“Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it doesn’t come naturally,” says Sister Francoise van der Westhuizen, a registered nurse and certified lactation consultant at Melkbekkies Breastfeeding Clinic, East Rand. It’s a learned skill for both mom and baby that can cause struggle initially, due to discomfort, physical exhaustion, difficulties latching, and lack of support. It often requires education and assistance to navigate the challenges and establish a successful routine. “I call it the 3 Ps,” she says. “Patience, persistence and perseverance.”
Key reasons for early breastfeeding struggles
• Discomfort: Many mothers face breast pain from engorgement when their milk comes in, then from cracked and sore nipples due to incorrect or shallow latching, and occasionally from plugged milk ducts, mastitis, abscesses or infections, says Sister Van der Westhuizen. All this, at a stage when their body is healing from childbirth, episiotomies or Caesarean sections. “Address any source of pain early with your health professional, a clinic sister or a lactation consultant,” she urges.
• Problems with latching and feeding: These are common at the start, and positioning issues and shallow latches can cause not just discomfort for you, but inadequate milk flow for your baby. Baby’s ear, shoulder and hip should be in a straight line, facing your chest, Sister Van der Westhuizen says. Try holding them skin-to-skin against your bare chest to stimulate their natural feeding instinct, use a ‘sandwich hold’ to compress your breast into a ‘sandwich’ shape to help baby get a deeper latch, and trigger their rooting reflex by tickling their lips with your nipple until they open wide.
• The feeding ‘learning curve’: Even if you manage all this, breastfeeding is a skill that takes practice, and the first weeks can be difficult as you and baby learn to coordinate.
• Exhaustion: Not only is your body recovering, but you are sleep-deprived, having to breastfeed around the clock. Breast milk is easily digested (in about 90 minutes) – so newborns get hungry often and need feeding 8-16 times a day, or every two to three hours, for about the first month to six weeks. Sleep when baby sleeps.
• Supply concerns: New moms often worry that they are not producing enough milk, as unlike with bottle feeding, it can be tricky to tell how much baby is drinking at the breast. You can be reassured your baby is getting enough if they have 6–8 heavy wet nappies in 24 hours (after day five), gain weight consistently (about 180-280g a week), are alert, and settle between feeds. “It’s best to rely on tracking wet diapers and weight gain, not on breast softness or pump output, which are unreliable indicators,” says Sister Van der Westhuizen
• Lack of support: The pressure to be successful in breastfeeding, along with potential guilt, can make it seem overwhelming. Insufficient professional lactation support, negative attitudes from family, or an unsupportive workplace can contribute to the struggle. Reach out to your local clinic, a lactation consultant or the La Leche League.
Navigating breastfeeding challenges
1. Seek help early. Speak to a clinic sister or lactation consultant from the start for guidance on correct latching and positioning.
2. Seek support from your partner, family, friends and professionals to ease the burden, whether by taking baby from you so you can catch up on sleep, or by occasionally sharing feeds with expressed milk. “Do this with caution, especially in the early days,” says Sister Van der Westhuizen. “Moms end up missing feeds at the breast and compromising their supply. Even if the dad gives the expressed milk, the mom should still wake up to express that feed to keep the supply going.”
3. Consciously relax during feeds to counter stress. This also encourages milk flow. Sit comfortably, breathe deeply and slowly, and listen to calming music.
4. Eat regularly, have a balanced diet and drink sufficient fluids to maintain energy, she says.
5. Recognise that challenges are normal – in breastfeeding as in anything new and worthwhile doing, and with ‘patience, persistence, perseverance’ (and professional guidance) they can be resolved.
New Clicks Clinic Service: Lactation support and Consultation
Selected Clicks Clinics now offer Lactation support and Consultation. Find out more and book an appointment.
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