Common Breastfeeding Problems

Breastfeeding your baby can be a rewarding experience for you. It is the time when you can bond with your baby. Many problems associated with breastfeeding can give you discomfort and trouble. Common breastfeeding problems are discussed below.

Leaking Breasts – If your breasts are full of milk and you don’t get them emptied frequently then you may have leaking breasts. This problem is common. Try to breastfeed your baby often. Leaking breasts can cause embarrassment, especially if you are working women. To prevent this you can wear nursing pads inside your bra so that your excess milk gets absorbed.

Decreased Nipple Blood Supply – When the blood supply to the nipples decrease or is cut off nipples may turn pale in color. This condition is called nipple blanching. It is usually related to latch problems. If you have this problem it can cause pain in your nipples. Nipple blanching is commonly caused due to improper sucking, a shallow latch, palate variations, etc. This problem can also be caused by certain medications.

Low Milk Supply – If you are working mother and remain away from your baby for longer duration then you may face this breastfeeding problem. Working mothers desirous to breastfeed usually buy breast pump. In case you don’t have your baby with you to stimulate let-down you can have problem with milk production. Fenugreek and Mother’s milk tea can be used to increase your breast milk supply.

Engorgement – It is a condition where your breasts get swollen due to excess milk inside your breasts. Some women having this problem may have firm, warm, flushed and throbbing breasts. The best remedy for engorgement is to get your breasts emptied by breastfeeding your baby.

Plugged Milk Ducts – Milk in your breasts flows from the milk-producing areas down to the nipples through milk ducts. These milk ducts may get blocked due to scar tissues or thickening of milk. The blockage can stop or decrease the milk flow in one part of your breast. Breast abscess or mastitis may result due to plugged ducts.

Sore or Painful Nipples – Nursing mothers usually get sore nipples when they first start breastfeeding. This problem may improve as you get used to breastfeeding. If your baby is not latched-on properly it may lead to cracked, sore and bleeding nipples. You must latch-on your baby in a good latch-on position to prevent these problems.