10 BREASTFEEDING QUESTIONS answered!

BREASTFEEDING Expert advice on the most common questions lactation consultants get asked

WHY ARE MY NIPPLES CRACKED AND BLEEDING?

Sore, cracked and bleeding nipples are most commonly due to an incorrect latch. Pay careful attention to positioning your baby comfortably close up against you, and be sure that your baby is opening his mouth very wide and taking a large portion of breast tissue into his mouth. It is not meant to hurt. Other reasons for soreness may be that your baby’s inability to suck correctly is due to a tongue tie (short frenulum) or even birth injury (due to an assisted birth, such as a forceps or vacuum extraction), which may have caused discomfort or stiffness, making it difficult for your baby to suckle effectively.

Contact a breastfeeding support group or a lactation consultant who can observe and assess the situation and provide the correct information to fix the problem.

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Full, heavier breasts are normal in the first week after birth. Massage your breasts and do your breast care as often as necessary.

Keep a head of cabbage in the fridge just after birth. Cold cabbage leaves are recommended as a home remedy to help relieve full swollen breasts and alleviate pain. It really works!

It is especially important to feed your baby frequently, as removing milk from the breast relieves congestion and the discomfort it brings.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no food (besides alcohol) that should be excluded from your diet while The contraceptive pill that contains a combination of hormones, including oestrogen, should not be taken while breastfeeding. Oestrogen interferes with the normal balance of the milk making hormones, and is known to decrease your milk supply.

The “mini-pill” is often prescribed for new mothers who are breastfeeding, as it only contains progestin. This is considered safer and less likely to interfere with your supply. Mothers often comment that Excessive alcohol or caffeine in coffee can delay or inhibit the let-down of milk from the breast, which may also cause the baby to be wakeful and fussy at the breast.

Alcohol is not recommended during lactation. If you choose to consume alcohol or caffeine drinks, then do so in small amounts, with a meal, and not right before a feed.