Breastfeeding Myths Busted!

If you've never breastfed before it can seem to be overwhelming and even confusing. But the many myths which surround the subject can make things much worse! So, while there are innumerable myths out there about this subject, here are 4 that I've heard a great many times and feel need addressed..

1. Breastfeeding Permanently Alters the Size, Shape and Sensitivity of Your Breasts
I have never met a woman who could honestly say she wasn't at least a little worried about how having a child will change their bodies. And truthfully, there are few things you can do that will alter your body half as much as having a child will, there's simply no way around it. And there are changes which will affect your breasts as well. However, these changes take place through pregnancy and whether you choose to breastfeed or not will not stop those changes from taking place. It's true that many women will see growth of a cup size or more during their last trimester of pregnancy, breast may also change to shape, aureola color and sensitivity of your breasts during those months as well. These changes may remain after pregnancy, or they may go back to normal shortly after birth. But, process of breastfeeding will not, directly impact the size, shape or sensitivity of the breasts. In fact, breastfeeding has been shown to be good for the health of the breasts; studies have determined that women who breastfeed are somewhat less likely to develop breast cancer later in their lives.

2. It's Important to Prepare the Nipples
I was told to wear sweaters without a bra for the last 3 months of pregnancy in order to help "toughen" my nipples. And I'll be the first to tell you, this and many other "toughening" practices can not only be painful in themselves, but not worth it! One book I read even said to use a toothbrush on them at night before bed - OUCH!  The whole idea is to create a callouses on the nipples before the baby comes. In reality though, most women see no difference in sensation when attempting to prepare the nipples as opposed to not taking this approach, so it's better to avoid hurting yourself or risking infection.

3. Breastfeeding Is Easy
There is nothing more natural than breastfeeding, but in no way does that mean it's actually easy. Nearly all women will experience at least a minimal level of discomfort and some can actually have some rather serious issues. And for most, it's not abnormal to at least consider stopping. However, there are people and groups available to EVERY MOTHER that are devoted to making breastfeeding a positive experience for both you and your child.

4. Breastfeeding Stops You from Getting Pregnant
Ha! Let me tell you personally how wrong that is! I've heard it over and over, "I can't get pregnant, I'm nursing" and every time it makes me laugh. My oldest son was 5 months old and exclusively breastfed when I found out I was having a second baby...
For many women the menstrual cycle is disrupted and their period delayed while breastfeeding. However, you do NOT have to have a period for pregnancy to occur. And the fact is your cycle will restart BEFORE your period returns. Plus, the hormonal changes which occur in your body during pregnancy can actually leave you more fertile than you were prior to pregnancy and make you MORE LIKELY to become pregnant - Not less! So be careful!

Can you guess what this all adds up to?

Can you guess what all these ingredients make? 

"Enzymatically hydrolyzed reduced minerals, whey protein concentrate, palm olein, soy, coconut, high-oleic safflower oils, lactose, maltodextrin, patoassium citrate, calcium phosphate, calcium chloride, salt, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide, soy lecithin, mono and diglycerides, inositol, choline bitartrate sodium ascorbate, alpha tocophyeryl acetate, naicinamide, calcum pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, phylloquinone, biotin, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, taurine, L-carnitine"

Doesn't sound to appetizing does it? Would you believe that's what up to 2/3s of mothers feed their babies? Yeah, it's sad but true! Those are the ingredients in BABY FORMULA! Now, many people will read those and say "Well, I see things like potassium and zinc, aren't these good things?" And yes, in natural form they are, but these aren't in natural form. This isn't zinc, it's zinc sulfate, which any first year high school chemistry student can tell you is toxic. And the same goes for the potassium chloride, copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate and just about everything else in there... 


Now, if you have NO OTHER OPTION, obviously formula is better than starvation! But with all the options out there - breastfeeding, pumping, homemade formula and even the option now to purchase breast-milk - there are so many better options, I can't imagine why anyone who knew better, would continue to choose this stuff... I know I surely wouldn't drink it, I would never give it to my child!

