If you’ve recently had a baby, chances are you’ve already heard a lot of advice about breastfeeding... some helpful, some… not so much. Between family, friends, social media, and Google, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or second-guess yourself.
Let’s take a deep breath together and clear up some of the biggest breastfeeding myths that might be stressing you out. Because when it comes to feeding your baby, you deserve reassurance, not pressure.
Truth: Frequent feeding doesn’t mean low supply. Frequent feeding is totally normal. It's how the baby tells the body to keep up production!
Newborns have tiny stomachs and grow fast, so they often want to feed every 1.5–3 hours (sometimes even more). This “cluster feeding” can happen during growth spurts or when your baby needs extra comfort.
In fact, frequent feeding helps increase your milk supply by signaling your body to make more. It’s your baby’s built-in way of making sure they get exactly what they need.
Truth: You don’t have to drink milk to make milk.
Your body creates breast milk from the nutrients you eat and drink (not directly from cow’s milk). Staying hydrated and eating balanced meals is what really matters.
If you love milk, enjoy it! But if you prefer water, juice, tea, or smoothies, that’s perfectly fine too.
Truth: Some tenderness is normal at first, but ongoing pain is not.
Many moms feel soreness or sensitivity in the early days as their nipples adjust, but sharp or persistent pain is usually a sign that your baby’s latch needs a little tweaking.
If you find yourself dreading feedings or noticing cracked or bleeding nipples, reach out to a lactation consultant. With a small adjustment to positioning or latch, breastfeeding can quickly become much more comfortable.
Truth: There’s no “perfect” breastfeeding diet.
You don’t have to eat special foods or avoid everything you love. Your milk will still provide what your baby needs even if your meals aren’t Pinterest-perfect.
Try to include protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains when you can and don’t stress if you’re surviving on snacks and toast some days. A fed mom and baby are what matter most.
Truth: Night feeds are completely normal AND important.
Babies often feed more at night because your body naturally produces more prolactin (the milk-making hormone) during those hours. These feeds help maintain your supply and keep your baby content.
It’s okay to feel tired and wish for longer stretches of sleep but know that those nighttime cuddles are part of your baby’s natural rhythm and won’t last forever.
Truth: One bottle won’t “ruin” anything.
Many families successfully combine breastfeeding, pumping, and bottle-feeding. You might introduce a bottle so your partner can help with feedings or because you need a break - and that's okay. Provide a bottle in the side lying, paced bottle feeding position so that your baby is more likely to interchangeably feed at breast and bottle.
What matters most is that your baby is fed, growing, and loved. There’s no single “right” way to feed your baby.
Breastfeeding comes with so much love and, let’s be honest, a lot of pressure too. But here’s the truth: every baby and every body is different.
What works for one family might not work for another and that’s okay.
You’re not failing; you’re learning. You’re tuning into your baby, your body, and your instincts and that’s what makes you an amazing parent.
If you ever feel unsure, reach out for support from a lactation consultant or your healthcare provider. You deserve encouragement, not judgment.
Because feeding your baby shouldn’t be about stress, it should be about connection, comfort, and love.
Reach out for in-home lactation /breastfeeding support in Markham, Stouffville, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Newmarket, Vaughan, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa.
