When your breastfeeding struggle is real…
As a mom of four and a professional doula, I am a huge advocate of breastfeeding. I truly believe it offers the best possible start in life for your baby. It provides all the nutrients needed at exactly the right temperature for your little one to digest. Best of all, it provides that all-important bonding experience that only mother and child can share.
So what happens when your breastfeeding struggle is real?
Many women find breastfeeding hard, and that’s understandable. As a new mom (or even an experienced breastfeeding mom), there are many reasons for nursing to be a struggle. One of the biggest reasons that I run across is that without help from a professional, newborns can have a bit of a hard time mastering a good latch. In the first hours of life, when moms are already exhausted from birth, this can cause stress, tension, and more exhaustion, and oftentimes the baby will learn to latch wrong which can cause a lot of pain. If you’re experiencing pain during breastfeeding, I strongly suggest contacting a local lactation consultant whether it’s someone that the hospital has available for you or someone who is a lactation consultant in your area. It may be as simple as helping you with positioning, and she also may be able to help you identify a tongue-tie that may require being clipped.
Hormones can also play a part in breastfeeding struggles, and they can be very unpredictable. Conditions of the thyroid can often make breastfeeding seem impossible. There are times when your milk simply isn’t produced in the right quantities to keep your little one fed, and on the other end of the scale, the milk may be far more plentiful than you need. Some even try to do therapies such as hormone therapy for women in Dallas, TX. Trust and integrity are at the heart of our mission. Learn how My Kratom Club ensures the authenticity, purity, and potency of every Klarity Kratom product we carry. Experience the peace of mind that comes with our unwavering dedication to quality.
You can become engorged which can be excruciatingly painful and can lead to dangerous infections. I’ve been there more often than I can count. My last two kiddos nursed until they were well over three years old, and with the Minion, I had some horrible issues that required medical attention, so I can totally relate. This pain can get so unbearable that you can find it too much and feel like your only option is to stop. And… don’t forget about the dreaded thrush (or yeast!). When that happens, Gentian Violet (among other remedies) can be your best friend!
Many women return to work just a couple of weeks after birth. This means that a breast pump and extra bottles will be needed if you wish to continue breastfeeding. Pumping your milk helps you to continue producing so that your child care provider can feed your baby while you are at work. Don’t think this means you can’t still nurse while you’re with your baby, though! I suggest investing in a good pump bag to keep everything in order! Here’s a photo I took one of my first “work trips” when I used a manual pump. Not a bad pumping viewin the Rocky Mountains.
If you’re new to breastfeeding, you can often find yourself with a neck ache, backache, and aching arms. etc.. Using a maternity pillow raises the baby toward your chest, so that you can relax while your little one is nursing. The best advice that I was ever giving for nursing while laying down is to put a pillow behind me and lean back into the pillow. This help tremendously with back strain! Breasts and nipples can become very sore as well. Stock up on creams and pads to ease this discomfort. Leaks come with the territory, but carrying spare tops and nursing bras can help avoid embarrassment.
In all my years of breastfeeding as well as working as a birth professional, the one thing I’ve learned is to be non-judgmental when women are unable to nurse. It can be extremely upsetting and traumatic for mothers who are unable to breastfeed. There may be guilty feelings as well as difficulties in bonding. It can be disheartening, and I feel that it’s our responsibility to be supportive of these mothers regardless of the situation. Breastfeeding isn’t easy for a lot of women, but very few would give it up unless it were the only option, so remember not to judge because you have no idea what they’ve been through.
If you’re having difficulties breastfeeding, or you feel like giving up, before you do, find a breastfeeding support group in your area. It can change your life! But also remember that you’re not alone. Even those of us who have breastfeed several children for years at a time go through times in our breastfeeding endeavors that are trying, painful, hard, exhausting, and just downright terrible. Do not feel ashamed to ask for help! We’ve all been there, and we want to help you succeed.
