10 Hurdles You May Face During Your Breastfeeding Journey

10 Hurdles You May Face During Your Breastfeeding Journey Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to enkoranvers your babys health and survival, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). But, globally, only 40 percent of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed and for a myriad of reasons, many of which have to do with breastfeeding complications.Of course, some women do not breastfeed by choice and others cannot breastfeed due to health complications that make it impossible or unsafe, but many other women start breastfeeding and dont continue because there are unanticipated hurdles along the journey.Breastfeeding exclusively for six months, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), can be invaluable for the health of both you and your child. Breast milk contains antibodies that protect infants from illnesses and child mortality, according to the WHO. Likewise, breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests later in life, a nd they have a reduced risk of developing obesity and font II diabetes. The act of breastfeeding can even prove beneficial for mothers by reducing their risk of breast and cervical cancer, type II diabetes and postpartum depression, as well. But, despite the common benefits for mothers and their babies, women have different experiences with breastfeeding.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 74 percent of new moms start out breastfeeding their babies but, by the six-month mark, only 14 percent are still nursing exclusively. Because a lot of women will face challenges along the way, here are 10 breastfeeding problems you might encounter at every stage, as well as some advice on how to handle them.Be prepared and make more informed decisions about your next steps.During the First Few Days PostPartum1. A Lack of Immediate Skin-to-Skin ContactIf you dont get to experience skin-to-skin contact or are not able to nurse immediately following birth (if you had a c-section or a complicated birth, for example), you may face more complications breastfeeding but that doesnt mean that you wont be able to do it. The study, Uninterrupted Skin-to-Skin Contact Immediately After Birth,shows that skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth increases breastfeeding rates and duration, according to Medscape.2. Breast PainAccording to the study, Duration of Breastfeeding After Early Initiation and Frequent Feeding, 44 percent of women are worried about pain during breastfeeding three days into the postpartum period.The reality is that you may experience severe breast engorgement the fullness and hardness of your breasts may not decrease by the end of a feeding your nipples may crack you maybleed you may get blisters and bruises and you may get blocked milk ducts, which can be painful and lead to inflamed breast tissue. These problems are common, and its important that you consult with your doctor about any indications of the aforementioned complication s so you can treat the symptoms and carry on breastfeeding as comfortably as possible.3. Breast InfectionsYou may develop infections like mastitis, which is characterized by a soreness or a lump in the breast with symptoms like nausea, vomiting and breast discharge. While you may develop unterstellung infections at any point during your breastfeeding journey, your body is extra vulnerable when youre first getting started out and learning how to feed your baby. This infection is common, with more than 200,000 cases in the U.S. each year. Treatments include self care (keeping up with personal hygiene and avoiding tight closing that could irritate your breasts), some over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medications, and antibiotics. 4. Latching ProblemsMore than half of women are worried about their babys latch within the first three days of breastfeeding, according to the aforementioned study. Another Pediatrics survey of 1,300 nursing women found that 54 percent of mothers cit ed difficulties with regards to latching as the reason that they actually stopped breastfeeding during the first month.Maybe your baby is too fussy or too sleepy, maybe your nipples are large or inverted, maybe your baby has a tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) or a cleft lip whatever the case, talk to your doctor about how to solve these common latching problems. They may recommend you try squeezing your breasts during suckling or that you try using a pump.During the First Few Weeks Postpartum5. Low Milk SupplyFor some women, it may take a little bit longer for their milk to come in. Babies can lose up to seven percent of their percent weight during this time if that number climbs to 10 percent, it may become a concern. Mothers are encouraged to nurse at least eight times per day for up to 30 minutes during this period, according to a study on nutrition during lactation.6. Low Milk IntakeAfter a few days, some signs that your baby is not ingesting enough milk include if your baby has fewe r than six wet diapers and four stools per day, dark yellow or red-specked urine, and dark stool (as opposed to yellow and loose stool), according to Healthy Children. Another strong sign may be that your baby isnt getting enough milk is inadequate weight gain. If your baby hasnt started gaining at least five to seven ounces per week since your milk came in, it may be cause for concern, according to Healthy Children.7. Sheer ExhaustionMaybe you feel like your baby is constantly nursing and that may be the case since your baby is going through their first growth spurt. Studies showthat, if you have a partner, their support is key. In fact, 74 percent of babies whose fathers attended an early intervention class on breastfeeding were breastfeeding, compared to just 41 percent of babies whose fathers didnt attend a class, according to the study, Fathers Experiences of Supporting Breastfeeding Challenges for Breastfeeding Promotion and Education.After a Few Months Postpartum8. Too Long or Too Short FeedsAccording to Healthy Children, if your babys nursing sessions are consistently briefer than about 10 minutes during the first few months of breastfeeding, they may not be getting enough milk. Likewise, if your baby consistently nurses for almost an hour, it may mean that your baby isnt getting enough milk due to ineffective suckling or low milk production. Talk with your doctor to make sure youre not dealing with an issue like clogged milk ducts or to see if theres something you can be doing to help your baby feed more efficiently.9. Feelings of DisconnectionThe six-month mark is the minimum age you can start introducing your baby to solid foods, according to AAP, though women are encouraged to breastfeed for at least a year. During this time, as your baby starts to wean off of nursing, you, like many women, may start to feel a sense of loss. Know that this is normal, and youre not alone in this feeling.The majority of new mothers in the United States also rejoin t he workforce (if theyve taken a maternity leave) before their baby is a year old, sometimes returning to work just six to eight weeks after giving birth. Women whose maternity leave is less than six weeks are four times as likely to stop nursing than women who dont return to work. And, potential despite lactation rooms for pumping at work and on-site childcare benefits, this period can cause feelings of disconnection and separation anxiety for new mothers. Reach out to new parent resource groups, lean on family and friends for support and talk to your doctors to discuss your options if your anxiety persists or develops into depression.After the First Year Postpartum10. ShameWhile breastfeeding in public space is now finally legal in all 50 states (following long-awaited legislation in Utah and Idaho), many nursing mothers are still suppressed and discouraged from breastfeeding especially as babies grow older. According to research from the C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital,six in 10 mot hersof children up to five years old say theyve been criticized about their parenting decisions. Of those women,39 percent said they were shamed for their choices in breastfeeding or bottle-feeding their children. To make matters worse, less than half of society thinks that women should even have the right to breastfeed in public.Women are often given unsolicited and, perhaps worse, inconsistent advice on how, where and for how long they should nurse their babies. The truth is that theres no one best way to do it, as all womens experiences are unique to them. Keep confident in your breastfeeding decisions and try to ignore all the white noise.--AnnaMarie Houlis is a multimedia journalist and an adventure aficionado with a keen cultural curiosity and an affinity for solo travel. Shes an editor by day and a travel blogger at HerReport.org by night.