Common Breastfeeding Problems

Breastfeeding comes naturally to some mothers and babies, but some will have problems along the way. By preparing yourself for a potential struggle, you may avoid feelings of disappointment and failure if you have to work at breastfeeding.

One thing to remember is that most breastfeeding problems are temporary and can be overcome. Only around one percent of mothers are physically unable to breastfeed. If you find yourself struggling to feed your newborn, the most important thing you can do is ask for help. Speak to your healthcare provider straight away, they will be able to diagnose the problem and offer you the support necessary to help you continue on your breastfeeding journey.

There are a number of common breastfeeding problems, and the more you know about them, the easier you will find it to identify any problems you may face.

Sore nipples
Some women have very sensitive nipples, and can experience some discomfort as their nipples “toughen up” for breastfeeding. This pain is temporary and will soon disappear once you are in the swing of breastfeeding.

Some women find that each breastfeed is painful, this could be down to a painful letdown. Letdown is the moment your milk starts to flow. If this is to blame, the pain will disappear after about a minute of feeding.

If you are still in pain after one minute, you should remove your baby from the breast. The pain may be caused by an improper latch, so try latching the baby onto your breast again to see if that helps. Make sure baby’s mouth is wide open and baby’s body is at breast level and tummy-to-mummy – these minor adjustments can relieve a lot of pain.

If your nipples are sore and cracked, you can rub a few drops of breast milk into the nipple at the end of each feed. This will help to keep the skin moisturised and should encourage healing. You might also try using a purified lanolin made especially for breastfeeding mums.

Thrush
Pink, sore nipples that itch could be a symptom of thrush. If your nipples are infected with thrush, your baby may be suffering from oral thrush. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you have thrush. Antifungal cream will be prescribed to treat the infection. Both mom and baby should be treated.

Blocked milk ducts
If you are suffering from tender, hard, hot breasts, you may have blocked milk ducts. This condition can be very painful, but can be treated at home by getting lots of rest, feeding from the affected side to clear the blockage, and applying heat to the affected area. Hand expressing may also help to clear the blockage, and pain relief may help to alleviate any discomfort (speak to your pharmacist to find out what you can take while breastfeeding). Contact your healthcare provider if you are still experiencing pain 48 hours after onset.

Mastitis
Mastitis can be caused by a bacterial infection, or improper drainage of the breast. It is a painful condition and the affected breast(s) will feel hard and hot to the touch, will appear red and inflamed, and you may experience a burning sensation during feeds. Mastitis is often accompanied by flu-like symptoms.

Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are suffering from mastitis, since antibiotics are sometimes needed to fight the infection. Use heat compresses, drink plenty of water, rest, and continue to feed through the affected breast to speed up recovery. Your healthcare provider may recommend pain relief for the discomfort.

Tongue tie
Some babies are born with an excessively tight piece of skin connecting the floor of the mouth to the underside of the tongue. This is known as a tongue tie and can cause feeding problems. If you think your baby has a tongue tie, or if you are experiencing ongoing feeding problems, you should contact your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. Tongue tie most often causes nipple soreness, low milk supply and slow weight gain.

Seeking support
Try not to feel disheartened if you run into problems at the start of your breastfeeding journey. Remember, most women seek assistance in the early weeks of feeding. Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn’t mean it comes naturally. Speak to your healthcare provider to find breastfeeding support in your local area.

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Help! Baby Bites When Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a pretty amazing thing and leaves you in awe of just how incredible your body is. Well, it does until your baby bites you for the first time, then all of a sudden it’s not quite the warm and fuzzy bonding experience you were hoping for. Some moms choose to give up breastfeeding when their baby bites, but this isn’t necessary. There are things you can do to gently teach your baby not to bite your nipples.

The important thing to bear in mind is that biting is a temporary stage. Just because your baby has bitten once does not mean that he will bite during feeds forever more. Some babies only ever bite once, others may trial it for a few days and for other babies it may take a few weeks until the behaviour dies down, this will all depend on your baby.

