Breastfeeding facts every new mother should know: Expert debunks myths about milk supply, pain and night feeding

New Delhi: For many new mothers, breastfeeding can come with an unexpected second challenge: a never-ending stream of advice. From being warned that breastfeeding will make the breasts sag to being told that smaller breasts cannot produce enough milk, such claims can create anxiety at a time when mothers need reassurance and reliable support. Talking to News9Live, Ms Parul Mudit Mishra, Lactation Counsellor, Weaning & Infant Sleep Expert and Parenting Educator at Motherhood Hospitals, Kharadi, Pune, says it is important for mothers to separate popular beliefs from evidence-based guidance. WHO and UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by appropriate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues up to two years or beyond.

Breastfeeding is not always instinctive or effortless. Positioning, attachment, milk transfer, feeding frequency and timely professional support can all influence the experience. At the same time, misconceptions can make mothers unnecessarily doubt their bodies, their milk supply or their ability to feed their babies.

Here are some of the most common breastfeeding myths and what the evidence actually says.

Myth 1: Breastfeeding will make the breasts sag

Fact: Breastfeeding itself does not appear to be an independent cause of breast sagging.

Breast shape can change substantially around pregnancy, but blaming breastfeeding alone for sagging oversimplifies what happens to breast tissue.

A peer-reviewed study examining post-pregnancy breast ptosis found that increasing age, higher BMI, greater number of pregnancies, larger pre-pregnancy breast size and smoking were significant risk factors. Breastfeeding was not identified as an independent risk factor for breast ptosis.

Pregnancy itself causes changes in breast size and tissue. WHO guidance also notes that changes associated with pregnancy occur whether a woman subsequently breastfeeds or bottle-feeds.

As Mishra puts it, “So, don’t blame breastfeeding for sagging breasts.”

Myth 2: Women with smaller breasts cannot produce enough milk

Fact: Breast size does not determine milk production.

Breast size is largely influenced by the amount of fatty tissue, whereas milk production depends on the functioning of the milk-producing tissue and, importantly, how frequently and effectively milk is removed.

UNICEF notes that almost all mothers are capable of producing the right amount of milk for their babies, with milk production influenced by effective attachment, frequency of breastfeeding and how well the baby removes milk. UNICEF India specifically debunks the claim that small breasts produce less milk.

WHO likewise describes breastfeeding as a supply-and-demand process: more frequent breastfeeding generally provides more stimulation for milk production.

Myth 3: Breastfeeding is supposed to be extremely painful

Fact: Persistent or significant pain should not simply be accepted as “part of breastfeeding.”

Some tenderness or discomfort can occur while a mother and baby are learning to breastfeed, particularly during the early days. However, ongoing nipple pain, cracks or significant discomfort can indicate a problem with positioning or attachment.

WHO recommends checking the baby’s position and attachment when nipple pain occurs. Signs of good attachment include a wide-open mouth, the baby’s chin touching the breast, and slow, deep sucking with pauses.

Mishra highlights that breastfeeding comfort involves more than simply asking whether the baby is “latched”. “When all these three factors are aligned, breastfeeding will not be painful or cause sore nipples,” she says, referring to the baby’s latch, positioning and suck pattern.

Myth 4: A mother should stop breastfeeding if she has vomiting or diarrhoea

Fact: A common illness does not automatically mean breastfeeding has to stop.

UNICEF says mothers can generally continue breastfeeding during many common illnesses, while taking appropriate precautions and getting the right treatment.

In other words, a mother should not automatically discontinue breastfeeding simply because she has vomiting or diarrhoea. Staying hydrated and seeking medical advice about the underlying illness are important.

Myth 5: Night feeds are not important

Fact: Babies should be breastfed responsively, including at night.

There is no medical basis for treating nighttime breastfeeding as unnecessary. WHO recommends breastfeeding on demand — as often as the baby wants, day and night.

For newborns, frequent feeding is normal. CDC guidance says babies may breastfeed around 8–12 times in 24 hours during the first weeks, and frequent feeding can help establish and maintain milk supply.

This does not mean every baby must follow a rigid feeding schedule. In fact, feeding according to the baby’s hunger and fullness cues is generally more appropriate than imposing an arbitrary timetable.

Myth 6: A breastfeeding mother has to eat a lot to make enough milk

Fact: She needs adequate nutrition – not a special “milk-making” diet.

Breastfeeding does increase a mother’s nutritional and energy requirements, but this does not mean she needs to overeat or follow elaborate food rules.

The CDC currently estimates that well-nourished breastfeeding mothers generally need an additional 330–400 kilocalories per day, although individual requirements vary depending on factors such as age, BMI, activity level and whether the mother is exclusively breastfeeding.

WHO also recommends a healthy, balanced diet rather than restrictive or unnecessarily complicated dietary practices. Even when a mother’s diet is not perfect, breast milk continues to provide the nourishment an infant needs during the first six months.

The common thread running through these misconceptions is that they can make mothers question their bodies at precisely the time they need confidence and practical help.