Its easy for new mum's to get discouraged when you are first trying to breastfeed, if you feel you are not doing it right or you are worried your child is not getting enough milk. But it is really important not to stress about your performance, it is believed that stress of any form can hinder breast milk flow. If the babies weight isn't rising quite as quickly as it should it is not the end of the world if your milk has to be supplemented with bottle milk. Breast feeding should be a bonding exercise as well as its health benefits so if it’s too stressful its time to get medical advice and if you have to stop for any reason, then do not berate yourself that is just the way it is. Millions of children grow up on formula and are perfectly happy and healthy. The most important thing for a baby is to have a calm and happy mum.
Having painful cracked or swollen nipples and then having a baby sucking on them can be very uncomfortable to say the least, it is a common cause of women stopping breast feeding but in most cases it is not serious or long-lasting. It can be caused by the baby is only sucking on the nipple and not on the areola the dark area behind. There are several creams on the market that can alleviate the soreness and applying cold compresses can help but if the problems persist it is better to get medical advice as it is possible that you have mastitus.
Mastitis is a relatively common condition and it can occur at any time during breast feeding. The symptoms are a red, hot, painful area on the affected breast, or a lump in the breast, or pain and flu-like symptoms i.e. feeling hot and cold, exhausted, nauseous and shivery. It is thought to be caused by breast milk leaking into the breast tissue. This may be due to infection or blocked ducts
Blocked ducts may be caused by engorgement, the breast not emptying during as feed or sometimes it can happen as a result of pressure from clothing such as an ill fitting bra. It is best to try to feed, the breast will be painful and may be engorged, but try to feed on that side and massage any lump whilst feeding. If you cannot feed your baby you could try to express from the affected side, neither is pleasant but they do help.
It is possible to take pain relief, breastfeeding-safe painkillers such a paracetamol, however if you are trying to avoid taking drugs whilst breast feeding it can help apply something cold to the red area. Some people swear by frozen cabbage leaves, but most people don't have them hanging around, frozen peas are great wrapped in a cloth, or if you have a wheat bag they can go in the freezer for a few hours.
If you are worried go to see a medical professional so they can reassure you and if you have repeated bouts of mastitis definitely visit your midwife, health visitor or doctor to discuss whether there is an infection. You may need a course of antibiotics.
About four days after birth, a mother's breasts can become big, hard and painful. This is called "engorgement". It occurs in the when too much breast milk is contained within them. It is caused by insufficient breastfeeding and/or blocked milk ducts.
When engorged the breasts may swell, throb, and cause mild to extreme pain. The position of the baby and how they are attached should be checked to ensure it is correct. Perseverance is so important when breastfeeding. Just offer the breast when baby wants to suckle, stay confident, and let the baby suck when it wants to.
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