John Myers
The baby cries when breastfeeding, painful engorgement is causing you problems or breastfeeding is not working? There are a number of difficulties that many moms struggle with at the beginning. We give you useful tips along the way.
Breast milk: facts and benefits
With the necessary antibodies and immune-boosting ingredients that serve as nest protection for the baby in the first six months, breast milk is one of nature’s miracle weapons. The living cells in the milk promote organ development – and the milk adapts to the changing needs of the baby. If it has more proteins at the beginning, these decrease over time. This prevents obesity and ensures that the kidneys remain in balance. For those who cannot or do not want to breastfeed, however, it should be said: Modern pre-food is following nature’s example – and bottle-fed children are well cared for these days. Hypoallergenic baby food is available for families with atopic diseases such as hay fever, asthma or neurodermatitis, which delays contact with cow’s milk protein and serves as allergy prophylaxis. Long-chain, polyunsaturated fatty acids are now added to all baby foods, which promote the development of brain and nerve cells as well as the baby’s ability to see.
Common breastfeeding problems – pain, breast engorgement & Co
The baby does not feed or cries, there is pain when breastfeeding, a breast infection or engorgement with fever is looming: breastfeeding can be a challenge. It is best for new moms to ask their midwife for breastfeeding advice. If this is not tangible, a few common tips will help.
If your baby does not feed, cries and goes on a breastfeeding strike – or breastfeeding irritation occurs – (this can manifest itself, for example, in your baby screaming at the breast), abdominal pain after breastfeeding could be a possible cause. Therefore, try to give your baby a few sips of lukewarm fennel tea before breastfeeding: this prevents flatulence, but it must be prepared correctly. This means that sweeteners are taboo and the tea must steep as described. Afterward, elevate your child over your shoulder, remain still, and maintain lots of physical contact until your baby relaxes. Don’t put it back on until it has calmed down and keep at it – even if it gets on your nerves.
If you experience pain while breastfeeding, you should check that the baby is latched correctly. The same applies if your baby is restless when breastfeeding. Often this is because they are not comfortable feeding and need a different breastfeeding position. It is also important to have a calm and comfortable atmosphere when breastfeeding.
And what to do with breast engorgement? You can prevent breast engorgement and milk blisters – which, however, only occur rarely – by always emptying the breast completely if possible. If necessary, too much milk can also be pumped out. It is helpful to warm and massage the breast before breastfeeding to stimulate milk flow. You can also massage the breast and, for example, hold your baby with the lower jaw so that it massages the breast while breastfeeding. By the way: Heat is also beneficial for temporary joint pain during breastfeeding or after childbirth. The pain is caused by an unbalanced diet and a lack of calcium. Once the calcium stores have been replenished, the pain usually disappears after about a week.
If the breast is already inflamed, cool quark wraps and cold compresses, among other things, help. The general rule here is: Warm up before breastfeeding, cool down afterwards. However, if the pain does not subside and fever develops, a midwife, doctor, or hospital should be consulted immediately. And if you bottle-feed your baby because of an infection, please always prepare the milk freshly and exactly according to the instructions – and throw away the leftovers.
How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk
Worried your baby won’t get enough? Do you breastfeed your baby frequently and a lot – and have you arrived in the middle of cluster feeding? As a rule, there is no reason to worry about not having enough breast milk. Because milk production is regulated according to the supply and demand principle. The more frequently you breastfeed, the more milk will be produced. If milk production decreases, it helps to drink a lot: whether breastfeeding tea, water, or malt beer – that’s up to you. If your baby is getting enough milk, the diaper should be wet and the stools yellow and flaky every five to seven hours. If the stool is green, this color is usually caused by oxidizing iron, which is nothing to worry about. By the way: If the little hands are open after breastfeeding, this is also an indication of a satisfied, full baby.
Things worth knowing about weaning
There are many myths and – especially among mothers – a whole range of opinions about weaning. The fact is: if you exclusively breastfeed your child for the first six months, you are definitely not doing anything wrong. In general, mother and child decide how long the breastfeeding relationship will last. Whether for six months or as an accompaniment to solid food and beyond.
If you have decided to stop breastfeeding your baby, you can use herbal home remedies to slowly reduce milk production. Sage and peppermint tea have a calming effect here. So, drink about a liter of sage or peppermint tea a day when you begin the weaning process – and wean your baby off the breast slowly. In addition, it helps to pull the bra higher to narrow the chest a little. And: cool your chest with a gel pack from the refrigerator (not from the freezer). This also supports you when weaning.
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