Useful Tips to Ensure Painless Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
your little one is no easy feat, it's demanding, daunting, time-taking, tiring
and sometimes painful as well. It tests your patience and commitment level.
According to WHO, about 55% of the mothers who start breastfeeding when their
child is born, quit it within the first 3-6 months. There’s no doubt that
breast milk is like “Liquid Gold” for the young one, giving him the best
nutrients, nourishment and immunity boosters that no other food source can
provide. Mothers go the extra mile to ensure that their milk supply is
sufficient for the baby by taking lactation supplements, breast
milk cookies, emergency brownies and other milk supply boosters, but the
painful breastfeeding can sometimes shake their resolve and they quit it.
Most of the new
moms are told that breastfeeding comes inherent to all mothers without giving
it much thought, practice or preparation. This is true to some extent but it’s
also a learning process for both the mother and the baby. This process can come
easy to some people and some suffer a lot in these times. The journey is new
for every mother-baby duo and one’s journey should not be compared or
disregarded by others. Breastfeeding pain is real, hard to endure and
unbearable if it gets worse. Every breastfeeding mother suffers from it, at one
time of her journey. But she can’t quit or take a break as it will only worsen
the whole ordeal, furthermore she would need breast milk cookies
and other supplements to increase milk supply.
Mostly this
painful phase kicks in when she is already overtired, on her own and mostly
dealing with other complications like breast engorgement, pumping, cracked
nipples and tender breasts. Most of the reasons for painful breastfeeding are
preventable and treatable easily. The best course of action is to be
knowledgeable and well-informed before you face it. The pain can be treated by
doing some simple alterations and adjustments. In this article, we will try to give
you all the information that can help you steer clear of any painful
breastfeeding.
Position is Key
In order for a
painless breastfeeding journey make sure that the mother and the baby both find
a position that makes them comfortable and complacent the entire time of the
feeding. There are many positions that a mother can try to find that one
perfect position that allows them to be at ease. Cross the cradle, on the
pillow, sling, sitting baby, knave or lying down, test and try the one that
works the best for both of them. If the position is not relaxing for the mother
she can have back pains, shoulder pain or neck pain.
Latch Right
One of the top
reasons that are accredited to painful breastfeeding is an improper latch. If
the baby doesn’t latch properly it may suckle on some really sensitive parts of
your breasts. A continued and prolonged practice can lead to painful
breastfeeding, decrease in milk supply and a cantankerous, unsatisfied baby. A
good latch not only means painless breastfeeding but it also increase
milk supply, saves the mother from breast engorgement and a healthy,
happy baby. A good latch means that the baby shouldn’t only be sucking the
nipples of the breasts but a good part of the areola as well. If the feeding is
painful, the breasts keep slipping out of the mouth of the baby or you hear
clicking sounds then you probably should read the next tip carefully.
Start Over
Oftentimes as
soon as the baby latches and starts suckling you can immediately feel sharp
pangs of pain. This is a clear sign of a bad latch and the mother must break
the latch and start over again. If the mother feels that she can adjust the
breast while in the mouth of the baby then go for it but if the discomfort and
pain continues, then she must break the latch. But there’s a proper way of
breaking the latch, mother mustn’t pull the breast out with forcefully pulling
it out of the mouth. This could further worsen the sensitivity, the proper way
is to insert a small part of the finger from the corner of the mouth in a fish
hook style and break the suction, then start over again.
Clogged or Plugged Ducts
When the nursing
sessions are infrequent, short and cut off in between the suckling, it can lead
to clogged milk ducts. Clogged milk ducts can make a particular area of the
breast sore and painful. Mother can feel small lumps on the breasts and when
touched causes severe spasms of pains. Mothers must empty their filled breasts
after every feeding by expressing the leftover milk. The milk that is not drawn
out of the breasts remains there and clogs the milk ducts. This also affects
the milk supply and leads to breast inflammation. Another effective way is to
massage the lump with a warm compress to easy out the milk ducts and make them
softer and easy to touch.
Tongue-Tied Babies
If the mother has
a good, comfortable position, she frequently drains her breasts and has a good
latch but still suffers from painful breastfeeding then she might want to have
a look in the inside of her baby’s mouth. If the baby is unable to lift his tongue
up due to a throng of skin which is tight and short. This means that the baby
is tongue tied which unable him to curl his tongue or move it forward, both
movements which are essential for a suckling. This restriction makes the baby’s
tongue rub against the tender part of the nipples making it painful to nurse.
Mastitis and Thrush
If painful
nursing continues, despite ticking all the above boxes then mothers should
inspect their breasts closely. Look for redness, inflammation, swollenness or
lumpiness on the breasts. This might be due to a condition called mastitis,
which is an infection that nursing mothers often face but can be treated easily
by antibiotics. Thrush is another kind of infection which is fairly common in
nursing mothers that leads to itchiness, cracked nipples and sharp pains when
feeding.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is
already a quite challenging task in itself. Painful breastfeeding can be very
daunting and discouraging for the mother and can lead to total abandonment of
breastfeeding, which is not good for the child’s health and immune system. So
all mothers must seek assistance if they feel any kind of pain while nursing
their baby.
Comments
Post a Comment