Major Breastfeeding Challenges and Solutions

Posted by Prapti Chauhan on December 24th, 2021

Not every new mother has an easy start to breastfeeding. While some babies latch from the moment they are born, some babies need adjustments to start latching on their own. As a mother, do not panic or feel guilty if your baby does not latch properly. Talk to your doctor and learn techniques to introduce latching to your infant. Most importantly, have patience and keep trying. With little practice, both you and your baby can bond over breastfeeding.

In the initial days, most new mothers face similar problems with breastfeeding their babies. Here are some tips that can help you overcome most of the challenges.

Inverted or Flat Nipples

About 10% of women have inverted or flat nipples where the nipples do not protrude out of the areola but are pulled inwards. Many babies feed well on flat nipples. However, some babies need assistance to feed well on flat nipples. Here are some ways to make your baby feed on your flat nipples.

Establish skin-to-skin contact with your baby by placing it between your breasts. Try to do it as soon as birth. The baby will use its innate reflex to attach to the breast and feed.
If the baby is unable to use its innate reflex then you can pinch your nipples to make them erect and put them in the baby’s mouth. You can also use cold compression to harden and erect the nipples.
Use a nipple shield if the above tricks don’t work. A nipple shield is designed to help babies who have issues with latching.
If all the above ways fail then use a breast pump to pull out the nipples.

Poor Milk Supply

New mothers often worry that their baby is not getting enough milk. However, that is not the case for many babies. If the baby is gaining weight then it is getting adequate milk. Low milk supply can be prevented by following these methods.

Breastfeed frequently at regular intervals; ideally every 1 to 3 hours. The more you feed the better will be your milk supply.
Eat well, drink plenty of fluids and rest well.

Clogged Milk Ducts

When your breasts have excessive milk, or when you go without feeding for long then milk can clog up your ducts. A hard lump forms in your breast and it becomes sore to touch. These simple things can help heal clogged ducts.

Breastfeed more often.
Make sure that your baby is latching properly.
Breastfeed from the clogged breast first, sucking can help unclog the duct.
Apply warm compression to unclog.
Massage your breasts while breastfeeding.
Drink plenty of liquids and get rest.

Sore or Cracked Nipples

Sore or cracked nipples are a common breastfeeding problem. Try to prevent sore nipples before they occur. Here are some tips to get relief from them.

Make sure that your baby is latching properly.
Feed frequently.
Feed from the breast that is less sore.
Wear a cotton bra for better air circulation.

Breast Engorgement

When breasts become too tight with excessive milk, it becomes difficult for the baby to latch. This is an uncomfortable situation that is known as breast engorgement. The ways to treat this at home are.

Feed frequently.
Hand squeeze milk before a feed for easy flow.

Author Bio: Prapti Chauhan is a professor of Genetics in Bangalore. She has contributed to several online research papers. However, she passionately develops contents on pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, baby cord blood preservation, umbilical cord lining and more.

Like it? Share it!

About the Author

Prapti Chauhan
Joined: August 18th, 2020
Articles Posted: 8