Common Breastfeeding Issues & How to Overcome Them

A woman smiles as she breastfeeds her newborn baby while sitting on the couch

Whether you are a new mom or have been a parent for a while now, you may experience breastfeeding issues. But fret not; you can find efficient, effective ways to help your baby grow and get the most out of your breastmilk. If you have any worries or are already experiencing concerns with breastfeeding, then we hope this blog will help answer some questions!

Breastfeeding Issues To Be Aware Of

First-Time Breastfeeders   

Simply put, breastfeeding is difficult to master. If this is the first time you are breastfeeding, odds are you have plenty of questions. Because of this, you should never feel ashamed seek answers. 

Your Baby Isn’t Properly Latching

Improper latching can be painful for mothers and makes it difficult for them to feed their babies. Mothers will experience the following when their babies are not latching properly: 

  • Feeding for very short and very long periods
  • Engorged breasts
  • Inability to drain breasts 

Looking to Relieve Soreness

Even if your baby is latching on correctly, the process of breastfeeding can still be quite painful for most mothers. Oftentimes, mothers stop breastfeeding for this very same reason.

If you want to continue breastfeeding, there are many ways to help relieve any pain or soreness you have been experiencing. Breastfeeding should not be painful once you get the hang of it, so you should speak to your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you are still experiencing frequent pains. 

You Think You Have a Low Milk Supply 

It is common for mothers to worry about not supplying enough breast milk. These concerns are almost always sparked when babies fail to latch. Once a baby latches correctly, the supply of milk will flow as it should. The more you feed your baby, the more your body will produce breastmilk.

Feeding Twins 

Feeding one baby is hard enough, so if you are breastfeeding twins, we completely understand the difficulties you may be facing at the time. Nursing twins or multiple babies take double the amount of practice and patience breastfeeding demands. If you’re unsure about what to do, you can look up ways to feed twins at the same time and positions to hold your babies in. 

Your Baby Has Health Concerns 

Babies born or diagnosed with health concerns such as a cleft palate, prematurity, or tongue-tie can make breastfeeding a bit more difficult. Thankfully, different techniques can be used when feeding babies with health concerns or conditions. You can practice different techniques such as hand expressing or pumping to collect breast milk for your baby. 

You Need as Much Support as Possible 

As we mentioned earlier, there is nothing wrong with getting help, whether you are a first-time breastfeeder or an experienced breastfeeder. Some situations can make it harder for mothers to feed, such as age, several children to tend to, and many other factors. To find the most efficient methods and practices for breastfeeding, you can seek out a local community of mothers who are facing similar struggles. You can also do some online research or check out books on the subject at your local library.

Make Sure Your Newborn Has a Good Start at Our Pediatric Clinic!

Our goal is to pave the way for you and your little one’s well-being! You can contact our clinic by calling (708) 424-0900 to make an appointment today.