Biting often accompanies teething and is simply a way of your baby relieving some of the discomfort he feels on his gums. Unfortunately, this then passes the discomfort onto you which is certainly not ideal. So what can you do to stop your baby biting during breastfeeds?

How to stop your baby biting when breastfeeding

  1. Recognize teething signs

Your baby may be using feeds as a way of reducing discomfort caused by teething, unfortunately this may mean he’s like to gum down or bite your nipples. Ouch. If you think your baby may be teething, try offering a teething toy for him to bite instead of offering a feed.

  1. Look out for signs of boredom

Some babies bite at the end of a feed simply because they are bored (and, clearly, ungrateful). Babies can’t feed and bite at the same time, so a break in feeding could be a warning that a bite may be around the corner. If you think your baby may be done, immediately remove him from the breast.

  1. Give your baby attention

Some babies bite for attention during feeds. Try to resist the urge to look at your phone or watch TV and instead focus your attention on your baby during feeds. It may just be that he wants to look into your eyes for a little while and doesn’t know a better way of getting your attention.

  1. Remove baby from the breast

If the baby bites, you should stop the feed. You can do this without saying anything or you can say something to gently let him know that the feed is over. Scolding your baby won’t work because he’s too young to understand, so silence or gentle explanation is the best way forward.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Help! I Have Sore Nipples

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things in the world, but that doesn’t mean it comes naturally to all moms. Breastfeeding is a skill you need to learn, and it won’t always be easy. It may take you a while to get the hang of it, but once you know what you’re doing, breastfeeding will be second nature to both you and your baby.

Sore nipples are one of the most common complaints from new moms. Your nipples may be sore, cracked and bleeding. It’s not pleasant and it can leave you dreading the next feed, but don’t worry, you can get through this. This breastfeeding barrier can be overcome with a little bit of determination, some good information and help of breastfeeding support.

What causes cracked nipples

Just as you’ve been thrown in at the deep end with this whole parenting malarky, so too have your nipples. They weren’t gently eased into breastfeeding, instead they went from 0 to 60 without so much as a rest. Newborn babies have small tummies and breastfeed frequently to make sure they get enough food. This means your poor nipples are suddenly in constant use.

You and your baby are both new to this whole breastfeeding thing, and there is a learning curve involved in mastering the technique. There are a number of problems that can cause sore nipples including an improper latch, poor positioning and tongue tie.

Seeking help

Most women will experience tender nipples as they adjust to life as a breastfeeding mother. If your nipples are sore, cracked or bleeding, however, there’s probably a problem. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you need to stop breastfeeding, just that you might need a little support to get your breastfeeding journey off to a good start. Pop along to your local breastfeeding support group, make an appointment to see the lactation consultant at your local hospital, or call a breastfeeding support helpline for advice.

In the meantime, try the following tips to allow your nipples time to heal:

  • breastfeed from the affected side last – babies often feed from both breasts during one feed, but are often gentler with the second breast. If one nipple is suffering, offer your first feed from the other breast.
  • allow your baby to self-latch – instead of trying to latch your baby onto your breast, let him do some of the work. Recline in a comfortable position, and enjoy some skin-to-skin time with your baby on your tummy. Your baby may find his own way to the breast and even latch himself on.
  • experiment with different breastfeeding positions – you may find breastfeeding more comfortable in certain positions so experiment with how you hold your baby during feeds to see if this helps.
  • air your nipples – air plays an important role in helping your body to heal. Try to enjoy some bra-free time to expose your nipples to the air and encourage healing.
  • hand express – if you are unable to breastfeed from one side temporarily because of the pain, gently hand express to relieve engorgement and prevent mastitis.
  • apply breast milk or cream – there are creams you can buy to encourage healing, these can be applied between feeds. You could also try expressing a little bit of breast milk and applying that to your nipples to encourage healing.

Are you suffering from sore nipples, and if so, do you have any self-care tips to share with other moms?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.