Breastfeeding myths explained part 4

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Myth: You can't get pregnant if you're breastfeeding

Reality: You can still conceive while breastfeeding! Prolactin, the hormone that makes you produce milk, also hinders ovulation. Although nature helps you space out your babies so they all have a good chance of survival, you are also designed to have as many as possible.

'As soon as your baby sleeps longer and feeds less at night, or you drop feeds once weaning starts, the effect is lessened, and your reproductive hormones seep through the protective prolactin barrier,' says Dr Spaul.

'Don't wait for your first period as a warning: you ovulate two weeks before you bleed, so you could conceive before you even have a period.'

Myth: If you give your baby a bottle, he'll reject the breast

Reality: 'Lots of babies happily combine bottle and breastfeeding,' explains Alison Spiro. 'Wait until breastfeeding is well established and your baby's got the hang of latching on (around 3 or 4 weeks) before offering a bottle. If you leave it later than 6 weeks, your breastfed baby may not be keen to take a bottle.'

Myth: Breastfeeding mums should avoid spicy food

Reality: 'Breastfeeding is an international activity, and in every country in the world women eat different foods,' says Alison Spiro. 'Most babies are unaffected by what their mums eat, and one of the advantages of breastmilk is that it has a different flavour depending on what you've eaten, so it's a good way of getting your baby used to different tastes!

'Some flavours are thought to pass through your amniotic fluid to your baby in pregnancy, so your little one may even get used to the taste of spicy food while in the womb!'

Myth: If you find you can't breastfeed, you're a bad mum

Reality: There are two things that a newborn needs more than anything else: plenty of milk, and plenty of love. But if breastfeeding really doesn't work for you, move on and make the best of bottlefeeding by giving your baby lots of close, warm cuddles while he enjoys his milk.