Breastfeeding quiz

Do you know the truth about breastfeeding? Take this quiz when you begin to consider infant feeding options in early pregnancy and find out.

1. Breastfed newborns should be given water or formula in bottles until the mother’s milk comes in.	True	False
2. Nursing less than 5 minutes at a time helps prevent sore nipples.	True	False
3. A breastfed baby should only be fed every 3 hours to help keep on schedule.	True	False
4. A good position to prevent sore nipples is with your baby lying on her side, facing the breast.	True	False
5. Breast milk is better than cocoa butter to soothe sore nipples.	True	False
6. Formula-fed babies are healthier because formula is sterile and chemically balanced.	True	False
7. Breastfeeding mothers lose weight faster than formula-feeding mothers.	True	False
8. All breastfeeding mothers have sore nipples when the baby's first teeth appear.	True	False
9. Breastfed babies should be weaned when the first teeth appear.	True	False
10. If a breastfeeding mother gets a cold or the flu, she should stop breastfeeding.	True	False

Answers

1. False. Giving bottles the first few weeks can confuse baby’s sucking technique and cause sore nipples. Breastfed babies do not need water.

2. False. Poor positioning causes sore nipples. Breastfed babies should nurse 10 to 20 minutes per breast per feeding. Less time can decrease milk production; baby will be hungry and lose weight.

3. False. Breastfed babies should be fed on demand every 1 to 3 hours or more. Breast milk is easy to digest. Breastfed babies should not keep on a strict schedule.

4. True. Proper positioning will help prevent sore nipples. Your baby’s nose and cheeks should touch your breast when feeding.

5. True. Apply breast milk to nipple area after each feeding and air dry for 5 - 10 minutes. Your health care provider may also recommend a pure lanolin product, such as PureLan ® or Lansinoh ® .

6. False. Breast milk contains antibodies that help fight disease.

7. True. Breastfeeding drains the fat stores in the body.

8. False. Many breastfeeding mothers never have sore nipples. Sore nipples can be prevented.

9. False. Babies may be breastfed for 3 or more years. Many babies wean themselves by 1-2 years old.

10. False. Breast milk contains antibodies and will not spread common viruses (germs). Mom should wash her hands before nursing to prevent spreading germs.

Related Health Topics Breastfeeding Breastfeeding positions Sore nipples Breast engorgement For dads and partners: You you can help with breastfeeding Pregnancy & Parenting eMagazine: What about breastfeeding?

Other Helpful Resources Class – Breastfeeding preparation (Twin Cities area) Class – Breastfeeding and work The Breastfeeding Resource Center – United Hospital Infant Feeding Program – Abbott Northwestern Hospital Allina Pregnancy Care

 

First published: 11/14/2002
Last updated: 03/29/2006

Reviewed by: Angela Christian, RN, perinatal education coordinator, St. Francis Regional Medical Center; Cynthia Fredrickson, coordinator of parent education, Abbott Northwestern Hospital; Cheryl Kirchner, RN, care center leader, United Hospital Birth Center; and Janice Kugler, RNC, parent/family education coordinator, Unity Hospital