Troubleshooting Your Breastfeeding Journey
There are multiple reasons as to why trying to breastfeed your baby will benefit their health such as increased immune protection, balanced and digestible nutrition and bonding. There are also some wonderful benefits that breastfeeding provides to mamas as well. In my experience the best benefit was a bonding that nothing else can beat. Staring into those little eyes while you are nourishing them in an oxytocin haze is as close to magic as it gets.
Other benefits to mamas include stimulating the uterus to contract after birth, which decreases postpartum bleeding. It also, amazingly decreases the risk of several cancers and disease in the mother including: breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes. Some studies also show a link between a decrease in postpartum depression and anxiety in breastfeeding mothers as well.
While there are so many benefits to breastfeeding for mama and baby, this journey can be a difficult one for many women. Less than half of babies are exclusively breastfed (including fed pumped breastmilk) by 3 months. There is nothing quite as stressful as the feeling that you cannot feed your baby. My baby was born early and was tiny, with a narrow palate, and lip tie and I started off with low milk production and frequently got clogged ducts. I was a dreaded triple feeder: breastfed baby, topped off with a bottle and then pump after every feed. So navigating these waters took time, patience and a lot of trial and error (which is even more challenging in the postpartum). If you have had struggles with breastfeeding, know you are not alone, in fact you are the majority. If this is you, I see you mama. I hope some of these tips might help you out, but always remember the most important thing is that your baby is fed. So if that means exclusively breastfed, triple fed, bottle fed, combo fed or formula fed: You do what works for you and your baby.
Nipple pain: Temporary soreness is common when the baby is just starting to breastfeed. However, severe continued pain is not normal and should be evaluated by your doctor. Pain in between feeding may be due to candida overgrowth.
1. Make sure the areola and nipple are being grasped rather than just the nipple
2. Air dry the nipples after feedings
3. Avoid washing the nipples too much and use only water or a mild soap
4. Offer least sore breast first and switch to other breast after milk let down
5. Vary breastfeeding positions
7.. Make a cabbage poultice: Take cabbage leaves, get rid of vein and pound them out and wrap around breast and areola, leaving the nipple exposed. Change every 30 minutes or sooner if they become wilted. Check breasts often and as soon as milk begins to drip, or breasts feel ‘different’, remove leaves and try to nurse or pump. Re-apply as needed (up to 3 times between feedings)
Cracked nipples
1. Use Breastmilk which has natural antimicrobial properties. After a feeding, express some breastmilk and place into the nipples and let them air dry.
2. Between feedings apply to the nipple: Organic nipple cream such as Earth Mama Baby Angel, Green Goo Nursing Cream, MotherLove Nipple Cream or Lanolin
3. Apply nipple protection such as Hydrogel pads, soothies cooling gel pads or silverettes
4. Use warm compresses before a feed to allow milk to let down easier and soothe the damaged skin. You can use cold compresses after a feed to decrease inflammation.
Plugged ducts: Tenderness, heat and redness in one area of the breast or a lump/hardness that can be felt in the breast which can obstruct milk flow.
1. Continue nursing and vary positions
2. Do a gentle persistent massage of the duct to relieve the lump prior to or while nursing/pumping
3. Make sure your nursing bra is not too tight
4. Warm water: Apply a warm, moist compress, take a warm shower or soak the breast in warm water (can add Epson salt) for 1-2 minutes before a feed
5. Use a soni-care toothbrush or a vibrating massager to release the duct
6. Taking Sunflower Lecithin regularly can prevent them
7. Cabbage Poultice
Engorgement (can happen from plugged ducts)
1. Expressing milk manually or with a pump just ‘to comfort’ (pumping too much can increase engorgement) or using a Haaka suction only pump to relieve pressure.
2. Feed frequently if possible with the engorged breast first
3. Alternate between warm showers (before a feed) and cold compresses (after a feed) to help relieve the discomfort
4. Cold compresses/ice packs or frozen cabbage leaves
4. Peppermint applied to the breast tissue avoiding the nipple (or taken orally) can decrease milk supply
Low milk supply
1. Stress reduction: cortisol decreases milk production, so using any stress management skill you have to help reduce your stress such as meditation, prayer, yoga, or breathing techniques
2. Make sure you are eating enough calories: Mom needs about 500 extra calories daily in the postpartum to support adequate milk production
3. Increase hydration: Drink water ALL day, add in coconut water mixed with a little juice during feedings, drink electrolytes
4. Mother’s Milk and Chamomile Teas
5. Lactation support supplements such as Lactation Blend and Colostrum
6. Increase foods which help enrich milk supply: oats, flaxseeds, brewers yeast and fenugreek seeds. Make lactation cookies: see our previous blog for a gluten free, dairy free recipe.
7. Power pump 2-3/week: Pump for 20 min, rest for 10 min, pump for 10 min, rest for 10 min, pump for 10 min. If you are really struggling you can do this daily for 1-2 weeks.
8. Do not go more than 3-4 hours without a feed or pump until your milk is established (which usually takes about 3 months), even at night.
9. Optimize milk removal by ensuring a deep latch, offering both breasts, and either pump after feeding for 10-15 min or hand express after pumping.
10. Skin to skin contact
ALSO: Homeopathy can help with ALL of these breastfeeding issues so if you are having these concerns, please reach out to get the most individualized homeopathic remedy suited to your case to be able to help treat you as quickly as possible.
Finally, please use a lactation consultant for specific help with your baby and your case. It does truly take a village, please remember that! This is hard work mama and you are not alone, there is help out there for you. Happy breastfeeding!
