This article is all about common breastfeeding issues many women go through every day. If you have any problems with breastfeeding, it’s crucial to ask for advice from your midwife, health visitor, or a breastfeeding professional as soon as feasible. It is not always easy to breastfeed. Because many moms have problems along the way, we’ve come up with some common breastfeeding issues you might have.
List of Common Breastfeeding Issues
Here are some common Breastfeeding challenges that 90% of women face during breastfeeding:
- Breast & nipple thrush
- Inverted or flat nipples
- Breast engorgement
- Plugged milk ducts
- Mastitis
- Latching pain
- Low milk supply
- Baby sleeping at the breast
- Painful letdown
- biting
1. Breast & Nipple thrush
Breast and nipple thrush can cause painful soreness in the breast and nipple. If the condition is not treated, the pain could be so bad that the baby has to be weaned too soon.
However, Candida albicans is the cause of thrush, a fungal infection that can happen in the nipples or breast tissue (as well as other places in the body).
If you have pain in your nipple that doesn’t go away when you change how you breastfeed, you may need to talk to a lactation consultant or another health care professional. Moreover, if you find and treat nipple and breast thrush as soon as possible, your breastfeeding experience will improve.
2. Inverted or Flat Nipples
Here is another common breastfeeding issue. Breastfeeding may be more difficult for a woman if her nipples are inverted or flat, although it is not impossible in these cases.
Use the following test to determine whether or not your nipples are inverted or flat:
Squeeze your areola by gently grabbing it between your thumb and index finger and applying pressure. Your nipple is considered to be flat or inverted if it can retract.
When you start each nursing session by using a breast pump, it might help to draw your nipple out and make it simpler for you to latch on to your child.
Nipple shields made of soft silicone can also be used when nursing to assist your infant in properly latching on to your breast. Your nipple can also be drawn out with the assistance of a lactation expert, who will demonstrate several techniques and exercises to you.
3. Breast Engorgement
At the end of the first week, when your breasts have been fully engorged with breast milk, you may notice that they have become puffy and firm. Engorgement of the breasts is uncomfortable for the mother and makes it difficult for the infant to latch on to the firm, full breasts of the mother.
This initial period of engorgement typically lasts for many days or weeks as your milk supply changes to meet your baby’s requirements. While your body is getting used to the change, you should try to concentrate on easing the pain and pressure.
4. Plugged Milk Ducts
Breasts may develop hard, pea-sized lumps if their milk ducts become blocked. They form when the narrow milk ducts become clogged with breast milk, which causes them to become obstructed. The blocked duct’s region may be painful, bloated, and red. Milk ducts that have been clogged almost always clear themselves up on their own within a few days.
5. Mastitis
Inflammation or swelling of the breast tissue is known medically as mastitis. This condition is also commonly referred to as a breast infection. Mastitis can also be caused by other common diseases, such as breast engorgement, blocked milk ducts, exhaustion, or illness. If you also have a fever, flu-like symptoms, and breast redness or pain, you should consider the possibility that you have mastitis.
Related: What is Mastitis and How is it Treated?
6. Latching Pain
Latching pain is one more common breastfeeding challenge. When you first begin breastfeeding, it is normal for your nipples to feel a little (or a lot) sore, mainly if this is your first time doing so. This is especially true for first-time mothers.
However, if the discomfort continues for more than a few seconds after you begin feeding your baby, there may be a problem with the infant’s latch. Keep in mind that this is a learning experience for both you and your baby; therefore, an improper latch is one of the most prevalent problems that can arise from breastfeeding.
7. Low Milk Supply
The act of nursing can be conceptualized as a supply-and-demand market. If you continue to breastfeed or pump, your body should produce additional milk in response. A wide variety of factors can cause low milk production; therefore, it is always recommended to visit a lactation consultant to find out what’s happening.
Related: How to increase milk supply
8. Baby Sleeping at the Breast
It is usual for newborns, especially in the first few weeks after birth, when they are exhausted, thus dozing asleep while nursing is common and even to be expected. However, if the infant isn’t getting enough breast milk, it’s also possible for them to fall asleep while nursing. “By keeping the flow of milk going throughout the feeding, you can keep the baby alert and engaged.
9. Painful Let-Down
The milk let-down sensation, also known as the “milk ejection reflex,” is frequently described as having the sensation of pins and needles or tingling across the breasts. But for some, the sensation is felt deep within the breasts, and can be painful or achy, particularly when milk production is at an all-time high.
10. Biting
If a baby is teething, they may try biting down on their mother’s breast while nursing. However, this can be avoided to some extent by cuddling your infant closely, holding them in your arms, and ensuring that they have a secure latch. Do not give in to the temptation to quit breastfeeding your child because biting is typically just temporary.
Final Verdict:
In this article, we have told you about common breastfeeding issues. Breastfeeding is the healthiest eating method for you and your baby, but it can sometimes be challenging! Breastfeeding can provide numerous typical challenges for women, which are not uncommon.
It is essential to remember that the longer you breastfeed, the more significant the positive effects on your own and your child’s health will be. We hope you will get to know some common breastfeeding challenges.
Source: https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-challenges/common-breastfeeding-challenges
