Breastfeeding Problems and Solutions

Breastfeeding is considered the natural way to feed your newborn, but that does not mean that it is always going to be the easiest way. Breastfeeding has its own set of problems, and some of those problems can make you want to give up. You look at other mothers who are nursing and think that they sailed through it, that they did not have any problems, so you must be doing something wrong. The truth of the matter is they probably suffered through their own set of problems, but they choose not to give up. With breastfeeding, you can suffer from problems any time during the period that you are nursing. It might happen on your first day or it can happen a year or so later, but nobody is immune to the problems that are associated with breastfeeding.

Here are some common nursing problems that you might encounter along with what you can do to help solve those problems so that you can continue breastfeeding your baby.

Number one: Sore nipples
One of the biggest problems that causes mother's to give up on breastfeeding is sore nipples. Most mothers find that their nipples are sore, red, and pointy rather than round and smooth after every feeding. Nursing with sore nipples can be rather painful, which makes breastfeeding less pleasurable for you. The main reason why you get sore nipples is that your baby has not latched on properly, meaning they are not connected to your breast properly. When your baby is properly latched onto your breast your nipple will be way in the back of your baby's mouth, rather than in the front of your baby's mouth. Not only will this cause your nipples to be sore, but it can also make it difficult for your baby to eat.

To help resolve sore nipples you are going to want to make sure that your baby is latching on properly. To make sure that your baby is latched on properly you need to insert your finger into the corner of your baby's mouth so that you can break the latch as soon as you feel pain. Once you have broken the latch, have the baby try latching on again. When latching on your baby should take at least one inch of your areola into their mouths.

Using soap on your nipples can also cause them to be sore and tender. The reason for this is that soap tends to dry out and irritate your nipples. You want to avoid washing your nipples with soap, instead just use plain water. You can also allow your breast milk to dry on your nipples after each feeding; it has been shown that this can reduce some of the inflammation and soreness. You can also try using a lanolin-based cream that is made specifically for nipple inflammation. This type of cream is safe to use during breastfeeding, there is no need to wash it off before a feeding.

Number two: Infections or painful lumps
Even if your baby is properly latched on that does not mean that you still cannot have some type of breastfeeding problems. Even with a proper latch, you might notice that you have a sore or a tender spot in your breast; you might even notice a painful lump. The most common reason that these would occur is that you have a plugged milk duct or you might have the beginning of an infection called mastitis. The thing to remember with both of these problems is that you should continue to breastfeed. Even if you end up having an infection you should still breastfeed, your baby will not get sick because your breast milk contains a high level of antibodies, which keeps your baby safe.

To get rid of a clogged milk duct the best thing that you can do is apply a moist or dry heat compress to your breast for 10 minutes, three times a day. You should also massage your breast in a warm shower. As the duct begins to unclog you can express some milk to help relieve the pain. With a clogged milk duct, it is important to continue breastfeeding because that will further open up your milk ducts. This early treatment should prevent a clogged milk duct from becoming infected. However, this is not always the case. Usually you can do the same things to treat an infection, but if your fever does not break within 24 hours, you need to call your doctor for an antibiotic to stop the infection.

Number three: Yeast infections or thrush
This problem is not as painful, but it can still be uncomfortable to deal with. Like a clogged duct or an infection, thrush can develop weeks or even months after successful nursing. Thrush is a type of yeast infection that thrives on milk, and it will probably affect both you and your baby. The signs to look for to spot thrush are red or pink shiny skin that usually itches; it can also flake or peel. You might also develop the symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection, extreme itchiness and a clumpy white discharge. Your baby might have white spots on the inside of the cheeks, but they can also have a diaper rash that will not go away.

With thrush, you do not need to stop breastfeeding, but both you and your baby are going to need treatment. Do not try to buy a drugstore product to treat the infection your self, because not all products are going to be safe for you to use while breastfeeding. You need to go into your doctor to talk to them about what the right course of treatment is going to be for you and your baby.

Number four: Engorged breasts
This is normal for every mother to experience, no matter how many times she has successfully breastfeed. Engorgement happens when milk begins to flood your breast, which is usually between the second and sixth day after you have started nursing your baby. The reason that they become engorged is because the swollen tissue, which becomes swollen when milk, lymph fluid, and blood floods into the area, pushes down on the milk ducts, and in some cases clamps them shut. Moreover, since they are clamped shut the milk cannot be released so it builds up inside the breast, which causes them to become engorged.

The best thing that you can do to relieve yourself of the pain is to continue nursing. The reason for this is that the more milk that you are expressing the less chance you will have of engorgement. Alternatively, you can place cold packs on your breasts; some doctors also suggest putting clean washed cabbage leaves on your breast. In either case, you want to leave them on your skin for about 20 minutes to reduce the swelling and allow the ducts to open. You can also apply a warm pack to your nipples right before you nurse, this will help with getting your milk to flow properly. The one thing that you want to avoid doing is taking a shower to relieve engorged breasts. Showers can actually make things worse because the warm pounding water can dilate your blood vessels, which increases the swelling and congestion in your breast.

Something to keep in mind when facing nursing problems is that your pediatrician and obstetrician really do not know that much about these problems and how you can go about solving them. If you find that, your doctors are not very knowledgeable in the area you should look into finding a lactation consultant. It has been shown that 50% of medical schools have been graduating doctors without any training on breastfeeding. While another study done showed that, an obstetrical staff at a hospital only answered 53% of the questions correctly on a 15-minute quiz on breastfeeding. Moreover, of those doctors quizzed only 14% of them said they felt confident about their knowledge on breastfeeding.

In fact using a lactation consultant is probably the fastest way to get answers to your breastfeeding problems and concerns. One of the best places to find a lactation consultant is at the hospital where you delivered. Most of the time they will visit you shortly after you have given birth to help you get started breastfeeding your baby. With lactation consultants, most of them are also available for at-home consultations after you have left the hospital. If this is not the case, they can recommend a private practice lactation expert that can help you. When looking for a lactation consultant you will want to look for one that has the initials IBCLC, which stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. You can also look for an RLC, which is a registered lactation counselor. Both of these credentials mean that the counselor has received special training in breastfeeding.

If you need help finding a lactation counselor in your area, you can contact the Le Leche League International at 1-800-LALECHE. Alternatively, you can visit their website at www.laleche.org.