages relaxation by allowing the mother to rest while nursing. A hormone called prolactin is secreted in the mother's body when she breastfeeds. This hormone makes the mother calm down, relax and rest.

"If the baby were bottle-fed, the bottles would have to be made, heated, fed, cleaned, etc.," Carney says. "That is tiring! Even though someone else could do the feeding, the joy of successfully breastfeeding your child is completely worth it. Some moms are glad to be able to re-claim their infants when family members tend to take the baby from the mother to hold and rock. This is the mother's chance to cuddle her baby, nurse and relax – something only she can do!"

Truth: Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt if it is done right. The key is education before breastfeeding begins to understand correct latch on the breast. If the baby is only given the breast after birth (no bottles or pacifiers), then he or she will learn to latch on to the breast correctly. When other things are put into the baby's mouth, confusion sets in, and the latch becomes improper – that hurts!

"Exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first 4 to 6 weeks will increase the chances that the baby will learn to nurse properly and comfortably for Mom," Carney says. "Another problem with incorrect latch is that the baby may not be able to obtain enough milk at feedings. This will leave the baby unsatisfied, and long-term may affect growth. Mothers need to educate themselves prior to birth about the correct way to latch a baby to the breast so that these things will not happen and breastfeeding can be successful."

Carney suggests prenatal breastfeeding classes and seeing an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) in the hospital to make sure things are getting off to a good start. After Mom and Baby go home, Mom needs to know whom to call if problems or questions arise. Breastfed infants should be seen by the pediatrician two to three days after discharge from the hospital for a weight check and to assure that the baby and mother are breastfeeding successfully. This will help circumvent any problems leading to breast pain.

Truth: Pregnancy, hormones and weight gain and loss alter your breast shape, but your breasts will become full and large after delivery – even if you are not going to breastfeed.

"It is really pregnancy that alters breast shape, not breastfeeding," Carney says. "Actually, while a woman is breastfeeding, her breasts are usually full and sexy! They shrink down after pregnancy if lactation is not initiated."

Truth: You can work and breastfeed. "There are many options to continue the breastfeeding relationship," Carney says. "Ideally, the mother will use a hospital-grade electric breast pump at work. If a mother can express her milk about every four hours, she most likely will be able to maintain her milk supply." The milk expressed at work can be provided to the baby the next day Mother works.

Margot DeSevo, doctorate in nursing and international board certified lactation consultant, is a professor of Nursing at The College of New Rochelle School of Nursing. She agrees that while it is a commitment, it is certainly possible to work and breastfeed. "In order to be successful, the mother must pump her breasts to maintain her supply and to provide her baby with milk in her absence," DeSevo says. "The most efficient way to pump is by using a double, electric pump. When using a double, electric pump, both breasts are stimulated simultaneously, and the milk production is heightened at the same time that the minutes needed to pump is lessened."

Truth: While there are some mothers that cannot produce milk, they are few and far between. According to DeSevo, the vast majority of women who state that they have too little milk are found to have fed their babies too little. In order to produce enough milk for a neonate to grow and thrive, a mother must feed the baby a minimum of 8 times in 24 hours. It is even better to feed 12 times in 24 hours.

"Babies who are given bottles in place of the breast or who are fed infrequently are not stimulating the mother to produce milk," DeSevo says. "Milk production is a feedback system. If milk is not removed from the breast, the breast will not produce milk for the next feeding. If a mother wishes to breastfeed, therefore, she should be strongly encouraged to feed from the breast only or, if that is not possible, artificially to stimulate the breast by pumping whenever the baby is offered a bottle."

Truth: While it is true that fathers are unable to breastfeed, it is not true that they are unable to share in the experience of child care.

"Certainly, fathers are as important for cuddling, burping, bathing, diapering, dressing, etc., as are mothers," DeSevo says. "There are so many other roles open to the father; he hopefully will strongly encourage his partner to breastfeed their child."

Talk About Inconvenience! According to Ginger Carney, clinical nutrition manager and lactation consultant for Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn., there is nothing about parenthood more inconvenient than having a sick baby. "A sick baby means taking him or her to the doctor, staying up with the baby all night, missing work, having other children get sick, etc.," Carney says. "The chances for this to happen are much reduced if a baby is breastfed. Babies are much healthier and some studies show they are smarter if they receive breast milk for at least the first year of life. Also, it is inconvenient to have to spend money unnecessarily ... on formula, bottles, doctor's visits, medicine, etc. A mother can learn to nurse anywhere discreetly so that she can meet her baby's needs anywhere, anytime. Breast milk is always ready, warm and available. How convenient is that?" The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding (with age-appropriate foods) for at least the first year of life. Breastfeeding continues to offer protection from infection and diseases for as long as a baby breastfeeds.