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Common Breastfeeding Problems
It is not unusual to encounter problems with breastfeeding. Contact your lactation consultant,
physician or midwife if you have questions that are not answered below. More detailed information from our Breastfeeding Resource Guide can be accessed by clicking on "more" at the end of each section.
Learn more about:
Sleepy baby
Babies need to breastfeed eight to 12 times in 24 hours to gain weight and establish your milk supply. A newborn
usually breastfeeds every two to three hours. Sometimes, he will take a four- to five-hour break during the night.
If your baby seems to sleep longer, you will need to wake him up and encourage him to feed more frequently. Your baby
may wake up to feed, but may fall asleep before breastfeeding long enough.
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Newborn jaundice
Most babies get a slight amount of jaundice, a yellow or suntanned tint to your baby's skin caused by the buildup of
bilirubin (a breakdown of red blood cells) in his bloodstream. You can lessen the amount of bilirubin in your baby's
system by breastfeeding soon after birth and often (every two to three hours around the clock). Allowing your baby to
finish on the first breast (10 to 30 minutes) will help your baby have more bowel movements, which will help get rid
of bilirubin.
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Flat and inverted nipples
Flat or inverted nipples can make it harder for a baby to breastfeed. In order to stimulate your baby to suck, he
needs to feel your nipple and breast tissue far back in his mouth - between his hard and soft palates. Nipples that
are flat or inverted can be a challenge. A flat nipple may not stand out even when stimulated. An inverted nipple
pulls inward instead of protruding when the areola is pinched.
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Sore nipples
The most frequent cause of sore nipples is poor positioning and/or poor
latch-on. When your baby comes off your breast, the nipple should look round,
like the end of your finger. A nipple that looks flat (such as a Nuk pacifier or a new tube of lipstick) often becomes
damaged and sore. If you need help with positioning and latch, speak with your lactation consultant, doctor or
midwife. Other causes of sore nipples are inverted nipples, prolonged non-nutritive sucking, delayed letdown,
not breaking the suction prior to removing baby from the breast, improper pump use, a pump kit that does not fit
properly and prolonged exposure to wet nursing pads or bras.
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Engorgement
Breasts that are normally full can become engorged between days three and six. Engorged breasts are very swollen,
hard, warm and painful. It is important to treat engorgement because leaving milk in your breasts for a long period
of time may decrease your milk production. There are enzymes and fats in the milk that signal your breasts to slow
down milk production. Also, pressure of milk, blood and lymph fluid on the milk-producing cells may damage them and
cause them to decrease your milk supply. Removing the milk by breastfeeding or pumping signals the breasts to make
more milk.
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Mastitis
Mastitis is an inflammation in the breast that may be from a plugged duct or an infection. If you have mastitis, it is
important to continue emptying your breasts by breastfeeding. Stopping may cause you to develop an infection or
abscess. If it is too painful to breastfeed, pump your breasts with an effective electric breast pump.
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Breast surgery or injury
If you have had breast surgery or a breast injury, you may be wondering if you will be able to breastfeed. The only
way to know is to try. You may be able to produce a full milk supply or only a partial supply, depending on the number
of milk ducts and nerves that were affected by the surgery or injury. It is important that you work closely with your
baby's doctor and a lactation consultant in the first few weeks after your baby is born to make sure that
breastfeeding is working well and to understand the normal course of breastfeeding.
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