As a new mom, you quickly learn that motherhood is a journey that starts the second you see those two lines appear on a stick, and for some moms, it begins even earlier with fertility supplements and procedures. After you've completed the nine months of training, also known as pregnancy, your precious baby is earthside, and all you want is to find the best way to breastfeed your baby. Despite breastfeeding being very natural, it's not always easy. It's perfectly common for breastfeeding to be a challenging experience, which is why we wanted to give you six common breastfeeding issues and solutions. We briefly cover topics like: Is my baby latching properly? How to increase breast milk supply? How do I pick the right breast pump? And more! We can't say this enough: breastfeeding is natural, but that does NOT mean it's easy. As moms, new and veterans alike, we tend to be incredibly hard on ourselves, especially when it comes to caring for our babies. After nine months spent growing this precious baby, we imagine breastfeeding is going to be all smiles and flower crowns, but in reality, it's worrying about getting the right nutrients, enough water, dealing with sore, cracked nipples, and lots of soaked shirts. If you're struggling with breastfeeding, the absolute best thing you can do for yourself and your baby is to know you are not alone and NOT let this get you down! We encourage you to reach out to a lactation specialist in your area. If cost is a concern, a good question to ask is if they take your insurance and if some will work with you on a sliding pay scale. It's also becoming more and more common for hospitals to send a lactation specialist to your room before you leave and discuss things like proper latch, holding techniques, and some of the basics of breastfeeding. Every baby is different, and even if you are not new to nursing a newborn, you can still run into struggles with breastfeeding your baby. It's good to be aware of the various struggles and solutions to common breastfeeding issues you might encounter, which we've briefly covered below: Latch issues Is your baby latching properly? This is probably the most common breastfeeding issue that sometimes can be the easiest to correct. Solution: Start by adjusting the angle you use to hold your baby. Sometimes, it's as simple as ensuring your entire areola is in your baby's mouth. The first thirty seconds to a minute are key. If you are feeling pain, that is a sign that you need to break the latch and try again. You and your baby are both learning. Be patient and keep trying! If your baby appears to be having latch issues or does not seem full after nursing for extended periods, contact your pediatrician and/or a lactation consultant to identify additional techniques for you and your baby. . . Leaking. In the beginning, leaking is quite common, and you'll wake up after only a few hours of sleep and find your shirt wet. That's totally ok; it's just the new normal and can happen anytime, day or night. Solution: Leaking is common in the beginning; it can sometimes continue throughout nursing. However, we know it can be quite uncomfortable and embarrassing. You can consider using breast pads, which are washable and made of natural materials like organic, breathable cotton. Another option is to feed your baby frequently and avoid your breasts from getting too full. This practice also supports good milk supply and helps prevent mastitis. Having a good breast pump handy and a private place to duck into to either feed or pump milk can help prevent an embarrassing moment Back pain. When holding your baby, it's often easier to hunch when you're nursing, causing undue stress on your lower back. One more annoying pain to add to the list! Solution: Unless you've studied anatomy and physiology, you may not know that weakened abdominal muscles cause the majority of lower back pain. Obviously, pregnancy takes a toll on your body, and your abdominal muscles get stretched out. Practicing postpartum exercises and using a postpartum belly wrap for added support can be very helpful. Investing in a great nursing pillow can also help prevent the hunch from happening in the first place. Sore nipples. Once your nipples get sore, it can be difficult to help them heal in between nursing and pumping sessions. Nursing should not be something that you dread, so it's important to take care of your breasts so that you're not wincing in pain during every feed! Solution: Nipple balm can be very helpful, but be sure to get an all-natural or organic nipple balm that does not need to be wiped off. Also, ensuring that the baby is latching on correctly can avoid nipple pain Mastitis. Mastitis is generally known as inflammation in the breast tissue, usually caused by an infection. While it can happen anytime, its highest occurrence is during breastfeeding, and in particular within the first 6 months of nursing. It has the highest occurrence during breastfeeding. In. It can result from a clogged milk duct, bacteria being passed from the baby's mouth, or sore or cracked nipples, to name a few. The typical symptoms can include tenderness and swelling in the breast, body aches, engorgement, fever, and chills. Most women can self-diagnose themselves, but it is best to talk with your doctor right away to learn how to treat and prevent it in the future. Solution: Keep nursing! Antibiotics are typically the treatment of choice, and if you can continue nursing while still taking the antibiotics, you and your baby will be better off. Always drain the breasts fully, and ensure proper latch to help avoid mastitis in the future Is my baby getting enough milk? This is last on the list but certainly not the least important. This is likely one of the most searched topics on breastfeeding problems and solutions. A new baby is a lot of work, and often, moms find themselves breastfeeding their baby and end up worried they have a low supply because their baby never seems satisfied. If you're worried your baby isn't getting enough breast milk, you can start to track a few areas to share with your pediatrician. Solution: A good start is to download one of the top breastfeeding apps to help you record nursing times and duration, which side you nursed from last, baby's weight, number of wet diapers, and overall contentment of baby. If you and your healthcare provider think there is a need to increase your milk supply, start by adding some more fluids to your diet and ensuring you and your baby have enough quiet time together to support milk let-down and milk production. Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps, and some moms find lactation supplements can help support breast milk production.
