Milk Matters: Navigating Common Breastfeeding Challenges

66% of parents do not breastfeed for as long as they intend to, often due to the unexpected issues throughout their breastfeeding journey.

Leeds-based lactation consultant, Emily Butterworth, lists some of the most common breastfeeding challenges below, with the hope of knowing what to expect and when to seek help can help overcome these challenges.

Latching

As you prepare antenatally for breastfeeding, you’ll hear a lot about the all-important latch, which is how your baby attaches to your breast to feed. Latching is a learned skill and takes both time and practice. A ‘good’ latch is comfortable for both you and your baby and allows them to transfer milk from the breast efficiently.

If possible, I recommend taking an antenatal breastfeeding class to learn the basics of a deep and comfortable latch and once baby is born I recommended asking for some professional support to help achieve a good latch.

The fourth session of my antenatal course with Birth Journeys is dedicated to infant feeding, including addressing common breastfeeding concerns. To book, visit https://www.birthjourneysleeds.co.uk/book-online

If you’re concerned, you can check for signs of a good latch. This is having your baby latched deeply on the breast (not just the nipple) with their chin lightly touching your breast, observing ‘fish lips’ with their lips are turned out, having a pain-free and comfortable feed, (it might be slightly tender in the first few days) hearing audible swallowing, and your breast feeling softer after feeding. 

Pain while breastfeeding or between feedings can indicate a shallow latch. If you experience anything more than mild discomfort that resolves quickly in the first few days, reach out for professional help. A poor latch can lead to other issues, such as cracked and sore nipples and your baby not getting enough breastmilk. Breastfeeding should not be painful and is not something you need to grin and bear!

Milk supply

When breastfeeding, it can be difficult to tell if your baby is getting enough breastmilk. Breast milk supply is a common concern, but often you have a stronger supply than you realise.

How can you be sure, though? There are other things for you to tell if your baby is having enough milk. You would expect the feed your baby between 8-12 times in 24 hours, (this can also be a lot more during times of cluster feeding). You can also observe their intake by tracking their wet and dirty nappies, and by day 6 you would want them to be having 6 wet nappies and 2 dirty nappies every 24 hours. More information can be found here. Also you would expect your baby to be demanding a feed (not having to wake them) and settling for some time in between feeds.

Your community midwife will help with monitoring your baby’s weight, which can also confirm if they are getting enough breastmilk. Though a little newborn weight loss is normal, not gaining weight appropriately is a warning sign that something may be up.

If you have any concerns, talk to a health professional, ideally specialising in breastfeeding. They can help you determine your milk supply, confirm if your baby is feeding enough, and increase your supply if needed. If you have a lower supply than expected, then don’t panic as there are lots of things we can suggest to help up your supply. One of my biggest tips is to try and feed your baby in the first hour (or as soon after birth as possible) with lots of skin to skin, to help set up the building blocks for your supply going forward.

An oversupply of milk sounds dreamy, but this can cause issues as well. Sometimes when your milk comes in, it can come in with some force. This may only be temporary for the first few weeks but in most instances, it will settle down in the first few weeks.  Until then, your breasts may feel tender and full a lot of the time. Your baby may cough and splutter with the force of your let down and may appear uncomfortable after feeds with explosive frothy, greenish poos. These are signs of a milk oversupply and should settle as your breasts adjust but if they don’t then please seek professional help.

Sore nipples

It’s not uncommon to experience some soreness at the start of your breastfeeding journey. But if your nipples are cracking, bleeding, or experiencing pain between feedings, it’s time to call on some professional help. Continued soreness and cracked nipples indicate your baby is not latching properly.

To help heal cracked and sore nipples before you get professional help to assess why this is happening, you can apply small amounts of over-the-counter creams, ointments, or even breast milk. Breast milk is one of the best tools available for healing damaged nipples, the antibacterial properties in your milk can help moisturise and facilitate healing. Wearing breathable fabrics (like these reusable breast pads from Kura Belle: https://www.kurabelle.co.uk/breastpads) and silver cups can also help promote healing and reduce friction between your nipples and your clothing and pure silver has natural healing properties!

In addition to her NHS role, Emily offers private lactation services, including antenatal and postnatal home support visits, in and around Ilkley, Leeds. Take a look at what she offers here: https://www.emilybutterworth.co.uk