As a new mother you may be anxious about breastfeeding because you want to give your baby the best start. Breastfeeding is a learning experience for both mother and baby. It is the most natural activity, however it takes practice and patience.

To prepare yourself for your breastfeeding journey, mommies have to first accept that you will most likely encounter breastfeeding challenges that we are going to share with you in this article. If you don’t, good for you! But if you do, you are mentally prepared.

Mommies are encouraged to breastfeed their babies from birth until six months old. If you have a good supply and wish to continue, you can breastfeed your baby until two years of age. However if you are struggling to keep your supply up after trying all methods, remember, your feeding choices do not make you a bad or good parent. Your mental health is equally important.

We are sharing 4 tips here to avoid some common breastfeeding challenges like blocked milk ducts, sore nipples, engorgement and mastitis. If you are experiencing any of these, stay calm and try the following practices below! 

Tips 1: Latch It Right.
A good “latch” is very important in reducing many breastfeeding problems. You may need to adjust a few times to make sure your baby’s mouth has fully covered the areola. If your baby is latched on properly, you will see the jaw motioning back and forth and should hear only a low-pitched swallowing noise, not a sucking or smacking noise. 

Tips 2: Feed Your Baby Regularly.
Breastfeeding is a supply-and-demand system. The more you feed or pump, the more milk your body should make. Hence, feeding a newborn 8 - 12 times a day will help up your breast milk supply.

Tips 3: Use Warm And Cold Compresses.
A warm compress helps to unblock a clogged milk duct and a cold compress helps to relieve engorgement. Massaging can help to break up the clog too!

Tips 4: Wear Comfortable Clothing

Choose supportive maternity and nursing bras and comfortable clothing that also give you easy access when you need to breastfeed. It’s not advisable to wear tight clothing.

Remember, every woman's breastfeeding journey is different. You may or may not experience breastfeeding challenges. If you do, remember that it's okay to ask for help. If you are looking for tips to care for your breasts and nipples, check out this article. 

With a little time, patience, and support, you can overcome breastfeeding challenges!

Stay tuned on our social media for more tips and sharing on breastfeeding throughout this week!