The most common breastfeeding problems include a cracked nipple, milk with swollen and hard stones and breasts, which usually occur in the first few days after delivery or after a prolonged period of breast-feeding.
These breastfeeding problems usually cause pain and discomfort for the mother, however, there are simple techniques, such as the baby grabbing the breasts well or the woman looking after the breasts, for example, that help avoid these situations and can be easily resolved with the help of a nurse.
The following explains how to resolve each of the following issues
When the nipple is cracked, the woman has a crack and may have pain and blood in her breast. This problem occurs due to the baby’s poor position to breastfeed or dry nipple and is generally common in the first few weeks after delivery.
How to solve it: This common breastfeeding problem can be solved if the woman takes and drops a drop of milk into the nipple after each intake. If the pain is too severe, the mother should pump the milk manually or with a breast pump and give the baby a cup or spoon until the nipple improves or heals completely.
There are also lactation nipples that reduce the pain caused by the baby’s suction or even lanolin ointments in the build that help heal the nipple. In addition, it is essential to help your baby have a good intake while breastfeeding. Know the right position to breastfeed.
Boneless milk occurs when breast milk does not come out because the breast canal is blocked and the woman feels a lump in her chest, as if it were a lump, with reddish skin there and a lot of pain.
How to fix it: It is important for the mother to wear loose clothing and a bra that holds the breasts without compressing the breast to prevent the ducts from clogging. In addition, a breast massage should be performed to extract milk and prevent mastitis. See how to massage the cobblestone breasts.
Breast swelling and hardening are called breast congestion and occur when there is high milk production, which may occur around the second day after delivery. In these cases, the woman has a fever and the breast becomes red, the skin is shiny and stretched and the chest is so hard and swollen that the lactation becomes very painful.
How to fix it: To fix breast congestion, it’s important to breastfeed whenever your baby wants to help empty your breast. In addition, after breast-feeding, cold water should be applied to the breasts, with a compress or in the bath, this helps reduce swelling and pain.
When a woman doesn’t resolve breast congestion, mastitis can occur, what is it? a sinus infection, which causes symptoms such as high fever and flu-like discomfort. In this case, it is necessary to take an antibiotic, prescribed by your doctor. Learn more about mastitis.
Having an inverted or flat nipple isn’t really a problem because the baby needs to grab the areola and not the nipple, so even if the woman has an inverted or very small nipple, she can breastfeed.
How to fix it: For the mother with flat or inverted nipples to successfully suck and? It is essential to stimulate the nipple before breastfeeding. Thus, nipple stimulation to make it more visible, can be done with the milk extractor, and should be performed 30 to 60 seconds always before breastfeeding or with the help of a suitable syringe.
If these techniques are not possible, you can use artificial nipples that are applied to your chest and help you breastfeed. See more tips for breastfeeding with inverted nipples.
Producing very little milk should not be considered a problem, as this does not endanger the health of the woman or baby, and in these cases the pediatrician indicates the use of artificial milk.
How to fix it: To increase milk production, let the baby suck whenever and for as long as you want, offering both breasts in each shot. The mother should also increase her consumption of water-rich foods, such as tomatoes or watermelons, and drink 3 litres of water a day or tea. Find out which teas are less suitable during lactation.
When there is high milk production, there is an increased risk of developing cracks, breast congestion and mastitis. In these cases, due to excess milk, breastfeeding becomes more difficult for the child, but this will not harm his or her health.
How to fix it: You should try to remove the excess milk with a breast pump and store it in the refrigerator, which can be administered later to the baby. It is also important to always use a silicone nipple protector to avoid excess moisture. Find out how to store milk.
To avoid some common breastfeeding problems, such as breast congestion, mastitis and nipple cracking, it is essential to take daily breast care, such as:
These measures should be taken during the period when the woman is breastfeeding and should be followed daily to avoid complications.