Many women give up quickly when trying to nurse
their newborn due to problems with sore nipples or engorgement. Breastfeeding
is challenging for a number of reasons, but becomes even more difficult when
complications develop. In order to
ensure you are able to nurse successfully, you should pay close attention to
the condition of your breasts, and report any pain or other symptoms to your
doctor or lactation consultant right away.
Five common problems nursing mothers experience, and their treatments,
are discussed below.
Engorgement:
Most women experience the pain of engorgement
three to five days after giving birth.
Engorgement causes the breasts to feel sore and full when the milk comes
in. Occasionally, engorgement can be
severe and exceptionally painfully, and interfere with the establishment of
breastfeeding.
When the milk begins coming in, increase
nursing for at least twenty-four hours.
Nursing frequently helps reduce engorgement and helps the body in
regulating milk production.
Over-the-counter pain relievers can be taken, if necessary, to ease
discomfort. Applying warm compresses to the breast before feeding may relieve
tenderness, and will soften the breasts to help your baby latch on
properly. If your breasts become so
engorged that your baby cannot latch on, use a breast pump to relieve some of
the pressure, or call your lactation consultant for additional advice.
Excessive Milk Production:
While most new mothers worry about not having
enough milk for their newborns, other moms must contend with an
oversupply. Too much milk means frequent
leaking and increases the risk of developing mastitis. An overabundance of milk may also cause your
newborn to gag if it causes your milk to come out more forcefully during
nursing.
Nursing your newborn from only one breast
during each feeding may help reduce your milk supply. Alternate breasts every few hours, and use a
breast pump if the reduced nursing causes engorgement. Wear nursing pads inside your bra to soak up
leaks, and change them frequently to prevent nipple irritation caused by the
friction of the wet pads rubbing against your already sore nipples.
Mastitis:
Mastitis is a breast infection that can cause
flu-like symptoms in a nursing mother.
Fever, chills, body aches, and headaches are all symptoms of
mastitis. If you notice an area of the
breast that is red, firm, and sore, it may be an infection in a clogged
duct. Cracked nipples are also common
causes of mastitis.
Mastitis is a bacterial infection that requires
antibiotics. If you have any symptoms of
this breast infection, call your doctor for an evaluation and a
prescription. If your baby is healthy,
you should continue to breastfeed to prevent your milk production from
decreasing. If nursing from the affected
breast is too painful, feed your baby from the other breast, and pump regularly
from the infected breast.
Sore Nipples:
Nipples can become sore during the initial
stages of breastfeeding for several reasons, including improper latch-on,
irritation, and infection. Sore nipples
can make breastfeeding extremely challenging, so it is wise to tend to sore
nipples before the pain becomes severe enough to interfere with nursing.
Keeping your nipples dry and clean will help
prevent soreness caused by irritation, but do not allow your nipples to become
too dry. Applying a baby-safe cream to
your nipples will soothe your discomfort and prevent chafing and irritation
caused by nursing bras and clothing. An
antibiotic or antifungal cream will need to be prescribed if the cause of the
soreness is an infection. If your baby
is having difficulty latching on to your breast, try changing positions and
guiding his mouth to the proper position.
Blocked Milk Ducts:
Blocked milk ducts cannot be ignored as they
may lead to mastitis. Blocked ducts
occur when milk ducts become partially obstructed, and cause tender, firm areas
on the breast. Blocked milk ducts can
also form near the armpit.
Nursing more frequently will not only reduce
the likelihood of developing blocked ducts, but will help to clear them up as
well. Place your baby to the affected
breast first to drain that breast as much as possible. Hot showers and warm compresses trigger your
let-down reflex and improve the flow of milk in the blocked duct. If your symptoms do not get better, or if you
start running a fever or showing other signs of mastitis, contact your doctor
as soon as possible.
Breastfeeding Problems and Solutions