Breastfeeding is one of the best gifts you can give your baby. But you should know that the beginnings of breastfeeding are hard. There are many problems related to breastfeeding that end in an early cessation of breastfeeding. That is why it is of great importance and necessity to be informed about what can happen during the lactating stage. Most of the problems that will appear have an easy solution; They do not usually get complicated and end up being fixed with correct advice.
You have to be constant with breast care. The information you collect from prolactation pediatricians or lactation consultants should prevail over popular beliefs. Lately it is fashionable to assume that breastfeeding is overrated; that the bottle is just as good and you avoid breastfeeding problems. We are going to see the main problems and their solutions. However, before any of them it is best to ask for personalized advice. Use this as a guide to learning and to that they do not take away your breastfeeding in situations that have a solution.
Chest-related problems
Mastitis
Mastitis is an infection in the breast that causes inflammation and fever. It will also be accompanied by a general discomfort, pain and hardened areas in the chest. It looks a lot like a flu; that is why it is said that when faced with a mother who is breastfeeding, a flu picture will be mastitis until proven otherwise. The moment you notice chest pains and these are accompanied by a fever over 38ºC, you should go to the emergency room. Here you can read more details about this problem.
They will prescribe an antibiotic. There are those that are fully compatible with breastfeeding, so they should not send you any that have to end it. It is important that you know that the infection will not pass into your baby's milk- The infection is in the breast tissue. If you have hardening in areas of the chest, my recommendation and as a personal experience is the following: buy a sweet almond oil and ask your partner or someone you trust to massage the affected area in a circular way.
With your fist, push the milk clots towards the nipple: the accumulated milk will come out. You can collect it to give it to the baby, remember that it is not infected. Mastitis can be avoided, but no woman is free to experience at least one while breastfeeding. Hygiene in the nipple area and proper emptying of the breast can help avoid this bad drink.
Breast engorgement
It is an accumulation of fluids in the breast that inflames it to the point of preventing milk from coming out of the nipple. The symptoms will be similar to those of mastitis with the exception that an engorgement is not infectious in origin so it will not cause a fever. It can appear when your baby goes too many hours without eating (as with the famous 3-hour fad). The breast will sometimes be so swollen that your baby will not be able to latch on. To make it easier for her to latch on, empty your breast a little with a breast pump or manual expression to make the mother more flexible.
Engorgement is one of the most common causes of failure to breastfeed. The impossibility of latching the baby translates into a rejection of the breast for an inexperienced and poorly advised mother. He thinks that the baby does not like the breast, so he begins to give him a bottle. Your breasts will begin to worsen since there is no baby suckling from them to express milk, which finally concludes with the cessation of breastfeeding due to problems, as we already said, easily solvable.
It is not recommended to empty the chest every time it is filled. With engorgement it is normal to feel a full chest after feeding; emptying it over and over will lead to increased milk production. The baby will not finish emptying the breast in any feeding, so the milk that remains inside can form clots like those of mastitis. The most important thing is to let the baby operate the volume controls on the chest; that the mother learns to make what the baby requires. The chest is a factory, not a warehouse.
Breast pain
Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt, except if you are suffering from one of the two problems above. It is normal for the first days of your baby's life to notice discomfort when breastfeeding; your nipples are still very tender and inexperienced. After a while you will not even notice that your baby has become hooked on suckling, but you must be patient.
Feeling pain during feedings after the first few days may be due to a poor latch on the baby, having the nipples too dry or wet. You can watch videos on the internet about how to correct your baby's grip; Ideally, you should see your midwife or a lactation consultant. The trick is to put the nipple on your baby's "mustache"; This way, he will open his mouth very wide to put the nipple and an areola bite into it.
A bad grip can cause them to appear cracks in the nipple; they are very painful and can bleed. It's okay for the baby to suck me from the cracksThe important thing is to continue offering your breast so as not to aggravate the problems associated with them. We can end up suffering from mastitis or breast engorgement. Apply breast milk on them; they will heal quickly. Important not to keep them in a humid environment, so go bras!
To prevent dry nipples, the best and cheapest thing is to apply breast milk again and let it air dry. This will also help keep the nipples from being permanently wet. Do not abuse the absorbent discs in the bra and whenever you can leave your breasts in the air after feeding.
The baby's mouth must be grasping part of the areola. Holding the nipple only with the lips will cause pain and problems.
What if I have flat or inverted nipples?
You can breastfeed your child without any problem. The correct latch on the baby is not exclusively on the nipple; the baby will grasp a large part of the areola with his mouth. It may be more difficult to get a correct grip, but it is not impossible. Again an advice by a lactation professional will cure you in health. The nipple will eventually mold into your baby's mouth; You can help yourself with liners the first few times. There are also a kind of "aspirators" on the market that help to pull the nipple out before starting the feeding.
Any of the problems associated with breastfeeding can be solved as long as they are not dangerous to health. Keep breastfeeding your child; the pain will pass, the cracks will disappear. Seek tips for successful breastfeeding and experiences similar to yours in breastfeeding support groups. You are not alone!