There are minor complications faced by women during breastfeeding. Listed below are the most common conditions and how to fix them.
Plugged milk duct
One or more milk ducts may become blocked during breastfeeding. A plugged milk duct is a small, red, tender lump on the breast. As soon as you notice the bulge, you can release the blockage by trying the following tips. It is important that you continue breastfeeding. If you have to stop, infection will result. Call your doctor if the plugged duct persists for more than 3 days: • To prevent putting too much pressure on your breasts, wear loose-fitting clothes and bras, do not use nipple shields, and do not sleep on your stomach. • To enable the checking of all the milk that may have built up in this engorged breast after a feed, pump or express your breast by hand. ● Feed more often and for longer periods. This will enable your baby to better empty the breast. ● If dried secretions plug your nipples, rinse them with warm water. ● If plugged milk ducts are a recurring problem, consult a lactation consultant. Sometimes the way an infant latches on to the breast results in plugged ducts.
Cracked, sore nipples
Sore, cracked nipples are very sensitive and allow bacteria to enter the breast and can actually infect the milk ducts. One way to prevent sore, cracked nipples is to make sure that the sucking baby covers most or all of the areola with his or her mouth, in addition to the nipple. Also, avoid allowing the baby to pull on the nipple when he or she is being withdrawn from the breast.
While there are some women who employ rubber nipple shields as a preventative measure against this problem, Dr. Dr. Egger (The Complete Book of Breastfeeding) does not recommend their use. Dr. Egger informs us that plastic and rubber nipple shields will not speed the flow of milk and they will never get rid of soreness. The following are some additional tips suc as: ● Never put soap, witch hazel, alcohol, or tincture of benzoin on your nipples because they will become cracked and dry. ● Use pure, medical-grade, anhydrous lanolin and rub them with it. This kind of lanolin is fine to have on your nipples while your baby is breastfeeding. ● If one of your nipples is more sore than the other, start feeding your baby the less sore one so he will be less hungry and will not try as hard on the other breast. ● Nurse more often but for shorter periods of time. ● Puddle some of your milk and rub them into your nipples. Mother's milk heals. ● Change nursing positions every so often.
Engorgement
When a mother's mature breast milk first begins to flow, sometimes the breasts become so full of milk that they become hard, swollen and very tender, making them too painful to breastfeed. This condition, known as engorgement, can be remedied by expressing milk by hand or using a breast pump. Use one of the methods below: ● To stimulate milk flow, place a warm compress on the affected breast and massage the area with your fingers, pressing toward the nipple. These actions stimulate the release of oxytocin, which signals milk flow. ● To express milk by hand, support the breast in line with the breast. Place the tips of the thumb and first or second finger of the other hand on opposite sides of the outer edge of the areola. Squeeze your thumb and finger together using small, rhythmic motions. It may take several minutes for milk to appear. Once the flow begins, work your fingers around the rest of the areola to help express milk from the other milk ducts. ● Place your fingers on the outer edges of the areola; do not squeeze the nipple alone. ● To use a breast pump to express milk, first express the breast as noted above, then use the breast pump. ● To help relieve pain, apply cold compresses between feedings. Homeopathic remedies are also effective.
Galactocele
Swelling of the acini caused by clogged milk is known as a galactocele, or milk-withdrawal cyst. This nontender lump does not become infected and rarely requires surgical removal. Once it is diagnosed by ultrasound or aspiration, a physician can usually resolve the cyst using needle aspiration.
Inverted nipples
A woman with inverted nipples can still breastfeed. With the help of a simple exercise (explained below), the use of a breast shield called a Swedish milk cup, or both, an infant can breastfeed successfully. The Hoffman exercise, which helps correct inverted nipples, can be started during pregnancy and continued throughout breastfeeding. Do the following twice a day: ● Place your thumb and index finger from one hand or index fingers from each hand on opposite sides of the edge of the areola at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. ● Press down and then pull the skin from one side. ● Hold for several seconds, then release. ● Move your fingers to the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and repeat.
Mastitis
Mastitis is an infection of the breasts that causes them to become hot, swollen, and painful. It is caused by milk that becomes blocked in the mammary duct, or it may be the result of an infection passed from the infant to the mother. If bacteria enter the duct through a cracked nipple, an infection can occur. Mastitis should be treated immediately, as it can lead to high fever, chills, headache, and an abscess. Treat mastitis or an abscess as follows: ● Apply warm compresses immediately before each nursing session. ● Massage your breasts. ● Express breast milk either manually or using a breast pump if nursing is not possible. ● Use calendula cream, vitamins, or homeopathic remedies. ● Avoid the use of ice packs. ● Rest as much as possible and drink plenty of fluids. ● As a last resort, use broad-spectrum antibiotics such as ampicillin, cephalexin, or erythromycin, which are not harmful to breastfed infants. If an abscess does not disappear after treatment, it should be drained. Typically, physicians use an aspiration needle for small abscesses, or make a small incision to drain larger ones. Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed when they have mastitis, as it can actually improve the condition. In fact, many physicians recommend nursing every 2 hours around the clock. This helps flush the infection from the breast. Infants do not become infected with the bacteria associated with mastitis, as their stomach acid destroys the bacteria.
Surgery Some breast surgeries can affect the ability to breastfeed. If you have had a breast lift, breastfeeding should not be a problem. If, however, you have had a breast reduction or are considering it, you should know that about 50% of women who undergo this surgery are unable to breastfeed postoperatively. Thus, you may want to postpone this procedure until you can nurse your children. Rarely, breast augmentation using silicone breast implants has caused infants to develop esophageal abnormalities, making it difficult for them to swallow. Thrush A yeast infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans, called thrush, is not more serious, but it is contagious and can be painful, especially for your baby. Your symptoms may include pink, crusty, itchy or burning nipples; a vaginal yeast infection; or a burning pain inside your breasts during or after nursing. Infants may have white spots or a coating on their gums, tongue, or the inside of the cheeks. Some infants develop a diaper rash while others have no symptoms. If you suspect thrush, call your doctor. The standard treatment for thrush is the prescription medication nystatin.
