Silly things you've been told about breastfeeding

[Katielady]

I thought it might be fun to share some of the silly, outrageous, and just plain WRONG things people have told us about breastfeeding over the years. :)

I went in with my second for the 6 month well visit. I was already unhappy with this doctor but hadn't decided whether to look for a new one yet. She asked how DD was sleeping, and I said lightly, "She sleeps great!" She pressed further, "Does she wake up at all?" I answered, "She wakes up a few times to nurse, but we both go right back to sleep." She then gravely told me that I should stop the night-nursing and that she didn't need it any more. I just sort of nodded and smiled, eager for the subject to be closed so we could talk about actual medical issues. :p She sensed that I wasn't really agreeing with her, and went on to say, "You know, studies have shown that getting up in the middle of the night to eat is linked with obesity."

So basically she equated my 6-month-old baby's night-nursing with an adult getting up at 3AM to eat fried chicken. I was sitting there thinking, "Either she thinks I'm an idiot, or she's one- either way this is just not working out." hahaha.

Share yours! :)

Edited by Katielady - 1/3/12 at 11:46am

[dakotablue]

I was told that nursing my toddler while pregnant would make my baby not grow and it would come out tiny. 8lbs isn't too tiny

Oh and nursing my baby past 6 months would make him into a sex crazy pervert...yeah

[akind1]

My sister asked (when I became pregnant with #2 when DS was about 15 months)  if DS was still nursing, and I said, actually, no, because the milk is gone, but otherwise we still would be. She wondered if nursing (past a year) would make him perverted or something. And she's got a degree in early childhood development!!!

I said noooo, many places actually recommend bf'ing until age 2.

Also, got asked (though in a nice curious, non-obnoxious way) if your milk goes "bad" after baby is 1.

I am also fascinated by what other people call it when baby eats/nurses. DH's grandma calls it "ninnies" - though this appears to be what she calls it regardless of whether it is formula or breastmilk. I've heard it called "num-nums" too  and I think "ne-ne"

DS never called it anything, just pointed to the boobs.

[contactmaya]

With my first baby, i was advised to wash my nipples with soap and water after every feeding. I didnt follow that advice, because it seemed really stupid to me, even though i didnt know much about breastfeeding then. For a start, that much soap and water on sensitive  nipples is going to cause  thrush in no time.

Later, when my almost 2yo was still nursing, his pediatrician advised me to wean, saying that it ''infantilized' him. Seriously?

Another time, a speech therapist advised me to wean my 6month old, because it caused mouth deformities that effected speech.

There are some real idiots out there, that call themselves professionals.

[contactmaya]

Originally Posted by dakotablue 

I was told that nursing my toddler while pregnant would make my baby not grow and it would come out tiny. 8lbs isn't too tiny

I nursed ds1 throughout my 2nd pregnancy. Ds2 was born 9lbs 4.
 

[cat13]

I was told to "rough up" my nipples while I was pregnant to get them used to being nursed on. I guess that kind of advice was pretty common in my mother's generation.

[tooraloora]

When I was in transistional housing and DS was a newborn, the lady that ran the program told me that breastfeeding was irresponsible, because no one eats healthy enough to produce good milk. Even if her argument had an ounce of truth to it, it was a terrible argument to use on me since I'm borderline obsessive about healthy eating, and I'd done my research on breastfeeding anyways. She quizzed me constantly about my diet trying to find proof that I wasn't healthy enough to breastfeed. She was full of bizarre "facts" and advice.

[azhie]

Relatives and friends looked pointedly at my chest and said, "You won't have enough milk. Chinese women rarely have enough milk." 

[sere234]

Oh my gosh, this is hilarious!!!

Mine: You can nurse him? But your breasts are so small!!!

I THOUGHT: Wow, thanks! Openly I laughed and said that yep, they still work

[WittyNameHere]

These are hysterical. I had a real doozy from my DS's former pediatrician. I never felt quite comfortable with her, which should have been a sign that the relationship wasn't the best for us, but she was close by. At his one year well-baby visit she asked what he ate and I told her he was exclusively breastfed. She looked completely aghast and said, "But how do you even know if it's good after a year?!" Those were her exact words. "... How do you even know if it's good after a year?" A pediatrician said that. Wow.

Needless to say, I found a new pediatrician the very next day.

[dakotablue]

Originally Posted by WittyNameHere 

These are hysterical. I had a real doozy from my DS's former pediatrician. I never felt quite comfortable with her, which should have been a sign that the relationship wasn't the best for us, but she was close by. At his one year well-baby visit she asked what he ate and I told her he was exclusively breastfed. She looked completely aghast and said, "But how do you even know if it's good after a year?!" Those were her exact words. "... How do you even know if it's good after a year?" A pediatrician said that. Wow.

Needless to say, I found a new pediatrician the very next day.

hehe didn't you know breast milk has an expiration date

[strawberryprincess]

When my first was born, my mother was adamant that new mothers needed to drink plenty of milk so that they could make milk.  At first I thought this was logical, but as I thought about it, I've never seen a lactating cow drink milk, and they make lots!

