Hi there! So you have successfully completed your gestational period and now have a bundle of joy in your hands. Congratulations on the new arrival!
The most daunting task is over, you think? How far from the truth you are! This is just the beginning of the next rollercoaster journey! And what a great journey it is going to be!
Right after the delivery, after the initial ecstasy, you are expected to feed the baby. Some babies latch on right away and start sucking while other babies don’t. The struggle of those who don’t is real.
What is a good latch?
The baby must take not only the nipple but the entire areola (the dark part around the nipple) inside the mouth while sucking. The mother should not feel any pain or discomfort while feeding.
How to achieve a good latch?
- Hold your nipple just above the areola in a scissor hold, that is, between your index and middle fingers.
- Wait for the baby to open its mouth fully.
- Point your nipple towards the baby’s nose and insert the nipple inside the mouth.
- The whole areola should be inside baby’s mouth.
You can try various positions and holds to get this right. It may take a few (or many) tries, but believe me, once a good latch is achieved, your life will be much easier.
Obstacles faced during breastfeeding
- Engorged breasts – Milk comes in after 2-3 days and if the baby is not latching due to any reason, it may cause engorgement. Sometimes, milk comes in in high quantities, causing engorgement. Breast engorgement is painful and doesn’t allow baby to latch on properly, causing more pain. Solution – Take a warm bath or apply hot fomentation to the breast and express by hand before offering to the baby.
- Cuts on nipples – The first few times, when baby is learning to latch on, cuts on the nipples are very common, though they may occur throughout your breastfeeding journey. Solution – Apply desi ghee/clarified butter or your breastmilk on the cut. Let it air dry. Don’t wear tight clothes.
- Milk blebs – When milk is trapped beneath the skin of the nipple, it is called a milk bleb. It is somewhat similar to a blister. It occurs on the nipples in areas from where the milk ducts open out. Milk blebs are very painful. Solution – Milk blebs usually go off by themselves, but while they last, they are extremely painful. You can massage your breasts and try to “push” them out during a warm bath. You can also try separating the upper skin under which milk is trapped using a sterile needle. Whatever you do, feed your baby from that breast too. Sometimes, the baby sucks out the milk. In extreme cases, you can go for an antibiotic course on advise of your gynaecologist. Meanwhile, bite a towel while baby latches on, because it is going to hurt.
- Oversupply – Yes, this is indeed an issue. Folks usually think that a lesser supply is a problem. But trust me, when you have milk gushing out of your breasts uncontrollably, that is a major problem, too. Your child can end up gagging, or worse, choking, on the spray of milk. Also, the foremilk is more water-based. If your baby drinks up all the watery milk, its tiny stomach will be filled by the time your nutrient-rich hindmilk comes in. The excess force of the milk can cause your baby to fuss at your breast and it can make them gassy. Plus, you will be left with super engorged breasts.
So what do you do? You simply pump out the milk at regular intervals, or simply before feeding your child. (Pumping at regular intervals can lead to increasing supply as the breast produces as much milk as is needed. If it gets the signal that your breasts are emptying, your breasts might work overtime to produce more milk.) This way, the initial burst of milk is reduced and your child can suck for a longer time and get hindmilk as well.
Well, that’s all for the time being. I have been wanting to write this since a very, very long time, but couldn’t find time. I am glad I did now.
If you have any queries, do ask in the comments. I believe that mothers learn from their peers more than from anyone else. Let this forum uplift each one of us!
Life lessons 