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“PUT THAT COLD WATER DOWN. YOU’RE ON YOUR PERIOD!”

Who warned you about this?

Many women grew up believing that cold water makes menstrual cramps worse or prevents menstrual blood from flowing properly.

But there is no convincing evidence that drinking cold water causes or worsens menstrual cramps.

What about warm water? Well, drink it if you find it comforting, but it has not been shown to treat cramps better than cold or room-temperature water.

But, applying heat is different. A warm compress or hot-water bottle placed on your lower abdomen can help relieve period pain.

Gentle movement and suitable pain medication may also help.

If period pain stops you from working, attending school or doing your usual activities, please do not dismiss it as something every woman must endure. Get checked, especially if the pain is becoming worse or comes with heavy or irregular bleeding.

Welcome to ’30 Days of Women’s Health with Dr Ketch’. This September, we will have honest conversations about the questions women ask about their bodies.

Were you warned against drinking cold water during your period? Do you still avoid it?

“We’ve reached six months. So tomorrow, what exactly do I feed this baby?”

Pap is probably the first suggestion you’ll hear. But must it be pap? Can you give a whole egg? And does starting food mean stopping breastfeeding?

For our final Breastfeeding Month post, let’s answer the question that comes next: ‘what actually goes in your baby’s bowl?’

“My baby is big and plump on breast milk alone. Surely that means she is getting everything she needs?”

Not necessarily, especially after six months.

A baby can look well fed and still be short of iron. From around six months, breast milk alone no longer meets all your baby’s nutritional needs.

That does not mean your milk has become bad or that you should stop breastfeeding. It means it is time to introduce food alongside it, including iron-rich foods.

If your baby refuses food, stopping breastfeeding is not automatically the answer.

“My child is three and still wants to breastfeed. I am tired and ready to stop. Does that make me a bad mother?”

No.

The recommendation says breastfeeding can continue for two years or beyond. It does not say that a mother must continue after she is ready to stop.

Your child may not welcome the decision, but you do not need to wait until your child chooses to stop. You can end breastfeeding gradually and with reassurance.

“Put pepper on your nipples. Once she tastes it, she will stop breastfeeding.”

Please don’t do this.

Pepper or an unknown bitter substance can irritate your child’s mouth, skin or eyes. It turns breastfeeding, a familiar source of food and comfort—into a frightening experience.

If you are ready to stop, you do not need to shock your child into it. Drop one breastfeed at a time and allow both your child and your breasts time to adjust.

“Don’t do family planning while breastfeeding. It will dry up your milk.”

How many mothers have avoided contraception because someone gave them this warning?

The truth is that breastfeeding mothers have several family-planning options. But safe for breastfeeding does not automatically mean the best method for every mother.

Where in doubt, always check with your healthcare provider.

Your period returns and someone tells you to stop breastfeeding until the bleeding ends because the milk is now “dirty.”

Please don’t.

Menstrual blood does not mix with breast milk, and having your period does not make your milk harmful to your baby.

The return-to-work date is already on the calendar.

Does that date also have to mark the end of breastfeeding?

No but continuing successfully is much easier when the plan begins before your first morning back at work.