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Some women can breastfeed without any problems, but for many women it is natural to have minor problems in the beginning. Most of these problems can be overcome.
Often women stop breastfeeding because they believe they do not have enough milk. In most cases it is related to infrequent breastfeeding and/or baby not taking enough milk from the breast. It is rarely caused by mom's physical condition.
Get a Good Latch
If your baby has a good latch, he/she will get more milk from the breasts
Breast Compression
When the flow of milk becomes slow, you will notice your baby does more sucking than swallowing. You may also notice that your baby pulls at the breast while sucking. Use breast compression until little or no swallowing is heard.
Switch Sides
When your baby no longer appears to be getting milk from one breast even with breast compression, switch sides. Keep going back and forth and doing breast compression as long as he/she appears to be getting milk.
Breastfeed often
Offer the breast often and let your baby feed at the breast for a long time. This will help increase milk supply
Hand Express or Pump
10 to 15 minutes each side after your baby has fed. Do this at least 6 to 8 times a day and at least once through the night.
Adding Pumped Milk and/or Formula
If all of the suggestions above have been tried and your baby is not gaining enough weight, pumped breast milk and/or formula will have to be added. Ask for advice from a lactation consultant.
Take care of yourself
Be sure to drink to quench your thirst, eat well and get enough rest
Breathe Deeply
Make an effort to relax during the first letdown reflex. Often, the first release is forceful and then gradually slows down as the feeding continues. If the initial sprays of milk are too much for the baby to swallow, allow the milk to collect in a towel. Put your baby to breast once the spray has slowed down to drips.
Keep Infant on First Breast
At each feeding your baby should stay on the first breast as long as the baby is sucking and swallowing milk If your baby wants to return to the breast within 1 1/2 hours between feedings, begin feeding on the same breast that was previously used. If more time has lapsed between feeds, start on the fuller breast at the next feed.
Use Breast Compression
If your baby stops feeding or comes off the breast after a short time, then re-latch and use breast compression to keep the baby eating from the first breast
Burp your Baby Often during a Feeding
Take breaks by burping your baby.
Express Breastmilk
This will ease discomfort.
Breastfeed more Often
Feeding may be easier if your baby is breastfed more often, reducing the amount of milk that collects in the breast, making feeding easier
Breastfeed your Baby as Soon as Possible
Even before he/she is fully awake, your baby may suck more gently in a relaxed state, making the flow of milk slower and reducing the chances of gulping air.
If your infant is not latching, continue to try to breastfeed. If your infant still does not latch, try hand expression or pumping your breastmilk prior to offering formula.
It can take 3-5 days after birth for the pump to be able to express milk. If you are not able to pump anything, try hand expressing, you may be more successful.
A hospital-grade double-pump is recommended for the first six weeks because a pump bought from a department store will not pump enough breastmilk to give your infant a total diet of expressed breastmilk if he/she in not latching.
Hospital-grade pumps are available for rent through Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and Welland Hospital sites.
A milk bleb or blister can be seen as a small white spot on the nipple that looks like a tiny, milk-filled blister. Milk blebs usually cover one nipple opening or pore. They can be very painful to the touch and they may cause pain during feeding or pumping.
Colic is when the baby cries for long periods of the day and worse crying in the evening. It usually starts at two or three weeks of age, lasting up to 3 months. Colicky babies gain weight well and are otherwise healthy.
The cause of colic is unknown and therefore prevention and treatment are unknown. Walking or rocking your baby may help for a short time and a bath may help to relax your baby.
Thrush is an infection caused by yeast which natually lives in and on our bodies. When the yeast overgrows it can cause problems.
Yeast likes warm, moist areas such as mother's nipples, milk ducts, and vagina; as well as the mouth and diaper area of a baby
See your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. Antifungal creams may be suggested to apply to an infected diaper area as well as mom's nipples
Oral medication maybe prescribed for you and your baby by your doctor
Applying gentian violet to the nipple and areola is an inexpensive treatment that does not require a prescription.
More information on the use of gentian violet.
Plugged Ducts can be caused by:
Mastitis is an infection of the breast that may occur in breastfeeding mothers. It is caused by:
Call your doctor if symptoms do not go away, you may need an antibiotic. You should continue to breastfeed while taking antibiotics.
Speak with a doctor regarding the best choice of birth control for you.
All women have the ability to breastfeed but there is no way to know if you will be able to provide a full supply of milk. Depending on what type of surgery is done, most women produce a certain amount of milk
During surgery, some or all of the breast ducts and nerves may be damaged. The nerves are important because they send out signals to the body to produce milk and send the milk down the ducts. Nerves continue to heal after surgery; the more time that has passed since surgery, the more chance they have healed. If the nipples are sensitive and you have feeling, then the nerves may be healed. When the nerves are not working very well, it is more difficult to express milk.
Glands at the beginning of the ducts that were cut during surgery will make milk, but will stop when the milk is not removed. If there are enough intact ducts, milk supply will continue. Breastfeeding may help reconnect ducts.
Mothers of twins almost always have enough milk - as long as you breastfeed often - this stimulates the breasts and makes more milk for your babies.
If you have to be separated from the babies for health reasons, you can still breastfeed. Pump your milk with a hospital grade electric pump on both breasts every two or three hours and at least once during the night.
You can nurse both babies at the same time. Most mothers find it easiest to start with one baby and get the other baby latched on once the first baby is nursing well.
Remember to switch babies from one side to the other.Â