One thing that a lot of women say about breastfeeding is that it wasn’t as easy as they initially expected. This doesn’t negate how special of an experience it was for them, but sometimes, it can catch new mothers slightly by surprise. Women have all different kinds of experiences when breastfeeding, so none of these might ever apply to you. But it’s good to be prepared for some of the more common challenges of breastfeeding so that you know what to potentially expect, and know that you can conquer any and all of these.
Challenge #1: Wondering if you’ll make enough milk or if your baby is getting enough to eat
Whether Baby falls asleep a lot while breastfeeding, spits up a lot of breast milk, or is just plain fussy when it’s time to eat, it can be a challenge for new parents to determine if their baby is getting enough milk. In general, it’s pretty difficult to nurse too often in the first few weeks, but you can nurse too little. Newborns should have at least 8 feeds in 24 hours, and most average closer to 10-12 feeds.
Next up is checking their diaper count. After the first 4-5 days, your baby should have at least 6 wet diapers and at least 2 soiled diapers every 24 hours. If they are doing all of this, you can feel confident that your baby will be steadily gaining at their next weight check. If you’re concerned because your baby isn’t eating often, you don’t hear swallowing or they’re not making enough diapers, don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician or a local lactation consultant.
Challenge #2: Sleep deprivation or constant tiredness
It’s easy to write this off as something that comes with the territory of having a newborn, but sleep deprivation isn’t something to be taken lightly. You’re going to need at least some sleep to continue to be able to breastfeed Baby, so consider talking to a lactation consultant or your provider about the best breastfeeding positions for a sleepy new mom. Consider passing burping and diaper responsibilities to a partner or family member so that you can catch a quick nap after Baby eats.
Challenge #3: Feeling a loss of freedom while breastfeeding
This is a tricky one, because new moms love being close to their babies, but it can also be stressful to feel “on demand” for a hungry newborn most of the time. Particularly in the early days of breastfeeding, it’s not abnormal for women to mourn for the days when the only things that made them get out of bed were their bladder or the alarm clock. If you begin to feel this way, don’t be afraid to ask for help with Baby so that you can enjoy a moment for yourself.
Challenge #4: Nipple soreness
There are different kinds of nipple discomfort when breastfeeding. But while some nipple soreness may be normal in the first few days after giving birth as your body gets used to breastfeeding, it’s always a good idea to get help if you’re having pain. A proper latch should feel like a tugging sensation on the breast, while an incorrect latch might feel more like a pinch, pain, sandpaper or even glass. A lactation consultant can assess latch, and help you course-correct. Red flags:
- Pain is constant throughout a feed
- You’re dreading feeding or avoiding it because of pain
- There is visible damage to your nipples ie bruising, cracking or bleeding
Nipple care is simple, and moist healing is best. So if you have pain without damage, try applying coconut oil throughout the day and giving your breasts some bra-free time for air to circulate. If you have damage, using hydrogel pads may offer some benefit as well. Pressure on your nipples and areola are best avoided, so be cautious of products that create that type of environment.
Challenge #5: Not knowing what you can and can’t eat while breastfeeding
During pregnancy, you know that there are some foods and drinks that are better off left out of your diet. It’s understandable then that many women worry about what they can and can’t eat or drink while breastfeeding. The rules are much less strict when you’re breastfeeding and you won’t have to be as conscious of your dietary choices. You’ll still want to take a prenatal or regular vitamin to support nutrition, get plenty of protein, and stay hydrated with water. If you have special dietary needs, then it’s a good idea to consult a dietician for further support. You’ll still want to limit fish with a high mercury content, but you can enjoy more caffeine if you wish, 2-3 cups of coffee per day is a good limit.
Challenge #6: Crying or fussing during nursing
There are many reasons your little one might not seem too happy during nursing for a while. They might be going through a growth spurt, or working on learning something new developmentally, and if it’s either of those things, they will settle back into nursing happily on their own soon. Babies who are teething, or who are getting gassy mid-feed can get fussy as well. They could be ready to switch breasts, or to stop feeding entirely for right now. If crying or fussiness starts to become a more regular problem, it could be a sign of a bigger problem, like low milk supply, a tongue tie, or a very fast milk flow.
If you think Baby might be getting distracted during feeding, nursing in a dark room can be helpful. Walking while nursing can also help ease fussing. If the problem persists, try reaching out to a lactation consultant, who may be able to shed more light on what’s going on.
Challenge #7: Feeling guilty, incompetent, or unprepared to breastfeed.
If breastfeeding is difficult at first, that’s because it is difficult! If you’re a first-time mom, or even a second, third, or fourth-time mom, you’re allowed to cut yourself some slack when things don’t go as expected. Consider making a promise to yourself that you’ll never give up on a bad day. It’s okay to try breastfeeding, and then reassess how you feel in a couple of days or weeks. Most importantly, be prepared to seek help and try different things to make you and Baby as comfortable as possible while you learn the tricks of the breastfeeding trade.
Sources
- Jahaan Martin. “Nipple Pain: Causes, Treatments, and Remedies.” llli.org. La Leche League International, Jul 17 2016. Web.
- “How can I tell if my baby is getting enough milk?” llli.org. La Leche League International, Jan 9 2016. Web.
- “Infant and toddler health.” MayoClinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, May 5 2015. Web.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics. “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk.” Pediatrics. 129(3). Web. Mar 2012.
