Breastfeeding Concerns

Common Breastfeeding Concerns

Engorgement

• Breastfeed often - every two to three hours
• Apply warm, moist towels to your breasts for five minutes before nursing
• Massage the breast before and during feeding to stimulate let down
• Soften areola and nipple before latching on by hand or pumping
• Latch baby on correctly
• Breastfeed five to 30 minutes per breast
• Ask for help when needed
• Take a mild analgesic as recommended by your care provider
• Avoid restrictive bras
• Remember engorgement won’t last forever
• You may pump once a day to relieve engorgement without fear of making too much milk

Sore Nipples

• Latch baby on correctly each feeding.
• Breastfeed your baby, not nipple-feed
• Ask for help
• Change breastfeeding positions and feed from the least sore breast first
• Air-dry nipples for ten minutes after each feeding
• Change bra pads when they become wet
• Use breast pumps correctly
• Remember sore, cracked, bleeding nipples do not have to be tolerated. SEEK HELP

Feeling of Decreased Milk Supply

• Breastfeed baby eight to 12 times a day. Wake baby up for feedings at least every three hours
  during the day
• Watch for adequate amounts of wet and soiled diapers
• Use proper latch-on
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Relax! Try to sleep when baby sleeps
• The more you breastfeed, the more milk you will make
• Remember that babies go through predictable growth spurts and will need to nurse more often to increase your milk supply. Growth spurts typically occur at two weeks, six weeks, three months and six months of age
• If this feeling persists, contact your lactation consultant

Plugged Milk Duct

• Apply moist, warm towels to affected area
• Massage area before and during feeding
• Use a different position to breastfeed
• Begin feeding on affected side
• Avoid restrictive bras or take your bra off while feeding or pumping
• Contact your lactation consultant or care provider if you have a fever or flu-like symptoms (possible sign of a breast infection - mastitis)

Crying/Colic

• If your baby seems unusually fussy, try keeping a food diary of what you eat and drink. Some babies may be sensitive to certain foods in your diet. Discuss this with your care provider
• Try to maintain somewhat of a routine naptime or bedtime
• Fussy babies are often soothed by swaddling and/or motion (rocking, swinging, riding in the car) or certain sounds

Yeast Infections

• Sudden onset of nipple pain. Nipples are red and pink and may be flaky or itchy. Nipple pain persists throughout entire feeding even if latched on well.
• Baby may have white patches in his mouth or bright red diaper rash.
• Call your care provider and the baby’s physician for medication to treat both of you
• Continue to breastfeed
• Change your bra pads when wet
• Wash bra in hot water daily
• Allow nipples to air dry after each feeding
• All bottle nipples, pacifiers and toys that come in contact with baby’s mouth need to be boiled or run through the dishwasher daily