It's not always easy, here are 8 breastfeeding challenges that can occur

Every breastfeeding mother generally hopes to be able to breastfeed her baby, including exclusive breastfeeding, smoothly. Unfortunately, the emergence of one thing or another can be a challenge in itself as long as the mother is breastfeeding her little one. In fact, what are the challenges of breastfeeding that often present and is there a way to keep breastfeeding?

Various kinds of breastfeeding challenges for mothers and babies

Breastfeeding can be started for the first time since you give birth or it is also known as early initiation of breastfeeding (IMD).

There are many benefits of breastfeeding, so the sooner and more often the breast milk is given to the baby, the better it will support their growth and development.

However, it is possible for mothers to experience challenges in breastfeeding during this breastfeeding period.

Understand the various breastfeeding challenges that the following mothers and babies can experience:

1. Challenges of breastfeeding during pregnancy

The truth is, your body needs a healing process after you have finished giving birth. That is why, the Indonesian Ministry of Health recommends giving a gap of about 2-3 years, for those of you who plan to get pregnant again after giving birth.

This does not only ensure parents focus on meeting the nutritional needs of newborns to toddlers.

Spacing between pregnancies is also intended to reduce the risk of harm that may occur in pregnancy if the distance is too close.

When you test positive for pregnancy again while still breastfeeding your newborn, production ASI will still run as it should.

This is because milk production is a change in body function that has no effect on pregnancy. So, you can still live the challenges of breastfeeding while pregnant.

Even so, when you enter 4 or 5 months of pregnancy, the milk production you produce can experience changes.

Breast milk production may be more watery and tasteless than before which is also one of the problems of breastfeeding mothers.

In the end, you may be forced to adopt an early weaning method.

If your little one has a problem that makes it difficult and reluctant to breastfeed, you should consult a doctor.

In addition, the nipples usually become more sensitive when you are pregnant and breastfeeding due to an increase in hormone production.

Moreover, if the mother's breastfeeding coincides with pregnancy, of course this challenge is not easy.

This nipple pain can be relieved by finding a comfortable breastfeeding position or using a nursing pillow.

The American Pregnancy Association explains that basically breastfeeding while pregnant is not at risk of causing miscarriage.

Miscarriage is usually due to problems or complications with the developing fetus in the womb.

However, if you have a high enough risk factor for problems during pregnancy such as premature birth, you should consult your doctor.

2. The challenge of breastfeeding according to the condition of the mother's nipples

Here are the various challenges of breastfeeding according to the condition of the nipples that mothers may have:

Have flat nipples

The condition of flat nipples is sometimes a challenge for breastfeeding mothers, especially mothers who are doing it for the first time.

However, don't worry, you can still give breast milk even though you have this one breastfeeding challenge.

Try regular breast massages to help smooth the breastfeeding process and increase milk production.

The stages of breast massage to overcome the challenges of breastfeeding because you have flat nipples, namely:

Hold your breast with one hand while making a letter C near the areola (dark area on the breast) with the thumb and index finger.
Gently massage the breast in a circular motion while applying a little pressure to the nipple.
Repeat this method without moving your finger.
Dispense a little milk while holding it so that the breasts are soft and not too hard.

In addition, you can also hold the breast while breastfeeding to make it easier for the baby to attach his mouth to the flat nipple by:

C-hold

Here's the sequence of holding the breast in the c-hold position as a way of breastfeeding with flat nipples:

Place your thumb and four fingers in a C shape.
Place it around the breast with the nipple being the center so that the thumb is over the breast and the other fingers are underneath it.
Make sure that these fingers are behind the areola.
Press the breast while pointing it towards your baby's mouth.

V-hold

Here's the sequence of holding the breasts in the v-hold position as a way of breastfeeding with flat nipples:

Place your index and middle fingers between the nipple and areola.
The position of the thumb and index finger should be on top of the breast while the rest is under the breast.
Gently press your finger down to help squeeze the nipple and areola.

Another way to deal with flat nipples

You can also do other ways to deal with flat nipples by diligently breastfeeding and pumping breast milk.

