Breastfeeding Problems

Breastfeeding should be a wonderful and enjoyable experience for both mother and baby. A new mother faces common problem in nursing her baby. Most of the problems are not serious enough to stop you from feeding, but some can make breastfeeding very uncomfortable and hard experience for you and baby. Speak about your problems to your doctor or child health nurse to solve your problems by make changes that are needed to make your body and baby’s body in sync.

Breastfeeding problems

Sore Nipples

After feeding, many women find that their nipple not only feels sore, but also they are red and pointed. This happens when baby is not latched on properly. Ideally, at least one inch of your areola should be in your baby’s mouth.

When latched or connected to breast properly, baby opens his or her mouth wide to take a good deal of breast tissues. Thus, your nipples end in the back of baby’s mouth. When not done properly, nipples are sitting in front of your baby’s mouth and you will feel pain whenever baby’s tongue will touch. Baby will also not have easy feeding.

To relieve yourself from pain, put your finger inside baby’s mouth to break the latch and try to latch again.

Feeding restless

If your baby does not seem satisfied by the feed and is restless, then it may happen that baby is not getting enough milk and is sucking nipples only.

Thrush

It is an infection that you can have. After passing of first soreness, if you have sore and red nipples again, then you may have this infection. Consult your doctor and get yourself treated. You can continue with breastfeeding, as it’s perfectly safe for the baby because of the high level antibodies present in the milk.

Lump

It is basically building of milk in the ducts. Solution to this problem is to first, let your baby feed on the tender breast or try expressing some milk, if he doesn’t want to feed. Put moist or dry heat compresses to your breast for 10 minutes, three times a day.

Gently Stroke the lump with your fingers to smooth the milk towards the nipple, while feeding your baby and try leaning over your baby while feeding.

Mastitis

If your breast feels hot and tender and you feel as though you have flu, then you are having mastitis infection. Continue to feed but get a health visitor to look at your position. Take full rest and get plenty of sleep.