Asabor Joyce Discusses Common Breastfeeding Challenges And Their Solutions

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Asabor Joyce Discusses Common Breastfeeding
Challenges And Their Solutions
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Asabor Joyce is a Co-Pastor of a Ministry
(Church) as well as the Head of the Women's
Ministry. She is also a certified breastfeeding
coach with years of experience in coaching moms
and community along with public health issues in
general. She received CLC certification from
Healthy Children Project Center For
Breastfeeding. She is dedicated to helping
mothers with breastfeeding problems and providing
them the best guidance and solutions.
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When a mother chooses to breastfeed, she makes an
investment in the healthy future of her baby. It
enables her to provide the best food choice for
her baby, and gives an infant the healthy
beginning that will last for a lifetime. At times
breastfeeding can be difficult, particularly in
the early days, and it is where a lactation
consultant can help a mother find easy ways to
make breastfeeding work for her and the baby.
Some of the challenges that a woman might have to
face during feeding, include sore nipples, low
milk supply, oversupply of milk, strong let-down
reflex, engorgement, plugged ducts, breast
infection (mastitis), fungal infections, nursing
strike, inverted, flat, or very large nipples,
and more.
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Oversupply Of Milk

• An overfull breast can make breastfeeding
  uncomfortable and stressful for mothers as well
  as babies. This often happens a few hours after
  delivery. To overcome the discomfort of
  engorgement breast feed the baby immediately or
  hand express to get the milk out and gently
  massage as baby is sucking. The engorged breasts
  results from increased blood flow to the breast
  tissues and allowing baby to feed often for an
  increased length of time is helpful. Engorgement
  can also be relieved by applying a wash cloth
  over the breast or cold compress after
  breastfeeding, if the engorgement persists and if
  pain is intolerable ask your mid wife or Doctor
  if a mild pain reliever can be prescribed. Joyce
  advices to feed baby before he or she is overly
  hungry, this will help in preventing aggressive
  sucking of the hungry baby which can make the
  nipples sore or cracked and eventually lead to
  other complications such as mastitis (Infection
  of the breast tissue). If after a day or two you
  are still engorged try using a breast pump to
  drain the milk from the breasts and taking a hot
  shower prior to the next feeding time could be
  helpful.

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Low Milk Supply

• Engorgement if not addressed could also create a
  situation where the lack of emptying of breast
  milk prevents the production of milk supply. The
  more the baby sucks the more the readiness for
  the mother to produce supply babies demand as
  milk production depends on hormonal signals being
  sent to the breast. Low milk production could be
  caused hormonal or endocrine problems such as
  polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Hypothyroid or
  Hypothyroid issues, diabetes and high blood
  pressure. Other reasons include taking certain
  medications while breast feeding and or
  medications. Mothers who tend not to breast feed
  at night when the prolactin levels are lose that
  opportunity as prolactin is the hormone that
  signals the breast to make more milk.

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Breast Infection (Mastitis)

• Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissues.
  According to Experts Mastitis commonly occurs
  within the first six to 12 weeks after giving
  birth and can happen during breastfeeding as
  previously stated. Mastitis causes breast to
  swell, reddened and warm to touch (Inflammation).
  This causes pain and makes it uncomfortable for
  the breastfeeding mom and difficult for the baby
  to latch on. Non breast feeding moms also
  experience Mastitis and the soreness and pain
  accompanied by this is often serious and requires
  the intervention of a lactation specialist in
  consultation with a physician. Symptoms include
  fever and chills or flu like symptoms, vomiting,
  and breasts become tender and warm to touch.
  Mastitis tends to affect only one breast and a
  physician should be contacted immediately as some
  form of oral antibiotic is effective in treating
  the condition. Joyce advises never to treat
  oneself by using over the counter medication. A
  nurse / lactation specialist in collaboration
  with your physician should always be the go to
  person as you do not want to complicate issues
  for yourself and the baby.

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Sore Nipples

• Asabor Joyce describes that some mothers complain
  that their nipples feel tender when they start
  breastfeeding for the first time. It should feel
  comfortable once the mother and her baby have
  found a better latch having ruled out all the
  aforementioned problems that can occur during
  breastfeeding. Changing different positions every
  time they breastfeed by offering one breast for
  one feeding and the other for the next feeding
  would help. Airing the breast and massaging the
  nipples gently, using a small amount of lanolin
  after feeding and allowing breast to air dry is
  helpful. Use of breast pads is helpful but
  nipples must be inspected and allowed to air dry
  as you want to avoid any form of fungal
  infections around the nipple area. General
  hygiene is paramount during breastfeeding and
  frequent inspection of babys oral cavity is
  something to keep in mind. The best form of bra
  is cotton and if breast pads are used they must
  be changed frequently. Breast feeding for Joyce
  as a mother of two who breast fed her children
  past the age 12 months was very fulfilling. Its
  a time to bond with your new born and the
  benefits are immeasurable. Breast feeding should
  not be painful and it is natures way of
  supplying the newborn with the best easy
  digestible adequate form of nutrients in the
  first few months of their life.

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As a licensed instructor, Asabor Joyce uses a
pragmatic problem solving approach, sensitive to
the culture, concerns, and questions of the
learner. She educates and supports parents and
families and encourages mothers to breastfeed
their babies as this is beneficial to them and
their babies, if not contraindicated by their
physician. Breast milk is natural and easily
digested by babies and its a winwin situation
for mother and baby.
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The many advantages of breast feeding to both
mother and baby will be discussed in the next
segment. If you would like to consult with
Asabor Joyce on any issues regarding
Breastfeeding, she is available on email_at_
asabor.joyce_at_gmail.com or atimothyjoyce_at_aol.com
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Thank You Asabor Joyce