Nursing difficulties in infants: Frequent challenges faced during breastfeeding
In the first few days of life, a baby may need practice to get a good latch. This is not uncommon, and it's essential to understand that difficulty latching can indicate an underlying issue.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding or chestfeeding for the first 6 months after birth. However, various factors can contribute to latching difficulties. Premature birth, exposure to medications, infection, jaundice, heart disease, and conditions affecting the mouth or tongue, such as tongue-tie, cleft lip, or cleft palate, can all cause difficulty latching.
If a baby is acting hungry but won't latch, it could be due to various factors such as the baby not feeling well, a change in the nursing environment, a decrease in breast milk supply, or a medical issue preventing the baby from latching.
To help with the latching process, one can try changing the feeding position, ensuring comfort, and promoting skin-to-skin contact. Bringing the baby in chin-first to touch the breast/chest can trigger the gape reflex, helping the baby open wide for a deeper latch instead of a pinchy or shallow one.
Nipple confusion is another common issue, where babies have used bottles or pacifiers early, leading to refusal to latch at the breast or chest. Avoiding early use of bottles or pacifiers can help prevent nipple confusion and encourage correct latch behavior at the breast or chest.
Positioning problems can also prevent the baby from opening wide enough or latching deeply. Working with a lactation consultant can help address these issues. They can offer advice on positioning, tongue tie, or breast anatomy issues that interfere with latch.
If latching issues persist, a person can consult a pediatrician or certified lactation consultant for further advice. In some cases, a medical professional who is trained in human lactation may check for underlying medical issues preventing the baby from latching and nursing.
The USDA recommends moving to a quiet, calm place, ensuring skin-to-skin contact, and letting the baby find the nipple on their own. In severe cases, a person may consider exclusive pumping and bottle feeding of breast milk to continue providing breast milk benefits while allowing time to work on latch skills.
Various support groups are available to provide advice on latching and other common nursing concerns. La Leche League and the Nationwide Children's Hospital are among the organisations offering tips and support for chestfeeding or breastfeeding.
People should contact a medical professional if they are experiencing pain or tenderness, sore or cracked nipples, warmth, tightness or hardness, lumps, underproduction or overproduction of breast milk. The National Health Service in the UK lists common nursing problems such as sore or cracked nipples, thrush, breast engorgement, blocked milk duct, mastitis, breast abscess, inadequate breast milk supply, and overproduction of breast milk.
Lactating parents who do not produce enough breast milk may consider supplementing with infant formula. However, most medical professionals agree that people should offer breast milk whenever possible.
Consulting healthcare providers or lactation specialists is often crucial for tailored support in persistent cases. If a baby has continued difficulty latching the first few days after birth, it's essential to seek help from a lactation consultant, midwife, or doctor. Hand-expressing breast milk and colostrum for babies who are not chestfeeding or breastfeeding well can also be beneficial in these situations.
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