BREAST FEEEDING PROBLEMS.

Find the cause and you have the solution. Diagnosis with the Mora Super by Medtronic

ENGORGEMENT.

This is a temporary problem that most commonly occurs between 2-5 days after childbirth. It is caused by a combination of the increased blood supply to the breast and the pressure of the newly produced milk resulting in the swelling of the tissues in the breast. A low grade fever may be preset, the breasts feel full, hard, tender and tight and the skin of the breasts is hot, shiny and distended. You do not need engorgement in order to nurse.

Recommendations.

Give your baby short, frequent feedings. A feeding schedule of ever one and a half to two hours day and night should be maintained while engorgement lasts.
Express milk between feedings to relieve pressure.
Apply moist heat for 30 minutes preceding each feeding and massage the breast during feedings to help get the milk flowing.
Do not use nipple shields, as they can confuse the baby’s sucking pattern, damage nipples, reduce stimulation of the breast and decrease the milk supply.
To prevent engorgement feed your baby on demand and without delay and allow unrestricted sucking time. Do not give your baby any formula or sugar water and allow the baby to empty each breast.

MASTITIS:

If a plugged duct is not taken care of mastitis can result. Acute mastitis is an infection and swelling of the breast, usually occurring as a result of bacteria intering the nursing mothers breast through cracks or fissures in the nipple. Mothers are most vurnerable to acute mastitis in the first few weeks of nursing because cracks in the nipple develop more often during this time. Soreness and redness in the breast, fever, yellow pus like secretions from the nipple, general tiredness and flu like symptoms are indicators. In fact in a nursing mother all flu like symptoms should be considered a breast infection until proven otherwise.

Recommendations:

Drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.
Air dry the nipples after nursing to prevent cracking. If the nipples do crack you can coat them with breast milk or apply aloe vera juice after they dry to help them heal. You can also apply heat with a hot water bottle or heating pad before and after nursing.

Considerations:

Most of the minor infections will heal by themselves in a few days.more severe ones can heal in about a week if treated with antibiotics.

PLUGGED DUCT:

Incomplete emptying of the milk ducts by the baby or wearing a tight bra can cause a plugged duct. Soreness and a lump in one area of the breast is an indication of this problem.

Recommendations:

Check the nipple very carefully for any tiny dots of dried milk and remove them by gntle cleansing together with frequent nursing on the affected breast, this should allow the duct to clear itself within twenty four hours.
Massage the breasts with firm pressure from the chest wall toward the nipple to stimulate milk flow.
Make sure you offer the affected breast first when the baby’s sucking is strongest.

SORE NIPPLES:

Sore nipples are usually caused by improper nursing positions and nursing schedules or incorrect sucking by the baby. They can also be caused by infection most commonly with the fungus Candida Albicans.

Recommendations:

Nurse on the least sore side first. However if both breasts are sore hand express until letdown occurs and milk is readily available to the body.
Massage your breasts from base to tip to prevent engorgement. Do this during the final weeks of your pregnancy and continue through postpartum.
If cracked nipples accompany soreness apply aloe vera gel to the nipples to alleviate pain and promote healing. Also aloe vera, calendula, marshmallow and slippery elm are soothing when used in paste form as a poultice or as wet tea bags and applied to sore nipples.
Apply avocado oil, calendula ointment, lanilin and olive oil ( separately or in combination) to the breasts to help prevent soreness during pregnancy and while breast feeding.
To prevent sore nipples feed your baby frequently to avoid having a baby who is overly hungry bite down roughly on the nipple. Be sure your baby’s mouth takes in as much of the areola ( the dark area of the nipple) as possible. The baby should not make slurping noises when feeding. Change nursing positions often to rotate the pressure of the baby’s mouth on the breast and learn to break suction correctly. Between feedings keep the nipples dry. Expose them to sunlight and air. Do not wash them with soap, alcohol or petroleum based products which can wash away their natural protection. Instead you can apply a little colostrums on the nipple and let it air dry.

The following supplements are beneficial for nursing mothers.

Free form anino To supply needed protein, soy protein and free form amino

Acid complex. Acids are better sources than animal products.

Acidophilus For mother boosts immune system and provides necessary

Friendly bacteria.

Calcium & Magnesium needed by both mother and baby. Use chelate forms.

Multibitamin and mineral All nutrients are needed by both mother and baby. Use a

Complex plus vitamin B high potency formula. Needed for production of milk

Complex, folic acid, Vit and relieve stress.

C and Vitamin D

HERBS:

Any of the following herbs can be beneficial for the nursing mother: Alfalfa, Blessed thistle, dandelion, fennel, horsetail and raspberry.
Nettle leaf has a tonic effect and contains iron in addition to many other nutrients.
The following herbs decrease milk supply and should be avoided until a woman is no longer nursing. Black walnut, Sage and Yarrow.

Recommendations:

eat plenty of brewers yeast, eggs, nuts and seeds and whole grains, raw foods should be plentiful in the diet.
A mothers milk is a nearly perfect food. However it is low in vitamins C and D and Iron. A nursing mother should maintain a balanced diet, but can also benefit from taking multivitamins and nutritional supplements.
If you have to supplement mothers milk try almond milk, rice milk, rice dream or soya milk formula with a small amount of papaya(put through a blender) this resembles mothers milk.you can add a small amount of blackstrap molasses and brewers yeast after the baby is a few months old.