Complications when Breastfeeding

Breast Feeding Complications

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As natural as breastfeeding is, there are a couple of issues that may arise which will complicate the process.

Sore Nipples

A lot of mothers complain about tender nipples that make breast feeding painful and frustrating. There is good news though, as most mothers don’t suffer that long. The nipples will toughen up quickly and render breast feeding virtually painless. Improperly positioned babies or babies that suck really hard can make the breasts extremely sore.

Below, are some ways to ease your discomfort:

Make sure your baby is in the correct position, since a baby that isn’t positioned correctly is the number one cause of sore nipples.
Once you have finished feeding, expose your breasts to the air and try to protect them from clothing and other irritations.
After breast feeding, apply some ultra purified, medical grade lanolin, making sure to avoid petroleum jelly and other products with oil.
Make sure to wash your nipples with water and not with soap.
Many women find teabags ran under coldwater to provide some relief when placed on the nipples.
Make sure you vary your position each time with feeding to ensure that a different area of the nipple is being compressed each time.

Clogged Milk Ducts

Clogged milk ducts can be identified as small, red tender lumps on the tissue of the breast. Clogged ducts can cause the milk to back up and lead to infection.

The best way to unclog these ducts is to ensure that you’ve emptied the breast as completely as possible. You should offer the clogged breast first at feeding time, then let your baby empty it as much as possible.

If milk remains after the feeding, the remaining amount should be removed by hand or with a pump. You should also keep pressure off the duct by making sure your bra is not too tight.

Breast Infection

Also known as mastitis’s, breast infection is normally due to empty breasts completely out of milk, germs gaining entrance to the milk ducts through cracks or fissures in the nipple, and decreased immunity in the mother due to stress or inadequate nutrition.

The symptoms of breast infection include severe pain or soreness, hardness of the breast, redness of the breast, heat coming from the area, swelling, or even chill.

The treatment of breast infection includes bed rest, antibiotics, pain relievers, increased fluid intake, and applying heat.

Many women will stop breastfeeding during an infection, although it’s actually the wrong thing to do. By emptying the breasts, you’ll actually help to prevent clogged milk ducts.

If the pain is so bad you can’t feed, try using a pump while lying in a tub of warm water with your breasts floating comfortably in the water. You should also make sure that the pump isn’t electric if you plan to use it in the bath tub.

You should always make sure that breast infections are treated promptly and completely or you may risk the chance of abscess. An abscess is very painful, involving throbbing and swelling.

You’ll also experience swelling, tenderness, and heat in the area of the abscess. If the infection progresses this far, your doctor may prescribe medicine and even surgery.

Breast Milk Jaundice

There is a condition that’s commonly referred to as breast milk jaundice, although no one knows what actually causes it. In order to diagnose it, the baby should be at least a week old. The baby should also be gaining well with breast feeding alone, having lots of bowel movements with the passing of clean urine. In this type of setting, the baby has what is referred to as breast milk jaundice.

On occasion, infections of the urine or an under functioning of the baby’s thyroid gland, as well as other rare illnesses that may cause the same types of problems breast milk jaundice will peak at 10 - 21 days, although it can last for 2 - 3 months.

Contrary to what you may think, breast milk jaundice is normal. Rarely, if at all ever, does breastfeeding need to be stopped for even a brief period of time. If the baby is doing well on breast milk, there is no reason at all to stop or supplement with a lactation aid.

Other complications include:

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