Breastfeeding Roadblocks: Being Patient With Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is best for your baby. It protects both mom and baby from a variety of health problems. Some women breastfeeding for six months, one year or even two. While other women stop because they are overcome by obstacles that interfere with their ability to breastfeed.By seeking a professional Lactation Consultant, such as myself, you can succeed with breastfeeding and experience a joyful journey with your beautiful new baby. I often tell my patients, my new moms, that practice makes perfect. It takes time for your baby to establish good breastfeeding patterns and for you to get to know your baby. So why do women give up? There are many reasons to stop breastfeeding. Some women feel they have an inadequate milk production.New moms have to learn how often to breastfeed their baby. Some new moms resort to using a formula to substitute meals. Some women experience pain in their nipples because they have a poor latch. This is the second most common reason a woman stops to breastfeed early on. The cause of nipple pain can be: nipple injury by your baby or breast pump, engorgement which is when the breasts are too full and your baby is having a hard time latching on, a plugged duct, nipple or breast infections because your nipples are cracked or bleeding or you have Mastitis or you are dealing with excessive milk supply. Use hot and cold compresses to help with pain and swelling. Pump if nipple pain is not allowing you to breastfeed. If you have symptoms of Mastitis, fever breast pain etc. Call your doctor to prescribe you antibiotics. It will not go away on its own. Check and see if your baby has a tongue tie, Ankyloglossia. Sometimes a tongue tie can contribute to an uncoordinated suck and latch, where a baby is not moving its tongue properly in a correct rhythm to extract milk and mom's nipple get really sore. You can consult with your pediatrician, who can recommend you to a specialist if needed to check and see if your baby has a tongue tie.In conclusion, work with a Lactation Consultant to make sure your baby is getting enough breastmilk. Count how many wet diapers and stools your baby has daily. Make sure your baby is gaining weight. Allowing healthcare specialist, Lactation Consultant to observe your breastfeeding session. Learning how to latch your baby on correctly is important. I wish all of you luck and hope you truly enjoy your breastfeeding journey with your beautiful new baby.