Breast engorgement is common, especially in the first few days of breastfeeding. From days three to five, your colostrum is turning into mature breast milk. During the transitional stage , breast milk production increases.
As your breasts are quickly filled, it can cause them to become swollen and hard. If the skin on your breasts becomes tight and your nipples flatten out, your baby may have a hard time latching on. You can soften up the skin around your nipples and areola by pumping or hand expressing a little breast milk before you begin to breastfeed. This will make it easier for your baby to latch on.
Some babies can latch on to flat or even inverted nipples. However, sometimes flat or inverted nipples make it more difficult for a baby to latch. If your newborn can't latch on correctly because your nipples don't protrude from your breast, try pumping for a minute or two before you begin breastfeeding.
The suction of a breast pump will sometimes draw out and lengthen the nipples enough for your child to latch on. If that doesn't work, talk to your doctor or a lactation professional about trying a nipple shield.
A preemie has a small mouth, making it harder to get a good latch. A nipple shield can make it easier for a premature baby's tiny mouth to latch on. Or, you may have to pump your breast milk for your preemie until they get a little bigger. Physical barriers and cognitive conditions can make breastfeeding more challenging. Some conditions make it difficult to maintain suction, while others may impact the kind of coordination that breastfeeding requires. In babies born with a tongue-tie ankyloglossia , the piece of tissue that connects the tongue to the lower part of the mouth is, instead, attached closer to the tip of the tongue.
A baby with a tongue-tie cannot extend their tongue out of their mouth far enough to correctly latch on to the breast for feeding. If your newborn is having latching problems and you suspect a tongue-tie, let your pediatrician know. They will need to refer your baby to a specialist who is trained to diagnose the condition.
Once your infant has been examined by a specialist such as an ear, nose, and throat doctor or ENT , treatment will be based on how severe the condition is. A cleft lip makes it harder for an infant to latch on and create a seal around the breast.
If your baby also has a cleft palate, it can be tough for them to create the suction needed to pull milk from your breast. Your newborn's doctor, a lactation consultant , and the other specialists involved with your baby's care can provide guidance.
Learning the techniques for breastfeeding a baby with a cleft, and getting started as soon as possible, will give you the best chance of successfully breastfeeding.
Babies born with Down syndrome tend to have small mouths and poor muscle tone, which can make latching on for breastfeeding difficult. They may also have tongue thrust and a weak ability to suck—all of which can affect their ability to breastfeed.
With time and support, many babies with Down syndrome are able to breastfeed successfully. Breastfeeding may even help infants with Down syndrome develop coordination and build up strength in their facial muscles. If your baby has Down syndrome, it can help to talk to a lactation professional early on if you would like to breastfeed.
You can try breastfeeding as soon as it's safe to so, which might even be in the delivery room. To encourage your baby to latch on and feed, hold your baby to the breast often and give them lots of skin-to-skin time.
A baby with a neurological issue may have difficulty forming a seal around the breast or sucking. Infants with heart problems may get tired easily or have trouble breathing and breastfeeding at the same time. If your baby is born with a health issue, they will need more help with latching on, as well as more time to adjust to breastfeeding. You may have to pump breast milk and supplement your infant while you are both learning the ropes.
Issues with latching on can interfere with breastfeeding, decrease breastfeeding confidence, and lead to early weaning. With the right help, most latching problems can be corrected. Even babies born early or with physical and neurological issues can still learn to latch on and breastfeed. Breastfeeding is not always straightforward or easy, especially in the beginning. It's often a learning process for parents and babies. If you have patience, support, and guidance from lactation consultants and other healthcare providers, it's possible to turn latching problems into breastfeeding success.
Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. World Health Organization. Infant and young child feeding: Model Chapter for textbooks for medical students and allied health professionals. Mangesi L, Dowswell T. Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Hill R. These babies can be transitioned to breastfeeding, but it should be done very gently so that baby becomes comfortable with being at the breast.
Some babies will become more resistant the more you press the issue of nursing. Then slowly and gently work on moving baby through the above stages. Many experts suggest that baby not get bottles or pacifiers while he is learning to nurse correctly, with the idea that his need to suck will help the process along nursing will satisfy the need to suck.
A nursing supplementer can be a big help if baby is latching well: it will encourage your baby to continue nursing by giving him a constant flow of milk expressed milk or formula while he stimulates your body to produce more milk.
For some moms, using a bottle is easier and more familiar. If you feel that using a specialized feeding device like a finger feeder or SNS is simply too overwhelming and other methods cup, dropper are not working for you, using bottles may make it easier for you to continue working on the breastfeeding. Although bottles can certainly have their disadvantages, a good lactation consultant should be able to help you to transition to breastfeeding with or without the bottles.
When using a bottle , encourage baby to open wide prior to giving the bottle. Allow your baby to accept the bottle into his mouth rather than poking it in. This will teach your baby to open wide for feedings, which is a good start to getting on the breast effectively.
Babies rarely wean on their own before months, and self-weaning is almost never abrupt. Will baby nurse while asleep or just waking up? This is usually one of the best times to try.
You also might try nursing lying down or while walking around. See also the tips at the top of this page for persuading baby to nurse. She needs to feel supported, comfortable, and able to breathe in order to feed effectively. A laid-back, baby-led feeding style encourages your baby to use her innate reflexes, making it easier for her to reach your breast and latch on. Keep her body and bottom close to you, support her across her shoulder girth, and hold her firmly so she feels secure. Let her head rest on your wrist so it can tilt back slightly and allow more space for her nose to breathe.
Her chin should be close to your breast. Feed through nipple shields. If your baby will not latch on, a lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist may recommend using nipple shields to give your baby a larger, firmer target to attach to.
In general, nipple shields should be considered a short-term solution. The top 8 tips if your baby has lost too much weight. The earlier you get help, the better. Feed on demand, not to a schedule. In the first week after birth your newborn will want to feed at least every two to three hours maybe more!
This frequency helps to build your milk production. Look after yourself. Try expressing. If your baby is feeding often and still not putting on weight, a lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist may recommend pumping to build your milk supply.
Problem 4: My breasts are really full and hard When your milk comes in, your breasts will become fuller and firmer. Aim to feed at least eight to 12 times every 24 hours. This is the primary treatment for this condition — for more tips and advice read our article on breast engorgement.
Problem 5: My breasts are leaking Leaky breasts are very common in the early days of breastfeeding, once your milk has come in. Solutions Protect your clothes by wearing disposable or washable nursing pads inside your bra day and night. Milk collection shells fit inside your bra to collect any leaked milk.
Solutions Express a little milk by hand at the start of each feed to reduce the force of your let down. Try the laid-back breastfeeding position so your baby can better control the flow of milk. Her body will be resting on yours, sloping down diagonally. Be gentle and patient. Allow your baby to rest and digest her milk, both during and after a feed.
Moving her around too much or too quickly could make her feel sick. Use a towel or muslin cloth to soak up the surge if your baby gets overwhelmed when your milk starts to flow, and put a milk collection shell on your other breast to catch any leaks.
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