Perhaps the first act of health and protection towards a newborn is to make sure that the baby is breastfeeding properly. However, stigma around breastfeeding in public, lack of infrastructure support to allow mothers to breastfeed in public places or at the workplace, and misinformation have greatly impacted the mother and baby’s health alike.

The World Breastfeeding Week aims to address these issues with public awareness, curbing misinformation and building a support network for women who need help. World Breastfeeding Week was started in 1992 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). It is now observed every year from August 1 to August 7 in more than 120 countries.

Five Myths About Breastfeeding

Myth 1: Breastfeeding is easy

Many mothers need guidance and support with positioning their baby for breastfeeding. Like most things, breastfeeding takes time and practice for both mothers and babies. Breastfeeding should not be a “one-woman job”. Mothers need support from health care providers, help at home, and proper nutrition and rest.

Myth 2: Exercise affects the taste or quantity of milk

Exercise is perfectly alright for breastfeeding mothers. There is no evidence that it affects the taste of your milk or reduces its quantity.

Myth 3: One should avoid formula

Some mothers may need to use formula to feed their babies on certain occasions if they need a break from breastfeeding. Baby formula approved by doctors is not harmful.

Myth 4: Baby should not be breastfed after a year

There’s no evidence to suggest that breastfeeding should stop after a year. It’s seen that breastfeeding for up to two years is beneficial for both mother and child.

Myth 5: You’ll have to wean your baby if you go to work

Mothers can continue to breastfeed after going to the office. They can express milk in a bottle and ask a family member to take the bottle to the baby. If the office permits then they can bring the baby to the workplace and take breaks in an empty room to breastfeed. Now more and more places are becoming accommodating of breastfeeding.

Five Facts About Breastfeeding

1. The “first milk” or colostrum, is densely rich in antibodies. It gives the newborns the much-needed immunity boost which serves them for life.
2. Breastfeeding is linked with protecting the mother from diabetes, breast and ovarian cancers, and postpartum depression.
3. Premature babies are also less likely to get a serious infection of the intestines called NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis) if they are breastfed.
4. Studies have found that breastfed babies do better on intelligence tests.
5. Breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact are known to reduce the chance of attachment anxiety in babies.