The 7 most common health problems associated with breastfeeding

Proven content

If the baby cries and whines, many mothers worry that they are getting too little milk. In most cases, this fear is completely unfounded. There are very rarely any organic causes that would prevent adequate milk production. To stimulate them, you should feed your baby as often as possible, even at night. In this way, we give a signal to the breasts to produce more milk. Change your breastfeeding position to stimulate your entire breasts.

Discomfort during breastfeeding – cracked nipples

Irritation and small tears are a sign that the feeding technique is incorrect. There is a surefire way to get your little one to open their mouth. Touch his lip with your nipple to trigger a searching reflex. If your baby’s lips are smooth and facing outwards around the areola, everything is perfect.

If the nipples are sore, pay close attention to hygiene. Wash them once or twice a day in lukewarm water and rinse with saline solution from a pharmacy. You can treat severely irritated nipples with pure lanolin or use a breast shield or breast shield.

Discomfort during breastfeeding – breast swelling

It is important to distinguish between physiological and pathological edema. The former is a discreet and positive sign. It does not require intervention. However, in pathological swelling there is excessive stretching of the tissue. It causes discomfort, sometimes with fever and malaise. The breast is bigger and painful. Diffuse, shiny, red areas may appear on it. The nipples become flat. Sometimes the milk does not flow normally.

This problem usually occurs around three to five days after the baby is born. Most often it is associated with one of the following factors:

1. late start of breastfeeding,
2. rare breastfeeding,
3. reducing the duration and frequency of breastfeeding,
4. use of complementary foods,
5. children with a weak suckling reflex.

How can I prevent breast swelling?

The following recommendations are useful:

1. start care as soon as possible,
2. on-demand feeding
3. use of an appropriate breastfeeding technique,
4. avoiding supplements.

How To Treat Breast Swelling?

If you have areola problems, express some milk yourself before feeding your baby. Then the areola will become soft enough for the baby to grip it properly.

Feed your baby regularly as required. Gently massage your breasts. You can use systemic painkillers / anti-inflammatory drugs. Ibuprofen is considered the most effective. It also helps reduce inflammation and swelling. Paracetamol is a good alternative.

Wear well-fitting, supportive bras with large cups. This way you will relieve the pain and keep the breasts in the right position.

Ailments during breastfeeding – clogged milk ducts and stagnation

The channels are clogged when the milk does not drain completely. You may feel a hard lump in your breast or pain. Sometimes redness appears. Pain and fever are signs of an infection. That’s why you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Most importantly, try to avoid long gaps between feedings. Express your milk frequently. A nursing bra that is too tight can also cause this problem. Stress can also affect milk flow.

Try to rest as much as possible. Also, try applying warm compresses to your breasts and massaging them to stimulate the movement of the milk. For warm compresses, use special compresses, which you can buy at favorable prices on Medonet Market. You don’t have to worry about your baby’s safety. Natural antibiotics are contained in breast milk.

You can express milk with the help of a breast pump. We recommend, for example, the Neno Bella electronic breast pump or the Neno Due double electronic breast pump. See the full range of breast pumps available in our store.

Do not pour the expressed milk! It can come in handy when, for example, you leave your child in the care of another person and go shopping yourself. Milk can be frozen or stored in the refrigerator in special bags for storing and freezing Neno food. You only need to heat them up if necessary. Try the Neno Vita 2-in-1 Sterilizer and Bottle Warmer, which you can buy at a discounted price on Medonet Market. Try different sizes of Neno bottles: Neno Bottle 150 ml, 240 ml or 300 ml.

1. Find out more about benign breast disease

Ailments during breastfeeding – fungal and herpetic infections

A breast infection manifests itself as burning pain during and after breastfeeding. May radiate to the chest. White spots on the inside of your baby’s cheeks also indicate a fungal infection. Then, both the mother and the child should be given the appropriate ointment.

Rare but herpes infection is possible. Then painful blisters appear around the nipple. You need to stop breastfeeding and wait for the blisters to heal. Finally, the nipples can be itchy, sore and red as the skin is very sensitive to certain ointments, creams, or materials from breast pumps and nipple shields. In such cases, corticosteroids in the form of ointments are indicated. They bring quick relief.

What else can you do?

Try to wash your nipples with warm, boiled water once a day. This way you will prevent the build-up of microorganisms. Wash your hands often and change underwear every day. For hygiene reasons, choose disposable nursing pads.

Ailments during breastfeeding – mastitis

It’s inflammation of the breast tissue. It can be caused by blocked milk ducts or bacteria getting into the breast. Usually the germs come from the baby’s skin or mouth. They get through the gap in the nipple or through the milk duct. They cause infection, breast pain, and flu-like symptoms, including fever and tiredness.

1. Also read: Purulent mastitis

Ailments while breastfeeding – sore and throbbing white nipples

This vasoconstriction is caused by a sudden change in temperature as the nipple is moved from the baby’s warm mouth to the cold air. This state is called Raynaud’s syndrome. Blood suddenly flows from the nipple causing pain and a color change.

Try applying a damp cloth to the nipple or rub the olive into it. In severe cases, prescription medications can be used.

1. Find out more about sore nipples

Ailments while breastfeeding – flat or inverted nipples

Most of the nipples stick out. It is the perfect shape for a child’s mouth. However, some women have flat nipples or hide inward. Then feeding is more difficult. However, it is certainly still possible. Try to squeeze the areola while you feed, or use appropriate nipple shields.

If you are breastfeeding, it is possible that you are not getting enough vitamins and minerals. Check their levels as well as your overall health by doing the Post-Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Test Pack, which you can find on Medonet Market.