The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations support breastfeeding as the best way of feeding infants. Breast milk contains the perfect combination of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, and minerals and is loaded with disease-fighting substances that help protect the baby from sickness. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation surrounding the topic of breastfeeding. Here are a few common myths to watch out for…

Myth #1: You can't get pregnant while breastfeeding.
Fact: It is true that breastfeeding prevents ovulation in some women, but do not rely on this as a form of birth control.

Myth #2: You need to toughen your nipple before your baby is born.
Fact: Your body will naturally prepare itself for breastfeeding. Creating tactics to toughen them may actually interfere with normal lactation.

Myth #3: Small breasts don't produce as much as large ones.
Fact: Breast size has nothing to do with the amount of milk they produce.

Myt #4: All babies should be weaned before their first birthday.
Fact: When to stop breastfeeding is a personal decision that varies according to the preferences of the individual. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition from your baby for about 6 months.

Myth #5: When breastfeeding, you need to remain on a strict diet for your baby's nutrition.
Fact: While you may not need to follow a strict diet, you should still avoid things like caffeine, alcohol and mercury while breastfeeding.

Making the decision to breastfeed is beneficial to both mommy and the baby. When you breastfeed, you give your baby a healthy start that lasts a lifetime. Your baby benefits from the cells, hormones, and antibodies that are in the milk, which lowers the risk of asthma, ear infections, sudden infant death syndrome, and more. Breastfeeding even benefits the mother's health and healing after giving birth, and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes, certain types of breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. 

For more information:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Common-Myths-About-Breastfeeding.aspx
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Things-to-Avoid-When-Breastfeeding.aspx
http://breastmilkcounts.com/benefits/myths-about-breastfeeding/
http://www.dshs.texas.gov/wichd/bf/2018-National-Breastfeeding-Month/