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Here's the truth behind some common myths about nursing a baby.
By Colette Bouchez
WebMD Feature
Fact: While pregnancy does somewhat alter the look and feel of your breasts, experts say breastfeeding
does not cause any changes beyond that. "This is all pretty much old wives' tales."
In fact, "breastfeeding can actually help protect your breasts," says lactation consultant Linda M. Hanna,
IBCLC, with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Indeed, studies show that women who
breastfeed have a reduced risk ofbreast cancer later in life.
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How to Increase Your Milk Supply
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Myth # 6: Never wake a sleeping baby to breastfeed.
Fact: Most of the time your baby will wake you -- and be ready to eat -- every two-and-a-half to three
hours. However, your baby may feed vigorously for two or three hours -- known as "cluster feedings" -then sleep a longer than usual.
"It's okay to let them sleep a little longer than usual, but you should never have more than one four-and-ahalf-hour period of sleeping per day," says Sternum. If your baby is regularly sleeping through feeding
time, wake baby when it's time to eat. It's important for your baby to feed on schedule, and you need to
express milk on schedule to keep up a good supply.
Myth # 7:Breastfeeding prevents you from getting pregnant.
Fact: Judging by the number of families with babies born 10 months apart, it's clear that breastfeeding
isn't guaranteed birth control. However, experts do believe breastfeeding is 98% effective -- similar to
other forms of birth control. La Leche League International experts say hormones involved in
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/features/breastfeeding-myths?page=3