08-10-2020
Lactation problems are not uncommon in the initial period after the birth of the baby. It is a difficult time for both mother and baby, as both have to adjust to the situation and learn many things. Breastfeeding disorders can have very many causes lying on both the mother's and the baby's side.
The time just after the birth of the baby is a very difficult time for the new mother, as the demands on her change and circumstances make it necessary for her to learn many things. In the vast majority of cases, mothers are highly motivated and as time goes by, the baby's gestures and behaviour become more understandable to her. For the newborn baby, this time is also a challenge - he or she has to learn many actions, but above all to grasp the nipple correctly and to take food from the mother. The learning process itself is not free of mistakes, which in turn affect the quality and length of natural feeding [1].
Lactation difficulties
Soreness and/or damage to the nipples, occurring in the first days of a baby's life, can be related to mechanical damage during feeding, but can also be the result of hormonal influences.
Lactation disorders associated with apparent breastfeeding deficiency also deserve attention, as they are a problem resulting from the mother's inadequate knowledge of the breastfeeding process and lactation.
Theactual, real shortage of breastmilk in the mother may be due to inappropriate feeding technique, supplementing or feeding the baby, or it may be indicative of abnormalities in the baby's suckling function. Other causes can also be too infrequent or too short feeds [1].
In addition, breast pain is a significant problem - it is one of the biggest challenges. The first six weeks is a period when milk flows very rapidly into the milk ducts, which can be the cause of breast pain during this period. On another note: pain, sometimes, is caused by engorgement, which in turn may be due to inhibited or slowed flow of milk through the milk ducts [2].
Mother
Other factors influencing lactation disorders include those occurring on the mother's side, such as chronic stress, fatigue, obesity, past surgical procedures, hormonal disorders, cigarette smoking, certain medications taken by the mother [1].
Child
On the side of the newborn, it is also possible to locate the causes of lactation disorders. Among these are premature birth, intubation, the passage of jaundice, hypoglycaemia or any kind of infection that the baby undergoes [1].
