Search Results for: blog nursing nuisances plugged ducts

Nursing Nuisances: What Is a Tongue Tied Baby?

A tongue tied baby is, in layman’s terms when there is a malformation in the baby’s frenulum and it is too tight. Approximately 2% of babies are born this way and it is genetic. One of the particularly tricky things about trying to breastfeed a tongue tied baby is that while it may be immediately apparent that the latch isn’t quite right (pain in breastfeeding is almost always an improper latch), it may not be apparent why. A good pediatrician or IBCLC should be able to identify the problem upon examination. However, if you can spot the problem yourself, you … Continue reading →

Nursing Nuisances: Mastitis

Hopefully, you began to breastfeed right after you gave birth (like all the books say you should), and your baby popped right on (like many of the books seem to imply they will), and thus the beautiful nursing relationship began and you and your baby lived happily ever after. But the reality is that breastfeeding, while natural, doesn’t always come naturally. There are bumps and hills along the way. One of the bigger “bumps” is mastitis. Not everyone that nurses gets mastitis and not every pain in the breast is mastitis. Mastitis is generally preceded by an unresolved plugged duct. … Continue reading →

Five Ways to Make Nursing Easier

As if we can’t come up with more information on nursing and making it easier. Let’s talk about some things that can definitely make your life an easier place to be when you are nursing and on the go as most moms are. Braless is hardly a comfortable option, but nursing bras can be darn hard to snap and unsnap one handed. Check out a bra that has snaps so you don’t have to worry about eyelets or hooks Invest in some cover-ups so that you can nurse anytime, anywhere. While your modesty isn’t always an issue, it can be … Continue reading →

Nursing Nuisances: Plugged Ducts

Occasionally, the milk ducts in the breast (small “tubes” that carry milk from the milk making cells to the areola) get plugged. The result is a tender, and sometimes red lump in the areola. A plugged duct is caused by the breast not being “emptied” effectively. Most often, plugged ducts occur in the early weeks and months of nursing as your body is getting used to meeting the demands of your baby. If your body makes too much milk and your baby doesn’t drink it all, a plug can develop. Regardless of why you have plugged ducts, they can be … Continue reading →

Underwire Bras are NOT a Breastfeeding Mother’s Friend

A brand-new breastfeeding mother becomes familiar with pain the first weeks following her baby’s birth. Nipples not used to breastfeeding can become excruciatingly tender, especially during the first minute after the baby latches. Before the mother’s body adjusts to the needs and appetite of the new baby, her breasts can become painfully full of milk. Breastfeeding should not, however, begin to hurt when your child is 9 months old. If breastfeeding has been pain-free for quite some time and the pain returns, something is probably wrong. The culprit could be thrush, which causes a burning or itching sensation in the … Continue reading →

The Big Job for the Little Man

Today is “Super Saturday.” This marks an additional post on some Saturdays. These will typically be somewhat augmented reality. You’ll see what I mean… Yesterday my wife experienced her first blocked milk duct. This is a painful experience to be sure. It started out as a slight, anonymous irritation but become a full blown pain fairly soon. Identifying the cause of the problem was simple for my wife. Having read every book imaginable in preparation for being pregnant with, giving birth to, and caring for our son she simply needed to pull a book off the shelf to confirm her … Continue reading →

Valorie’s Breastfeeding Index

Later today I will post a review of the baby blog of 2007 so why does breastfeeding get its own category? Well, in part as an answer to readers who want to read what I’ve written on breastfeeding. I’ve written so much on breastfeeding at this point that you all have asked for an index of sorts so it’s easier to find what you’re looking for. It’s also in part because I’ve become known as the breastfeeding lady. . .guru. . .whatever you want to call it. I’ve been at this breastfeeding business for a long time and many of … Continue reading →