Breastfeeding can make breasts softer. On the other hand, letting it fill with milk makes it harder for the nipple to suck.

To help overcome the challenges of breastfeeding in the form of a flat nipple that protrudes, you can also use assistance breast shells or nipple shield.

Breast shells is a shell-like device that is attached to the breast with an opening around the areola to help shape the nipple.

While nipple shield is a nipple-like tool to help your little one suck on the mother's nipple while breastfeeding.

Both of these tools will help facilitate the breastfeeding process for mothers with flat nipples.

Having an ingrown nipple

As the name suggests, the nipple goes into (inverted nipple) is the challenge of breastfeeding when the nipple is pulled inward.

You don't have to worry about breastfeeding with flat nipples. Even if the nipple is ingrown, you can still breastfeed normally because it is determined again by the strength and weakness of the baby's suction.

If the baby's suction is weak, it may be difficult for the nipple to come out. Meanwhile, if the baby has a strong nipple suction, after a while the mother's nipple can come out by itself.

There are ways that can help you to face the challenges of breastfeeding even if the milk pusts inside.

Try massaging the nipples and areola (dark circles around the nipples) regularly.

In addition, make it a habit to pump breast milk to stimulate the nipples naturally while overcoming this breastfeeding challenge.

3. The cause is not allowed to breastfeed because the mother has HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virusor abbreviated as HIV is a disease that is classified as dangerous and can even be fatal.

This is because HIV can attack the immune system, causing weak immunity.

The process of transmitting the HIV virus can be in various ways, one of which is through breastfeeding.

The Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) explained that mother-to-child transmission of HIV can occur before, during, and after birth.

The most possible transmission after giving birth is by giving breast milk, either by breastfeeding directly or through a bottle of a pacifier.

This is the challenge why mothers with HIV should not breastfeed their babies. The reason is, there are free viruses that can be present in breast milk, such as CD4 lymphocytes that have been infected with the HIV virus.

The easiest way to prevent babies from contracting HIV from positive mothers experiencing it is by not breastfeeding.

Yes, HIV experienced by mothers has become one of several challenges in the difficulty of breastfeeding by breastfeeding the baby directly.

Not only breastfeeding directly, mothers are also not advised to use a breast pump.

Although pumped milk can be stored for a certain period of time to be given to the baby in other ways, the HIV virus remains in breast milk.

So, babies are still at risk of contracting the HIV virus if they are breastfed from a previously stored bottle.

This is because breast milk is a mother's body fluids that contain the HIV virus so that breast milk is absolutely not allowed to be given to babies.

4. Challenges of breastfeeding mothers with tuberculosis

Tuberculosis aka TB is a respiratory disease caused by a bacterial infection in the lungs. Transmission of tuberculosis is through the air, which carries bacteria into the respiratory tract.

However, the challenge for mothers who are breastfeeding with TB is that they can transmit the virus to their babies through coughing and sneezing.

This is very risky if the mother breastfeeds her baby directly.

In short, mothers who have active TB but not their babies are strongly advised not to get too close.

However, that does not mean that babies cannot get breast milk at all. There is another way to overcome this breastfeeding challenge by continuing to provide breast milk to the baby.

The mother only needs to pump the milk and then immediately give it to the baby or store it first.

Make sure the mother keeps the breast milk in a sterile condition and does not contain droplets or droplets from her coughs and sneezes.

5. The mother has herpes on the breast

If you have herpes but not in the breast area, it is actually okay to breastfeed the baby.

With a note, herpes lesions on other body parts are covered and you always wash your hands before and after breastfeeding or handling the baby.

However, if the herpes lesions are on the breast, this is a challenge so it is not recommended for mothers to breastfeed their babies directly.

The cause of mothers who have herpes should not breastfeed, namely because of the very risk of being contagious to the baby.

Mother can still give breast milk but by pumping it. This expressed milk can then be fed to the baby via a feeding bottle.

However, make sure the herpes lesions do not have direct contact with breast milk or pumps.

As long as it is done in a safe manner, pumping breast milk and giving it to the baby through a bottle is still fairly safe.