[cat13]

This morning I went to the doctor's office and the nurse (who is an OB nurse) was asking me intake questions. I told her my 5mo is EBF and is a big chunky guy at almost 20lbs. She looked shocked and asked how a baby that big could survive on just milk alone! 

[jeninejessica]

DD is 6 weeks and experiencing some decent reflux issues. While we were trying to troubleshoot still, my mother continually told me that I should go to my doctor and get my milk tested, because with all four of us, she was only able to breastfeed until 3 months... and then her milk went sour. 

How do you politely tell your own mother that she's been duped big time and has no opportunity to go back and correct it?

[Katielady]

Originally Posted by jeninejessica 

DD is 6 weeks and experiencing some decent reflux issues. While we were trying to troubleshoot still, my mother continually told me that I should go to my doctor and get my milk tested, because with all four of us, she was only able to breastfeed until 3 months... and then her milk went sour. 

How do you politely tell your own mother that she's been duped big time and has no opportunity to go back and correct it?

Oh man. Well no need to tell her, it'll just hurt her and as you said, there's nothing she can do now. Just focus on your own situation, and tell white lies if you have to- tell her your doctor said there's no reason to worry about the quality of your milk.

As a tangent, my first had horrible reflux and went on meds for it and I was told by his pediatric gastro that I shouldn't bother cutting dairy or anything else from my diet. He was later (after I'd weaned) diagnosed with a dairy intolerance. With DD, as soon as she showed signs of reflux I cut out dairy. It took a week but was like turning off a faucet. I didn't even need to carry a bupr cloth any more. Then I started to doubt it and on mother's day had a massive dairy binge at a brunch buffet- strawberries and cream etc. Three days of constant puking from her. :( Anyway, point is, might be worth checking out your diet if you haven't already. It takes some time for the allergens to clear out but it can make a difference. And if you're already tried that I apologize for the unsolicited advice. :)

[tooraloora]

I got a new one today. I was talking to an old friend on the phone, and upon learning that DS is still breastfeeding at 17 months, she asked "Now don't you think it's time to wean?". I said he would stop breastfeeding when he's ready, but that I hope to continue until at least 2. After a dramatic bout of choking and sputtering, she informed me that if I let him nurse that long, he will grow up to be obsessed with breasts. I cracked up. Yes, I must wean him now else he is doomed to be a boob man.

[dakotablue]

Originally Posted by jeninejessica 

DD is 6 weeks and experiencing some decent reflux issues. While we were trying to troubleshoot still, my mother continually told me that I should go to my doctor and get my milk tested, because with all four of us, she was only able to breastfeed until 3 months... and then her milk went sour. 

How do you politely tell your own mother that she's been duped big time and has no opportunity to go back and correct it?

I'm sorry,

But Yeah don't tell her. White lie, doctor said I'm good. My grandmother didn't breastfeed after her 1st because one day her milk dryed up and she was told she just couldn't breastfeed so the next two were condensed milk/ corn syrup babies. A little prodding...Yeah her milk did dry up but because of pregnancy with my uncle. There's no point in telling her now, it would just make her feel bad.

But BOY it makes me mad at those stupid doctors.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by tooraloora 

I got a new one today. I was talking to an old friend on the phone, and upon learning that DS is still breastfeeding at 17 months, she asked "Now don't you think it's time to wean?". I said he would stop breastfeeding when he's ready, but that I hope to continue until at least 2. After a dramatic bout of choking and sputtering, she informed me that if I let him nurse that long, he will grow up to be obsessed with breasts. I cracked up. Yes, I must wean him now else he is doomed to be a boob man.
 

[akind1]

I have no doubt my son is and will be a boob man. (Now, whether that's due to breastfeeding or not, I can't say)

What will it do to your daughters? Just curious.

On a related, but not, note, DH's grandma told us DS's sucking his thumb would give him big lips. LOL

I have gotten alot of comments to the effect that "doesn't your milk go bad after a year?" like it's got an expiration date.

[jeninejessica]

Originally Posted by dakotablue 

I'm sorry,

But Yeah don't tell her. White lie, doctor said I'm good. My grandmother didn't breastfeed after her 1st because one day her milk dryed up and she was told she just couldn't breastfeed so the next two were condensed milk/ corn syrup babies. A little prodding...Yeah her milk did dry up but because of pregnancy with my uncle. There's no point in telling her now, it would just make her feel bad.

Oh no, I mean I wouldn't actually tell her, you guys are right, no good could come of it, but it makes me so frustrated, especially because now she thinks it really is a valid concern, and brings it up almost every time we talk. 

I was at a LLL meeting last night, and one of the girls who has a 14 month old was told by her dentist that her son needs to nightwean, because he's getting spots on his teeth from the milk. And if she doesn't wean, then she has to get up and brush his teeth after every nursing session.