Are you experiencing discomfort while breastfeeding? You’ll probably answer yes, and you should know that you are NOT alone.
While we talk a lot about the benefits of breast milk and how good it is for mothers to feed their babies with this wonder food, we often neglect the toll that breastfeeding can take. Almost all breastfeeding mums experience challenges during their breastfeeding journey. While it probably won’t be completely unavoidable, here is what you can do!
Sore Nipples
This commonly occurs during the first few weeks, especially when it’s a wrong latch. If the nipple isn’t far enough back, the baby’s tongue will rub or push on the nipple and cause pain. Consequently, causing the nipple to crack and even bleed for certain severe cases.
Ways to Prevent and Heal
→ Have a go at pumping for a minute or two before you start breastfeeding.
→ You can likewise take a stab at repositioning the baby. Set Baby in a place where her lower lip can take in more of the underside of the nipple, reducing the burn.
Breast Engorgement
It is a typical condition and your body’s way to guarantee that your baby has an adequate milk supply. However, this fullness because of milk and the increased blood flow makes the tissues swell. As a result, your breasts become hard, firm, tight, and painful.
Ways to Prevent and Heal
→ If the breasts are emptied more often, engorgement won’t occur.
→ If you can’t feed your child immediately, apply warm packs to your breasts, and try to pump or hand express your milk.
Low Milk Supply
Many new mums think they have a low milk supply! Worry over milk supply is the number one reason women state they quit any pretense of breastfeeding.
The good news is – there are ways to increase your body’s milk production!
How to Build A Milk Supply Quickly?
Here are a few strategies to produce more breastmilk:
→ Nurse on Demand
Your milk production depends on supply and demand. The more your child nurses, the more milk you’ll create.
→ Power Pump
For 2-3 consecutive days, pump after each nursing session for 10-20 minutes. Power pumping completely empties your breasts and signals your body to make more milk.
→ Breast Massage
Apply a hot, wet towel to your breasts before breastfeeding. Then, using your fingertips, daintily massage your breasts to get back on track and stimulate milk production.
Blocked Duct
This is one of the most painful and prevalent issues in nursing mothers. Usually, there is a change in the baby’s feeding pattern after month 8. Most kids tend to eat more solid food, which is why they nurse less frequently. The milk which then sits in your breasts for prolonged periods might cause the ducts to clog.
Ways to Prevent and Heal
→ Pump the ducts often and nurse more frequently. Other methods include applying warm compresses and getting plenty of fluids and rest.
Fungal Infection
When breast tissues get inflamed and contaminated by bacteria in the breast, it can cause breastfeeding pain and redness. The pain in your breasts is usually accompanied by fever.
Ways to Prevent and Heal
→ The only way to treat this infection is with antibiotics.
→ You may feel that you can’t breastfeed, yet you can and should keep on breastfeeding regularly.
→ Apply warm packs to help ease the pain.
Nursing Strike
There are certain times where the baby refuses to latch. Babies feed differently from a natural nipple compared to an artificial nipple at the end of a bottle. Some may find it easier to drink through and chewier to nibble on while they are teething. This may cause them to withdraw from nursing from their mother’s nipples. This state is usually called a nursing strike, nipple strike, or nipple confusion.
How to Overcome Nursing Strike?
→ Place your baby’s bare torso against your chest for skin-to-skin touch.
→ A few drops of milk expressed onto your nipple will help provide an immediate gratification for your baby.
→ Experiment different nursing positions.
→ Nurse the baby as he is sleeping.
Growth Spurts
Growth spurts may cause increase in feedings. Your youngster will experience growth spurts which makes them uneasy.
Ways to Prevent and Heal
→ Keep hydrated! Your body shifts in parallel with your baby’s through growth spurts. It is important to keep hydrated by drinking lots of water.
Kid Biting Nipple
All nursing mums and breastfeeding specialists agree that if your baby bites, take them off the breast, stop nursing, and say something gently like “No biting mummy.” You can resume nursing in a few minutes if the infant is interested, and you can applaud your child on a healthy latch-on.
Wrapping Up!
Mums have a lot to do and while there may be many challenges to face while breastfeeding, it always helps to shift perspective. Nursing can be a break for you. It can be a moment for you to break free from the clamor of the day and sit back for a quiet moment. It’s a time just for a mother and her baby.
