Breastfeeding is beautiful, natural, and… totally shrouded in weird, outdated, and sometimes downright bizarre myths. You might have heard some of these from well-meaning relatives, random strangers in the grocery store, or that one Facebook mom group where people swear by essential oils for everything.
Well, it’s time to set the record straight. Here are 16 of the strangest, most persistent breastfeeding myths—busted with real facts!
Myth #1: Bigger Moms Make Fattier Milk
🚫 Not true! Sorry to disappoint, but your breast milk doesn’t turn into a thick, creamy milkshake just because you had an extra donut (or three) during pregnancy.
💡 The composition of breast milk isn’t based on your body size, but rather on your baby’s needs. Your boobs don’t work like some biological fast-food joint that serves up cheeseburger-flavored milk if you had McDonald’s for lunch. Instead, they fine-tune the exact nutrients and antibodies your baby needs, regardless of what’s on your plate.
✔️ That being said, eating a well-balanced diet helps keep your energy up, which is important when you’re up all night running the all-you-can-eat milk bar.
Myth #2: Breastfeeding Means You Can’t Get Pregnant
🚫 Oh, if only. This is one of the biggest lies the universe ever told new moms.
✔️ While exclusive breastfeeding can suppress ovulation (a method known as Lactational Amenorrhea), it is NOT foolproof. Babies start sleeping longer, taking pacifiers, or spacing out feedings—and BAM! Surprise pregnancy. This is especially true during growth spurts when babies start cluster feeding, making it seem like your supply is low when it’s actually just their temporary increased demand
⚠️ If you don’t want to end up with babies so close in age that people ask if they’re twins, use birth control—and not the “cross your fingers and hope for the best” method.
Myth #3: Shaking the Breast to Mix the Foremilk and Hindmilk.
🚫 No, your boobs are not blenders and your milk is NOT a smoothie made from last night’s pizza.
🍼 Your breast milk is custom-engineered by your body to meet your baby’s needs—not just a liquid replay of whatever you ate that day.
💡 That being said, some flavors can pass through. Ever eaten garlic and then noticed your baby either loves or hates nursing afterward? Yep, that’s a thing. But don’t stress—your milk will always have the right nutrients, even if you lived off nothing but Oreos (though, please… eat some real food, too).
Myth #5: Breastfeeding Shouldn’t Hurt at All
🚫 LIES! Let’s talk about the biggest, best-kept secret of breastfeeding: it freaking HURTS in the beginning.
💀 I’m talking toe-curling, eye-watering, deep-breathing-like-you’re-in-labor pain. The first latch? Feels like your baby is trying to gnaw your nipple off. Nobody told me this before I had my first child, and I spent weeks thinking I was doing something horribly wrong.
💡 Here’s the truth: Some soreness is normal in the first few weeks. But if it lasts beyond that or is excruciating, it could be a sign of a poor latch, tongue tie, or another fixable issue. Get help early!
👉 Also, investing in a good pregnancy pillow can make those long nursing sessions way more comfortable, helping reduce back and neck pain while feeding.
🚨 And to all the moms who went through the agony without warning: We deserved better.
Myth #6: Breastfed Babies Need Extra Water in Hot Weather
🚫 Nope! Breast milk is already 88% water, which means it perfectly hydrates your baby—even on scorching summer days.
💧 Giving extra water to a baby under six months can actually be dangerous and lead to water intoxication.
🚼 Hot outside? Just nurse more often! Your milk adapts to keep your baby hydrated. No Dasani needed.
Myth #7: You Have to Time Feedings (10 Minutes Per Side, etc.)
🚫 Nope! Babies are NOT tiny stopwatches.
✔️ Some babies get all they need in 5 minutes, while others take 30. Instead of staring at the clock, watch your baby.
🍼 Signs of a good feed:
✔️ Rhythmic “open-pause-close” sucking pattern
✔️ Content baby afterward
✔️ Plenty of wet and dirty diapers
💡 Let your baby decide how long to nurse—not some arbitrary rule from the 1950s. And if you’re looking to support your milk production, check out these natural supplements that can boost milk supply.
Myth #8: Pumping Tells You How Much Milk You Have
🚫 Pumping is NOT an accurate measure of supply.
✔️ A baby who nurses well removes more milk than a pump ever could. Some moms pump ounces easily, while others struggle to get a few drops—even with a perfectly good supply.
🚨 Bottom line: Diaper output and weight gain are the real indicators of supply—not how much you can pump.
Myth #9: You Shouldn’t Breastfeed While Sick
🚫 Actually, you should nurse MORE!
🤒 By the time you realize you’re sick, your baby has already been exposed. Breast milk contains antibodies that help protect them.
✔️ In most cases, the best thing you can do is keep breastfeeding.
Myth #10: You Shouldn’t Breastfeed If Baby Has Diarrhea or Vomiting
🚫 Breast milk is actually the BEST medicine!
✔️ It’s easy to digest, keeps baby hydrated, and contains immune-boosting properties.
🚼 If your baby is sick, keep nursing. It helps them recover faster.
Myth #11: Formula Is Basically the Same as Breast Milk
🚫 Not even close.
✔️ Formula feeds babies, but breast milk is a living fluid that adapts to your baby’s needs. It contains:
- Antibodies (formula has none)
- Living cells (formula has none)
- Enzymes & hormones (formula has none)
🚨 Formula is great when needed, but it’s not an identical replacement.
Final Thoughts: Breastfeeding Myths Are Ridiculous—Trust Science, Not Random Advice
Look, breastfeeding comes with enough challenges without having to filter through myths like “Shake your boobs first!” or “You won’t get pregnant!”
✔️ Your body knows what it’s doing.
✔️ Your milk is enough.
✔️ And no, your boobs are not milkshake blenders.
What’s the wildest breastfeeding myth YOU’VE heard? Drop it in the comments—we need a good laugh! 💬🤣