This is because the herpes virus is not transmitted through breast milk. Don't forget, make sure you apply the right way to store breast milk to keep it durable.

Then, all you have to do is give breast milk to the baby according to their daily breastfeeding schedule.

6. Mother has breast cancer

Whether or not a breast cancer patient can breastfeed her baby depends on the treatment she is undergoing.

This is because breast cancer drugs, such as those used during chemotherapy, can flow into the breast milk and are consumed by the baby and have the potential to cause poisoning for the child.

In addition, treatments for cancer can also affect milk production. That is why, doctors usually advise the mother not to breastfeed while undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, mothers who undergo radiation therapy will be evaluated first based on the type of radiation and the length of treatment.

The doctor will explain the side effects of radiation that may interfere with the breastfeeding process, such as decreased nipple elasticity or reduced milk production.

For nursing mothers who need to undergo surgery to remove cancer cells in the breast, further consultation is needed.

The surgeon will evaluate whether the treatment can damage the milk ducts or not.

7. Mother is undergoing chemotherapy

Quoting from UT Southwestern Medical Center, in addition to experiencing infectious diseases that can be transmitted through breast milk, mothers who suffer from cancer are also not allowed to breastfeed.

The challenge regarding breastfeeding prohibition also applies to mothers who are routinely undergoing chemotherapy.

In fact, mothers are also not encouraged to give breast milk to babies, even through the bottle.

The challenge of mothers undergoing chemotherapy that they should not breastfeed is because there is a drug that enters the mother's bloodstream.

The chemotherapy drug has the risk of having an adverse effect on the baby so that it is the reason why the mother cannot breastfeed or express her milk.

The challenges of breastfeeding for mothers undergoing chemotherapy can be overcome by pumping the milk and throwing it away so that milk production is maintained.

You can give breast milk after the chemotherapy process is complete and the oncologist allows you to breastfeed directly or pump breast milk.

8. Breastfeeding when sick with typhus

Typhus (typhoid fever) is not a barrier for mothers to continue breastfeeding their babies.

There is no scientific evidence that states that typhus can be transmitted to babies while breastfeeding.

So, it doesn't matter if the mother is breastfeeding while she is sick with typhus.

It's just that the symptoms of typhus such as fever, headache, diarrhea, and others can make the mother weak, preventing breastfeeding.

Mothers are also at risk of lack of fluids (dehydration) if they experience continuous diarrhea. Make sure the mother drinks lots of fluids, eat food for breastfeeding mothers, and consult a doctor so that it can be treated immediately.

The doctor will provide a drug that is safe for breastfeeding mothers in accordance with the conditions and complaints.

9. Challenges of anemia in breastfeeding mothers

Anemia in the mother does not hinder the breastfeeding process of her baby. To be safer as well as a way to treat anemia, mothers can routinely take iron supplements during breastfeeding.

So, you are still advised to breastfeed exclusively even if you have anemia or iron deficiency.

However, it would be better to continue to consult with a doctor about handling the challenges of breastfeeding in the form of anemia in the mother.

10. Breastfeeding mothers have diabetes

Another breastfeeding challenge that mothers may experience is diabetes. If this is the case, the mother doesn't need to worry because having diabetes is not an obstacle in being able to breastfeed your little one.

In fact, breastfeeding can help control the disease and prevent further complications from diabetes.

Because, you may reduce the use of insulin drugs during breastfeeding. Yes, the use of insulin while breastfeeding is safe.

However, diabetes can indeed affect the process of milk production. When coupled with the use of insulin injections, this condition will make it more difficult for the milk to pass down and pass through the nipple.

That is why not a few mothers complain that their milk production is less after using insulin while breastfeeding.

Eits, calm down first. Even though the use of insulin while breastfeeding can reduce milk production, that doesn't mean you can immediately switch to formula milk, huh.

Various diabetes medications such as insulin, metformin, and sulfonylurea are believed not to affect the baby's health.

The insulin molecule itself is too large to pass into breast milk. So, it is impossible for these molecules to mix with breast milk and enter the baby's body.

As long as you are able to control blood sugar levels to remain normal, using insulin while breastfeeding will not be a problem, both for you and your little one.