How To Overcome The Biggest Breastfeeding Hurdles

Make no mistake about it, breastfeeding is one of the most rewarding things that a mother can go through with her baby. It’s a bonding experience like no other, and something only a mother and her child can share.

There’s also a ton of health benefits for mom and baby too, both physical and emotional. But that doesn’t mean that it comes free of any problems. There are ways it can go wrong which you might not be expecting.

But if you know what you’re dealing with, you can overcome these pretty easily and ensure that your nursing is nice and smooth. So what are these hurdles? Let’s have a look at a few and how you can conquer them:

1.    It’s Going to Hurt

So this shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise, but breastfeeding can get pretty painful. Especially when you’re just starting out. And it may not just be the type of pain that you are expecting.

Your nipples will, of course, feel sore, cracked and itchy from having another human being sucking on them, but you may also experience some rather painful swelling. Your body is going to naturally start producing milk and this will cause your breasts to get engorged.

It can feel like you are about to burst at times and the added pressure can also cause pain and tension in your neck and shoulders. So there is a lot of different ways that this is going to hurt. But they can all be dealt with.

In the case of the cracked skin, you should try and find an ointment that contains a wax called lanolin. This is a natural substance secreted from the glands of wool-bearing animals and it will help your nipples retain their moisture and seal up those cracks.

Apply it after you breastfeed to give it plenty of time to soak in. For the swelling, treat it like you would any other form and swelling and utilize cool temperatures. It will affect you most when between feedings so if you feel your breast swelling up, use an ice pack.

Surprisingly, it’s also helpful to use cold cabbage leaves that are straight from the fridge. If you place them inside your bra during the day, it should help to keep the swelling down which will in turn deal with the stiff neck and shoulders problem too.

2.    Your Baby May Not Latch On at First

This might seem really frustrating to you when it first happens but trust me, it’s a lot more common than you might think. And there doesn’t really seem to be a concrete answer as to why it actually happens.

Sometimes a baby who has been nursing for a while will stop because of a cold or an infection, and this is known as a nursing strike, but it sometimes just happens for apparent reason too. Don’t panic too much if you find yourself in this situation because it should be easy to solve.

Try to alter your position, make sure that you are both comfortable. Try nursing while lying on your back for example. That way you won’t have to support your baby because gravity will do that for you. And it will also free them up to use their hands and reposition themselves.

Also, be on the lookout for a good latch. You’ll feel the sucking sensation but to be sure that your baby is swallowing, check to see if their jaw and temple are moving rhythmically. You should also hear the inhaling with every few sucks. 

If you feel like nothing is working, then you should, of course, consult with your doctor to see if there is actually some kind of problem. You can bottle-feed in the meantime.

3.    You Might Struggle to Produce Milk

There probably isn’t anything more annoying while you’re breastfeeding than the flow of milk just drying up for no apparent reason. Every woman is different and the amount of milk produced can vary from person to person.

Here’s the good news though, a newborn baby has a very small stomach. It’s only about the size of a penny and it doesn’t really get a whole lot bigger during the period in which you’ll be breastfeeding.

So if you are only producing a small stream of it at a time, it’s probably enough. For your own peace of mind though, heat is a good way to encourage more production and you can also stimulate the flow using your fingers.

Lay a warm, moist washcloth on your breast just before you breastfeed and take regular hot showers while you are actively nursing. And while your baby is actually feeding, you can gently massage your breasts. 

This is what’s known as pumping and it’s often recommended to ensure that the flow doesn’t stall while the little one is latched on.

4.    It Can be Daunting to Breastfeed in Public

This is a different kind of hurdle but it’s an issue that a lot of new mothers do tend to face when they start breastfeeding. Some people are going to be judgemental about it. And you can never blame yourself for other people’s intolerances.

In some cases, they just don’t understand why any woman would put themselves through it, others think that it should be something that you keep private and some just think they have a right to be grossed out by a natural and necessary practice.

But that’s the thing, isn’t it? If you’ve chosen to nurse your baby, you cannot not do it when they’re hungry. And if you happen to be out in public then that’s just the way it is. First thing’s first, in most places you have a legal right to breastfeed in public.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. And also it’s not hard to be inconspicuous about it. You can get a lot of breastfeeding specific clothing that will allow you to nurse without anyone even realizing. It will look like you’re just carrying your baby.

5.    You Should Prepare Ahead of Time

Finally, nursing is just another aspect of motherhood that will come as a shock to the system if you are not prepared for it. So do all of your research and get all of the clothes and equipment that you need ahead of time.

Also, make sure that you have a support system. Ultimately this is between you and your child but that doesn’t mean that your friends and family can’t help you out by getting the ice packs or hot washcloths ready for you, or covering other tasks while you nurse.

And make sure that your partner understands the whole process too. He’ll probably want to be as involved as possible anyway. Fatherhood changes a man, and it is his child too so don’t keep him in the dark on any of these hurdles or other concerns you’re facing.

Conclusion

I think you’ll find that all of these negatives that might crop up are going to be insignificant in comparison to the positives. Breastfeeding is a worthwhile experience and one something you will look back on as a fond memory with your newborn.