World Breastfeeding Week: How to overcome challenges faced by new mothers

By India Today Health Desk: Breastfeeding mothers often face various challenges that hinder their ability to provide nourishment to their infants.

These challenges range from difficulties in holding the baby to a lack of awareness regarding the significance of early breastfeeding initiation.

“Mothers often struggle with issues such as sore or cracked nipples, insufficient milk production, and breast engorgement,” Dr Manisha Khalane, Lactation Consultant at Surya Mother and Child Super Speciality Hospital, Pune told IndiaToday.in.

Additionally, babies may have difficulty latching on properly. Working mothers face additional hurdles, including lack of private spaces for breastfeeding and inadequate breaks.

Dr Khalane added that emotional stress and lack of support from co-workers can further complicate the situation.

“However, with proper education, resources, and support, these challenges can be overcome, ensuring a successful breastfeeding journey for both mother and child,” he added.

According to Dr Shacchee Baweja, from BLK-Max Centre For Child Health, breastfeeding can take time and practice for both mother and baby to establish a comfortable feeding routine.

"Many factors can negatively impact breastfeeding, like traumatic birth, maternal-infant separation, unavailability of skilled support and injudicious supplementation," said Dr Shacchee Baweja.

• "It's important to maintain a balanced diet and stay hydrated, and consumption of specific foods or drinks doesn't guarantee an increased milk supply," shared Dr Baweja.
• Breastfeeding shouldn't be painful. While some discomfort may occur during the initial days as you and your baby adjust, ongoing pain could indicate an improper latch or other issues related to the infant and should be addressed by a skilled and experienced professional.
• Babies breastfeed and not nipple feed. Irrespective of the size and shape of the nipples, a baby can latch on to the breasts if supported correctly. The practice of trying to pull out the nipples, although very common, is not helpful. Rather, they cause harm and injury.

• If at birth the baby is not latching, it’s a good idea to seek the support of a skilled lactation professional. Nipple shields have very specific indications and, if used judiciously, can negatively impact the milk supply and the baby’s suckling.
• Ducts get blocked because of injury and swelling(inflammation) inside the ducts, which in turn is caused by suboptimal latching. So the best way to manage them is working on the latch and measures to decrease the inflammation (as opposed to the older recommendations of trying to vigorously drain the breast).
• "Ensuring skilled assistance post-delivery is crucial for sustained breastfeeding success, emphasising the importance of continuous family education and support," said Dr Khalane.

Importance of human milk banks

Donor human milk is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) both for its advantageous nutritional and biological properties when the mother’s own milk is not available.

Experts believe that this need arises from the modern dynamics of delayed marriages, technological influences, and pregnancy complications.

Dr Khalane added that these factors, along with rising rates of preterm deliveries and maternal health conditions, can impede the timely initiation of milk production.

In instances when a mother's milk is insufficient, human milk banks offer a solution.