Many women give up quickly when trying to nurse their newborn due to problems with sore nipples or engorgement. Breastfeeding is challenging for a number of reasons, but becomes even more difficult when complications develop.  In order to ensure you are able to nurse successfully, you should pay close attention to the condition of your breasts, and report any pain or other symptoms to your doctor or lactation consultant right away.  Five common problems nursing mothers experience, and their treatments, are discussed below.

Engorgement:

Most women experience the pain of engorgement three to five days after giving birth.  Engorgement causes the breasts to feel sore and full when the milk comes in.  Occasionally, engorgement can be severe and exceptionally painfully, and interfere with the establishment of breastfeeding.

When the milk begins coming in, increase nursing for at least twenty-four hours.  Nursing frequently helps reduce engorgement and helps the body in regulating milk production.  Over-the-counter pain relievers can be taken, if necessary, to ease discomfort. Applying warm compresses to the breast before feeding may relieve tenderness, and will soften the breasts to help your baby latch on properly.  If your breasts become so engorged that your baby cannot latch on, use a breast pump to relieve some of the pressure, or call your lactation consultant for additional advice.

Excessive Milk Production:

While most new mothers worry about not having enough milk for their newborns, other moms must contend with an oversupply.  Too much milk means frequent leaking and increases the risk of developing mastitis.  An overabundance of milk may also cause your newborn to gag if it causes your milk to come out more forcefully during nursing.

Nursing your newborn from only one breast during each feeding may help reduce your milk supply.  Alternate breasts every few hours, and use a breast pump if the reduced nursing causes engorgement.  Wear nursing pads inside your bra to soak up leaks, and change them frequently to prevent nipple irritation caused by the friction of the wet pads rubbing against your already sore nipples.

Mastitis:

Mastitis is a breast infection that can cause flu-like symptoms in a nursing mother.  Fever, chills, body aches, and headaches are all symptoms of mastitis.  If you notice an area of the breast that is red, firm, and sore, it may be an infection in a clogged duct.  Cracked nipples are also common causes of mastitis.

Mastitis is a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.  If you have any symptoms of this breast infection, call your doctor for an evaluation and a prescription.  If your baby is healthy, you should continue to breastfeed to prevent your milk production from decreasing.  If nursing from the affected breast is too painful, feed your baby from the other breast, and pump regularly from the infected breast.

Sore Nipples:

Nipples can become sore during the initial stages of breastfeeding for several reasons, including improper latch-on, irritation, and infection.  Sore nipples can make breastfeeding extremely challenging, so it is wise to tend to sore nipples before the pain becomes severe enough to interfere with nursing.

Keeping your nipples dry and clean will help prevent soreness caused by irritation, but do not allow your nipples to become too dry.  Applying a baby-safe cream to your nipples will soothe your discomfort and prevent chafing and irritation caused by nursing bras and clothing.  An antibiotic or antifungal cream will need to be prescribed if the cause of the soreness is an infection.  If your baby is having difficulty latching on to your breast, try changing positions and guiding his mouth to the proper position.

Blocked Milk Ducts:

Blocked milk ducts cannot be ignored as they may lead to mastitis.  Blocked ducts occur when milk ducts become partially obstructed, and cause tender, firm areas on the breast.  Blocked milk ducts can also form near the armpit.

Nursing more frequently will not only reduce the likelihood of developing blocked ducts, but will help to clear them up as well.  Place your baby to the affected breast first to drain that breast as much as possible.  Hot showers and warm compresses trigger your let-down reflex and improve the flow of milk in the blocked duct.  If your symptoms do not get better, or if you start running a fever or showing other signs of mastitis, contact your doctor as soon as possible.