Make your own Baby Formula

Sure, breast is best, but it's not always an option. If you're on medication or have breast issues, supply issues, infections, surgery or of course if your child is adopted, breast-milk may simply not be an option. If you read the labels or do some research on Formula Ingredients and what they are, I'm sure you would be SHOCKED! This stuff is supposed to be healthy for babies, but in reality it's far far from it.

Now, if you MUST use formula, but you don't want to use all the artificial, chemical laced baby formulas from the shelf, what do you do? Well, you make your own! Here are SOME recipes for home made formulas, I'm sure I will be adding to this list, and if you look hard enough you can find more. But these will at least give you somewhere to start.

I do want to point out, before we get in to the actual recipes, that as with ANY new or different diet change you need to make sure you are using high quality ingredients and that you both research each option and make a point to watch your child for ANY reaction. I suggest you start them on a new formula on a day when you will be with them ALL DAY, and make a point to watch them for at least 3 days for reactions. Now, I say do this with ALL formulas, whether home made or not.

NOTE - All of these formulas are simply mix and serve or mix and store... So I'm not listing instructions on each one. 

Goats Milk Formula

•  13oz liquid Goat Milk
• 19 oz distilled or spring water
• 2TB sugar

Goats Milk II

• 2 Cups - Goats Milk
• 2 Cups - Enriched Vanilla Rice Dream
• 1 T. - Black Strap Molasses
• 1 T. - Liquid Acidophilus
• 1 T. - Flax Seed Oil
• 1 t. - Liquid Vitamin C
• 1 t. - Liquid CalMag (calcium & magnesium)
• 1/8 t. - Wheat Germ (powdered )
• 16 drops - Trace Minerals (concentrated) 

Goats Milk III

• 4 oz Goats Milk
• 2 oz Carrot Juice
• 2 oz Water
• a few drops Flax Oil (EFAs) with DHA
• 1/4tsp nutritional yeast {for the folic acid and b12 boost that goats milk lacks}

Goat's Milk IV

• 2 cups water(highest quality)
• 2 cups goat milk
• 2 cups hemp nut seed milk
• 1/4 cup goat whey
• 1 tablespoon colostrum
• 4 tablespoon lactose
• 2 teaspoon nutritional yeast
• 1/4 teaspoon camu berry powder
• 1 capsule of aged garlic
• 1 teaspoon of infant probiotics
• 1 tablespoon of lecithin
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon of cod liver oil
• 1 teaspoon of flax seed oil

Raw Cows Milk

• 2 cups whole raw milk
• 1 7/8 cups filtered water 
• 1/4 cup homemade liquid whey
• 2 or more tablespoons good quality cream (not ultra-pasteurized)
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon high-vitamin cod liver oil
• 1 teaspoon expeller-expressed sunflower oil
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

Dry Formula Mix
This recipe's ingredients are very specific and can be found at either:
Natren 866-462-8736, or Radiant Life 888-593-8333

• 4 tablespoons lactose powder
• 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast flakes
• 2 teaspoons gelatin
• 1/4 teaspoon Natren bifidobacterium infantis
• 1/4 teaspoon acerola powder

For ALL Formula:
Warm with hot water from the tap, or place glass bottle with goat milk in a pan full of water and gently heat. Test on inside of your arm before feeding to baby. Milk should be warm, not hot. DO NOT MICROWAVE!!!

Give baby only enough that they will drink and refrigerate, or freeze the rest. Do not reuse any milk left over from baby bottle after baby has finished drinking.

Unused milk will stay fresh for 3-5 days in refrigerator.

To freeze, separate unused goat milk into equal parts and store individually in freezer. Frozen breast-milk or goat milk stays fresh between 3 to 6 months in freezer.


**If you will be using formula as a supplement, in addition to breast-milk, don't worry about additives.
***If this will be your babies only source of food, you MUST add liquid infant vitamins to the child's diet, do not add it to the formula. Each brand will have it's own dosage, make sure to follow the dosage according to the package. Your pediatrician may be able to give you an idea of what brand is best!