By Peaceful Roots Lactation
Every Halloween, we enjoy a good scare.
Ghosts. Haunted houses. Witches. Zombies.
But some of the scariest things new parents encounter arenât found in horror moviesâtheyâre found in outdated breastfeeding advice.
For generations, myths about breastfeeding have been passed from one parent to the next. While many are shared with the best intentions, they can leave families feeling anxious, discouraged, or even lead them to stop breastfeeding sooner than they planned.
So this Halloween, letâs shine a flashlight on some of the most common breastfeeding myths and leave them where they belongâin the graveyard.
đť Myth #1: Painful breastfeeding is normal.
This is one of the most persistent myths I hear.
While itâs common to have some mild tenderness during the first few days as you and your baby learn together, ongoing pain is not considered a normal part of breastfeeding.
Pain often signals that something deserves a closer look, such as positioning, latch, oral function, engorgement, or another underlying concern.
Breastfeeding should become comfortableânot something you dread every few hours.
Truth: Pain isnât something you should âjust push through.â If breastfeeding hurts, an IBCLC can help identify the cause and develop a plan to improve comfort.
đ§ Myth #2: Small breasts donât make enough milk.
Breast size has very little to do with milk production.
Breast size is largely determined by fatty tissue, while milk production depends on the amount of functional glandular tissue and how effectively milk is removed.
Parents with small breasts can produce a full milk supply just as parents with larger breasts can.
Truth: Milk production is driven primarily by supply and demandânot bra size.
đŚ Myth #3: If your baby wants to nurse every hour, you donât have enough milk.
Frequent feeding is one of the biggest reasons parents question their milk supply.
But newborns have small stomachs, digest breast milk quickly, and often cluster feed during periods of rapid growth.
Instead of watching the clock, look at the whole picture:
Is your baby gaining weight?
Are diaper counts appropriate?
Do you hear swallowing?
Does your baby seem satisfied after many feedings?
Truth: Feeding every hour is often completely normal during certain stages of infancy.
đ Myth #4: You have to pump and dump after almost everything.
Having surgery?
Getting your hair colored?
Needing antibiotics?
Scheduling an MRI?
Enjoying a glass of wine?
Many parents are told to pump and dump when itâs completely unnecessary.
Most medications, medical procedures, imaging studies, and everyday activities are compatible with breastfeeding.
Truth: Before throwing away your milk, check with an IBCLC or another healthcare professional knowledgeable about lactation. Outdated advice is far more common than true reasons to interrupt breastfeeding.
đ¸ď¸ Myth #5: Your breasts should always feel full if youâre making enough milk.
During the early weeks, your breasts may feel firm and engorged.
As your milk supply becomes established, many parents notice their breasts feel softer.
This doesnât mean your milk disappeared.
It usually means your body has become more efficient at making exactly what your baby needs.
Truth: Soft breasts often reflect a well-regulated milk supplyânot a low one.
đ§ Myth #6: You should stop breastfeeding when your baby gets teeth.
Many parents worry that teething means the end of breastfeeding.
Fortunately, babies canât actively nurse and bite at the same time.
If a baby bites, itâs usually at the end of a feeding when they are no longer actively sucking.
With a few simple strategies, biting is usually short-lived.
Truth: Many families continue breastfeeding comfortably long after teeth appear.
đ Myth #7: Breastfeeding after one year has no benefits.
Some people believe breastfeeding should stop once a baby turns one.
The evidence tells a different story.
Breast milk continues to provide nutrition, immune support, comfort, and emotional connection well into toddlerhood.
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for two years and beyond, as long as it is mutually desired by parent and child.
Truth: There is no magical expiration date on the benefits of breast milk.
đŹ Myth #8: Pumping tells you how much milk youâre making.
Many parents become discouraged after pumping only a few ounces.
The reality is that a breast pump measures how well your body responds to the pumpânot how much milk your baby can remove.
Healthy babies are often much more efficient than even the best breast pump.
Truth: Weight gain, diaper output, and effective milk transfer tell us far more about milk supply than a pumping session.
𧥠Donât let myths haunt your breastfeeding journey
Breastfeeding can already feel overwhelming without misinformation adding to the fear.
If youâve believed oneâor severalâof these myths, youâre certainly not alone.
Many of these ideas have been passed down for generations, and itâs okay to learn something new.
The best breastfeeding advice should leave you feeling informed, supported, and empoweredânot frightened.
If something about breastfeeding doesnât feel right, trust your instincts and reach out for help. You donât have to navigate questions or challenges on your own.
Happy Halloween from Peaceful Roots Lactation!
This Halloween, enjoy the costumes, the candy, and the memories.
Leave the ghosts, goblins, and breastfeeding myths where they belongâin the graveyard.
Wishing you and your little pumpkin a safe, fun, and happy Halloween!
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk.
World Health Organization. Infant and Young Child Feeding.
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocols.
Riordan J, Wambach K. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation.
Hale TW. Medications & Mothersâ Milk.
