1. Is it true that breastfeeding will make mothers tired?
The quality and number of hours of sleep between mothers who breastfeed and those who do not breastfeed is more or less the same. Even mothers who breastfeed can get a "bonus" sleep time of around 40 minutes every night because they often fall asleep while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding hormones will also help the mother feel more relaxed and sleepy, making it easier to start sleeping and fall asleep again when the baby wakes up at night.
Apart from that, breastfeeding in the first days, even though it is often labeled as "tiring the mother," in fact will help the uterus contract better, reduce postpartum bleeding, thereby preventing maternal death and anemia.
2. Is it true that babies with diarrhea don't need to breastfeed first?
Breast milk contains substances and living cells that function to strengthen the baby's immune system, and breast milk strengthens the immune system in the baby's digestive system. Babies who are exclusively breastfed usually rarely have diarrhea. Her bowel movements may seem a bit runny but that doesn't mean loose stools or diarrhea.
Mothers need to recognize the defecation characteristics of exclusively breastfed babies so they don't panic. Babies who have eaten other foods may get germs from their food and then have diarrhea. When this happens, breast milk will help the baby recover more quickly.
3. Is it true that breastfeeding causes saggy breasts?
Sometimes women are reluctant to breastfeed because they are afraid their breasts will sag. When pregnant, the breasts begin to enlarge and stretch the breast skin. When the baby is born, the mother breastfeeds and gradually stops breastfeeding when the child starts to get bigger, the breasts get smaller again. Then as you get older, skin elasticity decreases, breast firmness will decrease compared to when you were young, whether the mother is breastfeeding or not. Using a bra that can support the breasts and exercise that builds the chest muscles will help maintain the shape of the breasts.
Breastfeeding with good management will also prevent swollen or infected breasts which will also disrupt the shape of the breasts. Furthermore, the longer a mother breastfeeds, the smaller the risk of the mother suffering from breast cancer.
4. Is it true that having sex will affect the quality of breast milk?
Sexual intercourse or sperm fluid will not affect the quality of breast milk. Resuming sexual activity within 6 weeks or 40 days (after the postpartum period) will strengthen the bond between husband and wife which may have been somewhat strained by the presence of a baby. Even orgasm in women will release more of the hormone oxytocin which facilitates the release of breast milk.