Please can we save tiktok's sanity...

[welliemum]

... and have a Myths and Legends link here.

I've just seen her calmly explain for the 847 385 211th time that what you eat doesn't affect the quality of your milk.

tiktok is a saint in human form, but it would be great if we could have something that people can read before posting, thereby saving countless wasted electons (and preventing tiktok's head from exploding).

My top myths would be:

1. eat well to ensure good quality milk
2. the growth charts are based on formula fed babies only.
3. the WHO guidelines about weaning to solids after 6 months are meant only for developing world babies.

I'm sure there are more, can't think of any at the mo

Anyone else up for this?

You cannot have a drink whilst breastfeeding or expressing.

If it hurts whilst breastfeeding, it is always the case that the mother is doing it wrong - bollocks! Sometimes girls, it just hurts! But it does get easier!

1. If they suddenly start wanting to feed for ages, at really frequent intervals, it is a sign that your milk isn't enough for them.

Expressing is a reliable guide to how much milk you have.

You can't drink at all while bf.

Dropping a centile is always a signal for alarm and/or topping up.

Another myth that I have seen her address a few times is that it's ok for a very young breastfed baby to go several days without a poo. Often true of an older baby but not one that is only days old.

The myth I would like exploding is that a newborn who sleeps well is clearly getting enough milk.

Yeah, the multiple days without pooing is ok from 6 weeks or so, but in the first couple of weeks is not a good thing.

Introducing formula in the first six weeks is not sensible if you want to keep breastfeeding. If you want to mixed feed, introduce formula after six weeks, when your supply is more established.

We should have a link to kellymom, too, as that's a great evidence-based site.

IMHO there should be several FAQ documents across MN. They could be useful in many areas, and they'd probably generate a fair amount of additional traffic

I'm pretty sure that this has been discussed before and it was eventually decided not to have a FAQ section due to the often very individual nature of questions.

Although I do know what you mean about Tiktok. Funnily enough I was thinking about her just the other day. She is like Arnie in Terminator - she just doesn't stop!

I'm totally sane

I'm sure LOADS of stuff on MN is highly individual, whether about bf or 'what car should I get' but still, there's lots of group knowledge and common questions / answers that would be useful.

Hang on though, don't debunk every myth. If my DH finds out that chocolate is not actually necessary for a good milk supply he'll stop buying it for me
[panicked emoticon]

Seriously, thanks for the support!

When people are new to bf, or new to mumsnet, they can't be expected to know that myths are myths, because everyone else (and Certain Books) is telling them differently

I'm also not the only one correcting the misunderstandings - there are others and more power to us

On the face of it, I do agree with you Hub. Just mentioning that it was raised before, and probably for exactly the same cause: Save Tiktok's Sanity.

However, 'tis plain to see we are all too late

lol Evamum

Whenever there is ANYTHING wrong with a BF baby why is it the first thing anyone tells you to do is to top up with formula!!??

feeding more frequently - top up with formula
won't sleep - top up with formula
poos too much/too little - top up with formula
cries a lot - top up with formula
howls at the moon - top up with formula (well maybe not but you get my drift)

My favourite was a local friend, who was told her baby's head was disproportionately large, compared to his body, and she should switch to formula.

Hey -- do you think if we put tiktok on formula it would save her sanity...?

No... Quite possibly she would implode and she would be missed far too much.

Thanks to tiktok MN and the many others who post support on here I am still breastfeeding my second child after it being a non starter with my first. A big thanks to all of you!!!

I would second arbs- tbh DS2 is my 4th baby I managed to fed him far longer than any of my other children and sometimes I needed reasurrance that things were going OK

Ditto Arbs and Xena - thanks to the power of Mnet and Tiktok.

Also, pah to the myth about having to drink loads of water - I am pretty crap at remembering to drink water and am never dying of thirst when feeding - and dd2 is doing fine at nearly 10 months.

another myth - if baby has fed on both sides during one feed then you've run out of milk

the myth of "empty breasts" full stop

Good idea

It's a great idea... however.... how many people do you think will actually read it? Laziness endemic in us all.... or is that just me? lol