Breastfeeding Challenges Resources
Breastfeeding comes with challenges.
Breastfeeding is a commitment.
There is no denying that with breastfeeding, comes many challenges.
We’re here to remind you that both the mother and baby have to learn.
Neither one are professionals at breastfeeding right off the bat.
It takes time, effort and dedication.
And yes, we cry over spilled milk, and that’s okay!
Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding
In the months of pregnancy your breasts are hard at work getting ready to produce your milk. Within the first few days of life, the breasts produce a small amount of liquid called colostrum – the perfect amount for your newborn baby as their stomachs are the size of a cherry within the first few days of life.
DISCLAIMER: All information on this website is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, and does not establish any kind of patient client relationship by your own use of this website. We strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute or any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any medical decisions.
To read more on the infant’s stomach capacity check out our article, Understanding The Infant: Stomach Capacity.
It isn’t until around day 3-5 that your milk fully comes in. We shared this article – Important Things To Know About Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding that explains how we lactate and explains the importance of the perfect latch.
This article is going to focus on breastfeeding/chestfeeding challenges and ways to overcome these challenges.
Most importantly, to share the knowledge and let you know you are not alone.
Engorgement
One of the most common discomforts when your milk comes in. Your body has no recollection of how much milk it needs to supply to sustain your baby’s needs yet. This causes engorgement in the breasts and can be extremely uncomfortable but absolutely normal. It is important to release some milk by either hand expressing or pumping before attempting to latch the baby to the breast. Save any expressed milk for future feeds but be sure to safely store your milk. This article shares safety measures when storing your breastmilk.
Sore/Cracked Nipples
Absolutely miserable, we know. This happens for various reasons, the number one being incorrect latch. To make sure you have the right latch, refer to our article Important Things To Know About Breastfeeding. It is normal to experience sore/cracked nipples as your body is not used to the constant pull/tug every two hours from a newborn infant. If you are experiencing sore/cracked nipples it is important to ensure you have a good latch. Once we know this is in place we can care for our nipples by applying our own breast milk on them, allowing milk to continue flowing and some women even swear by the silver nipple caps. The silver is known to have healing properties and help fight against bacteria and fungal infections. More information on silver nursing cups here.
Low Supply
It is a parent’s instinct to worry if their infant is getting enough milk. We understand it’s hard to know exactly how much your infant is receiving during each feed. Fortunately, there are ways we can ensure our infant’s are full after each feed. A baby who is getting a good feed will start the feed with quick suckles that slow to rhythmic suckles with periodic breaks between. Baby will start to relax, hands may open and they may even begin to fall asleep. Babies should detach themselves from the breast and overall be calm and content. If you do have fears of low milk supply, we suggest weighing the baby after each feed and keeping a record of the weights. Work hand in hand with the baby's pediatrician when reporting your feedings. A baby who is getting enough breastmilk will also have many wet diapers, another way to keep your mind at ease.
Oversupply Of Breastmilk
Oversupply happens when our body doesn’t regulate our baby’s need. It can sometimes be difficult for a baby to keep up with the amount of milk and you have some left over. This can be difficult to regulate if you are not wanting to pump and store the extra milk. Leaving milk left in our breasts is not the best option as it can lead to clogged ducts and other challenges. Pumping/hand-expressing to ensure your breasts are completely emptied is one of the best ways to keep our ducts in working order but this again only pushes our bodies to keep producing that amount of milk daily. What we can do is gradually pump/express less over a period of time telling our bodies to slow down on production overall.
Clogged Milk Duct
Clogged ducts happen when the breast isn’t being drained properly or enough. Of course when this happens, milk is building and can cause engorgement and discomfort. If we don’t drain them they may become a red and painful small lump.
Mastitis
A painful infection in the breast that happens when clogged ducts go untreated or milk is not being released properly. Fortunately, with treatment it goes away within a few days to weeks. Here’s a great article on some natural remedies to try for mastitis.
Tongue-tie
It can be difficult to breastfeed with a baby who is tongue-tied. Although not impossible, it definitely can cause some challenges with finding the right latch each time. Here is an article that helps explain the signs of a tongue-tied baby and your options when handling that.
We hope this article acts as a resource for you during your breastfeeding journey.
Remember, you are never alone during this journey and we are all rooting for your successes.