Difficulty latching, pain, prematurity, and physical anomalies, such a severely inverted nipples or flat nipples are common reasons for utilizing a nipple shield for temporary relief and assistance.
In terms of actual breast milk supply, as in, the body produces enough to sustain feedings, the mother’s body relies on a number of signals in order to know how much milk is needed. It's referred to as supply and demand, but more appropriately, demand and supply.
Finding the right fit is always important – whether it’s for clothing, shoes, but especially when it comes to your breast pump flange size if you're a breast pumping mom. Soreness, pinching, irritation, and clogged milk ducts don’t sound fun but are all things that can occur if you don’t have the correct flange size. A breast pump flange (breast shield) size that is too small or too big could seriously hinder your pumping experience and overall breast pumping journey. So, be sure to choose the correct size to properly express milk for your infant.
While it's true that milk transitioning may be delayed and that it can be uncomfortable to nurse after having the surgery, there are ways to encourage timely transitioning of mature milk and improved comfort in positioning.
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious problem experienced by as many as 4 in 5 mothers within a few days after giving birth, and in some, continues past the first weeks or months postpartum.
Just like with breastfeeding, pumping your breasts should most certainly not be painful or uncomfortable. While some discomfort and pain may happen, the occurrence of either could be an indicator that something needs to be adjusted or addressed.
Every expectant parent wants the very best for their baby, and sometimes the very best way for a baby to be born is by cesarean section. When your baby’s birth is a cesarean delivery, the postpartum period and healing process can be even more challenging. Learn about healing from a C-Section in this blog.
Breastfeeding a preemie is possible, but a very different situation. Feeding a preterm baby comes with its own set of complexities. Health status and gestational age will play a big role in determining the amounts given, how often, and even the method in which they are fed.
Information gets passed down from generations of family, friends, and healthcare providers, but we all know things can be subject to becoming outdated or put in a different perspective. The idea of “correlation not equating to causation” can be applied in many scenarios, especially when it comes to pregnancy and especially breastfeeding. Breastfeeding, pumping, and the whole process of lactation is not relatively complicated, but we have a lot of confusing tips and rules that can actually make things a lot harder than they need to be.
While it is common for the baby to want to feed frequently, cluster feed, and sometimes faster weight gain more early-on compared to formula feeding, feeding directly from the breast is a scenario that does not contribute to overfeeding or obesity.
