Breastfeeding problems: How to resolve them
Tags: Breast Feed, Breast Feeding Care, Breastfeeding, New Mom, Breast Feeding Pump

Breastfeeding problems: How to resolve them

After undergoing the excruciating pain of labour, you are handed your bundle of joy. You literally are feeling a storm of emotions. You are happy, nervous, shocked, excited and scared. You gaze at your baby and you feel like your heart can’t contain this huge amount of love and might burst with happiness soon. Being newly promoted as mom is scary and what’s even more scarier is this expectation to be the super mom who manages her new baby, breastfeeding and the home.

Breastfeeding may seem like the sort of skill which comes naturally to every woman without any effort. But that’s not usually the case. Every new mom and the baby will need to get acclimatized and comfortable and actively learn this new activity in co ordination.

When to start breastfeeding?

Babies are very alert in the first hour after delivery. They are short sighted and they can clearly see only upto eight to twelve inches and have a preference for faces. This approximates to the distance between breast to your face. So when you gaze at your baby, she will gaze back. It’s the best if you can start breastfeeding your baby within the first hour of life, as soon as possible. It is advised to exclusively breastfeed the baby for the first six months and then add complimentary foods from six months onwards. You can continue to breastfeed till 2 years and beyond.

The science behind breastfeeding

The milk secretion reflex in our bodies ensures that the more the baby sucks at the breast, the greater is the milk production. Also the earlier the baby is put to the breast, the sooner this reflex is initiated. Thus, it is important for you to start feeds early, frequently and to completely empty out the breasts during each feeding session. Prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production is produced during night time, therefore breastfeeding during night time is very important for maintenance of this reflex.

When you think lovingly of your baby or you see or hear your baby, it stimulates the production of oxytocin which helps in milk ejection. Since it is affected by the mother’s emotions, a relaxed and confident attitude will help while stress, pain and self doubt will hinder the milk flow.

Picture courtesy: http://depts.washington.edu/pwdlearn/firststeps/pdfs/mod8print.pdf

I am going to take you through some of the problems you might encounter during breastfeeding and how to solve them. Thankfully most of these problems last for a very short time and you can solve them easily yourself and with some help from the your doctor, nurse and your experienced friends and relatives.

• Breast engorgement: As milk production increases by the second and third day after delivery, if feeding is delayed or infrequent or the baby is not positioned well at the breast, milk starts getting accumulated inside the breast. It becomes swollen, hard, warm and painful.

It can be prevented by early and frequent feeds and the correct technique of positioning and attachment at the breast. Use warm water packs and gently massage the breast to relieve this engorgement. You can also gently express the milk with your hands to soften the breast.

• Sore nipples: Nipples become sore when the baby suckles at the nipple rather than latching on to the areola ( the black area surrounding the nipple). As the baby is unable to express milk due to improper attachment, he or she will suck vigorously in frustration and bites the nipple causing soreness.

Correct positioning and latching of the baby to the breast is important. You can apply some of the breast milk to the sore area after feeds. Allow the nipples to be aired and to heal in between feeds. You can clean the breast and nipple once daily during bath.

• Inverted nipples: Flat or short nipples which become prominent easily on pulling out do not cause any difficulty in breastfeeding. However truly inverted or retracted nipples can cause difficulty in latching.

You can manually evert and stretch out the nipples several times a day using a plastic syringe. Women can use an inverted syringe and apply gentle negative pressure around the nipple to evert it. The procedure can be repeated before each breastfeed as long as required.

• Breast abscess: If an engorged breast, cracked nipple or blocked duct is not treated in the early stages, it might cause infection in the breast resulting in fever and pus accumulation in the breast.

You might need a prescription of antibiotics, painkillers and/or need the pus to be drained. Breastfeeding must be continued.

• Not enough milk: Firstly make sure whether your perception of insufficient breast milk production is right or not. If the baby is content after breastfeeding, sleeps for 2 to 3 hours after each feed, passes urine 6–8 times a day and is gaining weight, you are producing enough breast milk.

Some of the reasons for insufficient milk production are, incorrect technique, bottle feeding, no night feeding, mother being stressed, inadequate sleep or any illness in the mother

See if you can identify any of the reasons and take appropriate actions. Take adequate rest, drink enough fluids. Feed the baby on demand and let the baby feed as long as possible on each breast. Keep the baby with you as much as possible.

Using dummies, pacifiers and bottles can cause nipple confusion. Try and avoid them.

At any point of time, if you are finding difficulty in breastfeeding, seek an appointment with your doctor before starting on formula feeds.

Do not worry, you are a great mother and you will sail through this and you will be dishing out advice to newbie moms yourself soon.

Happy motherhood..