Why is breastfeeding so challenging? What are the challenges of a breastfeeding mother? A local expert shares useful tips on dealing with these breastfeeding challenges.
In your breastfeeding journey, you’ll encounter many obstacles. But don’t give up! There’s hope, mum. Here are some common breastfeeding challenges and how to overcome them.
Breast milk is precious. This “liquid gold” provides everything that your baby needs to grow and be healthy. Importantly, it contains antibodies that boost your baby’s immunity and help fight off viruses and bacteria.
Breastfeeding also benefits mums tremendously. It helps mums lose pregnancy weight faster, helps the uterus contract and return to its pre-pregnancy size, and reduces uterine bleeding after birth.
A new mum’s breastfeeding journey is never easy. She might be faced with the inability to breastfeed, or produce enough milk for her little one, leading to much frustration and depression.
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Breastfeeding Challenges: Why Some Mums Are Unable to Breastfeed
In a talk presented by Philips AVENT at the Philips Carnival, Sister Lilian Pong, Midwife and Senior Parent Craft and Lactation Consultant, shared useful tips on breastfeeding and post-natal nutrition for new parents and parents-to-be.
She explained some possible reasons why mummies are unable to breastfeed, and what mummies can do to overcome them.
1. Poor Latching
One of the most common breastfeeding challenges mums face is when their baby is unable to latch properly onto their breast. This may be due to:
A. Flat or inverted nipples
For mummies with flat or inverted nipples, it might be more difficult for the baby to find a good latch.
To find out if you have flat or inverted nipples, you can do the pinch test.
Place your thumb and forefinger at the base of your nipple, then gently squeeze your areola (the dark area around the nipple). If the nipple becomes erect during the pinch test, then it is not inverted and you don’t need any special treatment.
If the nipple doesn’t become erect, then it is considered flat. If your nipple still dents inwards or retracts, you probably have inverted nipples.
Sister Lilian shared that the Philips Niplette™ is a good solution for mummies experiencing difficulties in breastfeeding due to flat or inverted nipples. The Philips Niplette™ pulls the nipple out into a thimble-like cup through gentle suction, enabling comfortable breastfeeding.
B. Tongue Tie
A tongue-tie is a condition where a short thick tissue connects the bottom of a baby’s tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth. This restricts the movement of the tongue, making it difficult for a baby to breastfeed and swallow.
If your baby is unable to latch on or his feeding is getting affected, doctors generally recommend cutting the frenulum that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. The process is usually quick and pain-free.
C. Poor positioning
Sometimes incorrect latching might occur because of poor positioning of your baby. Try adopting different positions to make things easier for your little one. Your baby needs to feel supported, comfortable, and be able to breathe to feed effectively. Some recommended breastfeeding positions are:
- Cradle hold
- Cross cradle hold
- Football hold
Also, here’s a word of advice for mums from Sister Lilian,
“When you are breastfeeding a baby or pumping, don’t crouch. Back support is important, or you’ll end up with a bad backache. So, whether you choose to breastfeed in an armchair or on a bed, make sure you invest in a firm pillow for your back.”
2.Engorged Breasts
Sometimes, the breasts become really hard, uncomfortable and painful. Breast engorgement may be due to blocked milk ducts. Milk ducts are the tubes that carry breast milk from where it is made in the mammary glands, out to the nipple.
If a milk duct in the breast is not drained well, the area becomes ‘clogged’. This causes a build-up of milk, often leading to engorgement or infection known as mastitis (which requires medical treatment).
Sister Lilian shares some tips on how to prevent engorgement and mastitis:
A. “Always wear a bra”
“The first step is to always wear a bra. Breastfeeding mummies might be tempted to not wear a bra because firstly, the weather is too hot, and secondly, it’s too cumbersome to take on and off every 2-3 hours,” she says. “If you don’t wear a bra, the milk will come down the ducts and accumulate, leading to blocked ducts.” Here are some mum-approved nursing bras to try, depending on your budget.
B. Clear blocked ducts through the right breast massage
According to the lactation consultant, the key to clearing blocked ducts through massage is to avoid ‘finger pointing’ (pressing down with finger tips).
“Instead, put your hand at the top of the breast, press firmly inwards with your palm and move clockwise 8 to 10 times, and backwards 8 to 10 times. Proceed all around the breast and repeat the motion,” she said. “Doing this helps the milk to be released from the milk ducts. The next step is to cup your breasts, and shake or vibrate them (avoid ‘finger pointing’ again), so that the milk becomes available for your baby to suck.”
Also, here is another useful tip from Sister Lilian for mums who are breastfeeding,
“When you are choosing a breast pump, you have to consider your nipple size. Nipple tunnels for breast pumps come in different sizes. Consider how well your nipples fit into the nipple tunnel and how it is pulled into during pumping.”
3. Sore Nipples
A poor latch or incorrect positioning are the most common causes of sore nipples. Experiencing sore nipples takes away the joy of breastfeeding and makes it a painful process.
“Some mummies are afraid that their babies are unable to breathe while breastfeeding. So they gently try to press their breasts behind for fear that the nose is blocked,” shared Sister Lilian.
Remember, as long as the chin of the baby is touching the breast, there is a hairline breathing space. If the baby cannot breathe, he won’t be able to suck.
“When you press the breast, you are actually pulling the nipple backwards a little. It will hit the upper palate of the baby. That’s one of the reasons for sore nipples. Also when your nipple gets pulled behind, baby tries to grab on to it even harder, again causing sore nipples,” said the expert.
A natural remedy for sore nipples is to pat a few drops of breast milk onto the affected nipple before and after nursing and allow them to air dry. Breast milk, because of its antimicrobial properties, promotes healing.
4. Low Milk Supply
Dealing with low milk supply can be a common breastfeeding challenge for many new mums, but understanding the possible causes and signs can help navigate through it. Several factors, such as stress, inadequate nutrition, or insufficient breastfeeding sessions, may contribute to low milk production.
If you find your baby seems unsatisfied after feeds, isn’t gaining weight as expected, or you’re not hearing those satisfying gulping sounds during nursing, these could be signs of a low milk supply.
However, there are ways to overcome this hurdle. Increasing the frequency of breastfeeding, ensuring a proper latch, and staying well-hydrated are essential steps. Additionally, incorporating lactation-friendly foods into your diet and managing stress levels can positively impact milk production.
It’s important to consult with a lactation consultant or healthcare professional for personalised advice tailored to your situation.
How Diet Affects Breastfeeding
The postnatal or confinement period is for your body to recuperate and recover from childbirth. It usually lasts from 1 month to 6 weeks post-delivery. Mums should make sure that they eat a balanced diet, drink enough water, and rest well during this period.
Sister Lilian tells us that an ideal balanced diet for a new mum should be:
- High in protein
- Rich in iron
- Contain fish and meat
- Contain vegetables and fruits
She also recommended these soups during this period:
- Fish soup
- Fish & Papaya soup
- Chicken soup
Lastly, here are some additional tips on post-natal nutrition from Sister Lilian:
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“If you have leftover prenatal vitamin capsules, it is good to take them during this period.”
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“Ikan bilis” (dried anchovies) are great to boost breast milk supply. It is rich in calcium and protein.”
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“Do drink plenty of water during confinement and restrict your intake of sugary drinks.”
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“You must include vegetables and fruits to your diet during confinement to prevent constipation.”
You will encounter many breastfeeding challenges as you go along, but being armed with the right information and support will help you go further in your breastfeeding journey with your child.
If you have any questions about breastfeeding your infant, don’t hesitate to consult your baby’s paediatrician or a lactation consultant in your area.
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information