7 Common Breastfeeding Problems & their Solutions for New Mothers

breastfeeding-problems

Motherhood is not less than a beautiful boon for women. Being a mother, a woman experiences many beautiful moments. But the beauty of motherhood comes along with many other problems. One of them is breastfeeding problem. Breastfeeding is a natural way to feed a baby, but it is not always easy. Many mothers face problems and challenges while breastfeeding their kids. We have made a list of some of the most common breastfeeding problems and their solutions.

1. SWOLLEN BREASTS

Swollen breasts is a most common breastfeeding problem for new mothers because of that ladies feel discomfort like hard and painful breasts. The main cause for swollen breasts is not having the proper knowledge to feed the baby regularly and evacuate the excessive milk fabricate in the breast completely. Because of the additional liquified in breast tissues, mothers experience the engorgement.

SYMPTOMS OF SWOLLEN BREASTS

  1. A feeling of being thirsty all the time.
  2. Feeling of heaviness in the breasts.
  3. Burning sensation in breasts.
  4. Ingurgitation by babies.

SOLUTION

  1. Feed your baby 8 to 12 times a day with both the breasts. Continue feeding the baby at night also. Don’t skip nursing your child.
  2. Treat the engorged breasts with home remedies like hot water fermentation and placing the cold cabbage leaves on the sore breasts after nursing.
  3. Before feeding your child, try a warm compress or hot water shower to neglect the hardness in the breast.



2. BLOCKED MILK PASSAGE

There are milk-producing tissues inside the breasts called Areola. When these tissues become plugged, breasts become harder and tender, hence they block milk ducts or passages. The reason for blocked milk passage can be a tight-fitting bra or excessive milk that is not drained out of the breasts.

SYMPTOMS OF BLOCKED MILK PASSAGES

  1. Harder and tender breasts.
  2. Pain revolves around the breasts.
  3. Redness on the top of the breasts.
  4. Breasts become hot all the time.
  5. Closed nipple pores which do not pass the milk.

SOLUTION

  1. To cure this breastfeeding problem, massage the breasts gently and regularly before and after nursing your baby in a way that the lump should be pointed towards the nipples.
  2. Take proper rest.
  3. Consult an adviser for the avoidance and curing.
  4. Feed your child frequently from different positions to avoid the blocking.
  5. Frequently emptying to avoid blocked ducts.

3. CRACKED NIPPLES

New mothers often experience cracked or sore nipples during the first week of breastfeeding. Another cause for the cracked nipples can be the wrong positioning of the baby while nursing. This is a normal part of breastfeeding, so there is no need to get worried. It is normally painful but cracked nipples can be cured easily.

SYMPTOMS OF CRACKED NIPPLES

  1. Inflammation of the nipple & tissue infiltration.
  2. It may cause bleeding in the nipple sometimes.
  3. Some women may experience purulent discharge.

SOLUTION

  1. Talk to a suction or lactation consultant.
  2. Despite cracked nipples, continue to breastfeed the baby.
  3. After every nursing, apply your breastmilk on your nipples and let them dry.
  4. Don’t wear a tight bra. The bra should be very comfortable.
  5. Don’t wash your nipple with soap as it may result in more dryness.



4. INSUFFICIENT MILK SUPPLY

Many mothers may have insufficient milk for their babies. There may be many causes for this problem like improper diet during pregnancy, premature baby, hormonal disorder, previous breast surgery, certain medicines or herbs or insufficient milk making ducts.

SYMPTOMS OF INSUFFICIENT MILK SUPPLY

  1. The breasts do not feel full.
  2. Shorter baby feeding duration.
  3. No leakage of milk from the nipples.
  4. The mother does not feel the urgency to feed the baby.

SOLUTION

  1. Drink as much water as you can as staying hydrated will avoid the problem of low production of milk.
  2. Have a balanced and proper diet and avoid weight-loss diets.
  3. Breastfeed your baby frequently despite insufficient milk supply. This will increase the milk supply for sure.
  4. Take proper rest, eat leafy vegetables and take the calcium and magnesium supplements.

5. OVERSUPPLY OF MILK

The elderly generation did not consider such issues as breastfeeding problems; however, an oversupply of milk is also a big problem for mothers as well as for babies. When a mother has ample supply of breast milk, the baby consumes a large quantity of it naturally. It may be the reason for the imbalance in lactose. Babies, whose mothers have an oversupply of milk often show the symptoms like mumbling, crying, having gas, sputtering and vomiting. It may cause rapid weight gaining of the baby.

SYMPTOMS OF OVERSUPPLY OF MILK

  1. Swelling is seen around and on nipples.
  2. Extreme discharge of the milk.
  3. Frequent engorgement of the breasts.
  4. A constant sprinkling of milk with both breasts.
  5. Blocked milk ducts.

SOLUTION

  1. Try cabbage leaves to reduce the milk supply by placing them inside the bra.
  2. Consult the lactone adviser for this problem.
  3. Nurse the baby frequently.
  4. Pump out the excess milk.
  5. Let the baby finish one breast completely, then switch to another.



6. MASTITIS

Mastitis is an infection which occurs because of blocked milk ducts. Mastitis mostly develops to the newly breastfeeding mothers in first few weeks of breastfeeding.

SYMPTOMS OF MASTITIS

  1. Swollen and tender breasts.
  2. A feeling of fever and severeness.
  3. One or more lumps in the breasts.
  4. The mother feels warm breasts.
  5. Pain in breasts.

SOLUTION

  1. Nursing the baby frequently can remove the lumps.
  2. Warm compress the breasts before and after nursing.
  3. Placing cabbage leaves inside the bra can remove the pain as cabbage contains anti-inflammatory chemicals.
  4. Eat as much garlic as you can; raw or cooked as it has anti-inflammatory chemicals. It is helpful in reducing pain and infection.

7. THRUSH

Thrush is one of the very common breastfeeding problems. It is also an infection like Mastitis, which occurs due to breastfeeding. It is a fungal infection that can occur on the mouth of the baby and on the nipples. It is a common infection that is not harmful, but it weakens the immune system.

SYMPTOMS OF THRUSH

  1. White patches in your baby’s mouth.
  2. Redness on nipples.
  3. Pain in breasts.
  4. Itchiness and uncomfortable feeling around the nipples.

SOLUTION

  1. Wash your hands and breasts frequently.
  2. Consult a doctor and use medication.
  3. Keep your bra dry and clean.
  4. Eat probiotic supplements like yogurt.
  5. Boil everything which goes into the mouth of your baby.
  6. Avoid having sugary food.

These were the most common breastfeeding problems and their solutions that a new mother can have. By taking extra care and keeping all these things in mind, women can prevent such breastfeeding problems.



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