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Asabor Joyce is a certified breastfeeding coach holding years of experience in coaching moms and community along with public health issues in general. She is a CLC certified from Healthy Children Project Center For Breastfeeding. She is dedicated to helping mothers with breastfeeding problems and providing them the best guidance and solutions. According to Joyce, sometimes breastfeeding is difficult for women and therefore while feeding faces problems like sore nipples, low milk supply, oversupply of milk, engorgement, plugged ducts, breast infection, fungal infections, and more. As a licensed instructor, Asabor Joyce uses a pragmatic problem solving approach, sensitive to the culture, concerns, and questions of the learner. She educates and supports parents and families and encourages mothers to breastfeed their babies as this is beneficial to them and their babies, if not contraindicated by their physician.
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Asabor Joyce Discusses Common Breastfeeding Challenges And
Their Solutions
Asabor Joyce is a Co-Pastor of a Ministry (Church) as well as the Head of the Women's Ministry. She is also a certified breastfeeding coach with years of experience in coaching moms and community along with public health issues in general. She received CLC certification from Healthy Children Project Center For Breastfeeding. She is dedicated to helping mothers with breastfeeding problems and providing them the best guidance and solutions.
When a mother chooses to breastfeed, she makes an investment in the healthy future of her baby. It enables her to provide the best food choice for her baby, and gives an infant the healthy beginning that will last for a lifetime. At times breastfeeding can be difficult, particularly in the early days, and it is where a lactation consultant can help a mother find easy ways to make breastfeeding work for her and the baby. Some of the challenges that a woman might have to face during feeding, include sore nipples, low milk supply, oversupply of milk, strong let-down reflex, engorgement, plugged ducts, breast infection (mastitis), fungal infections, nursing strike, inverted, flat, or very large nipples, and more.
Oversupply Of Milk:An overfull breast can make breastfeeding uncomfortable and
stressful for mothers as well as babies. This often happens a few hours after delivery. To overcome the discomfort of engorgement breast feed the baby immediately or hand express to get the milk out and gently massage as baby is sucking. The engorged breasts results from increased blood flow to the breast tissues and allowing baby to feed often for an increased length of time is helpful. Engorgement can also be relieved by applying a wash cloth over the breast or cold compress after breastfeeding, if the engorgement persists and if pain is intolerable ask your mid wife or Doctor if a mild pain reliever can be prescribed. Joyce advices to feed baby before he or she is overly hungry, this will help in preventing aggressive sucking of the hungry baby which can make the nipples sore or cracked and eventually lead to other complications such as mastitis (Infection of the breast tissue). If after a day or two you are still engorged try using a breast pump to drain the milk from the breasts and taking a hot shower prior to the next feeding time could be helpful.
Low Milk Supply:Engorgement if not addressed could also create a
situation where the lack of emptying of breast milk prevents the production of milk supply. The more the baby sucks the more the readiness for the mother to produce supply babies demand as milk production depends on hormonal signals being sent to the breast. Low milk production could be caused hormonal or endocrine problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Hypothyroid or Hypothyroid issues, diabetes and high blood pressure. Other reasons include taking certain medications while breast feeding and or medications. Mothers who tend not to breast feed at night when the prolactin levels are lose that opportunity as prolactin is the hormone that signals the breast to make more milk.
Breast Infection (Mastitis):Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissues. According to Experts
Mastitis commonly occurs within the first six to 12 weeks after giving birth and can happen during breastfeeding as previously stated. Mastitis causes breast to swell, reddened and warm to touch (Inflammation). This causes pain and makes it uncomfortable for the breastfeeding mom and difficult for the baby to latch on. Non breast feeding moms also experience Mastitis and the soreness and pain accompanied by this is often serious and requires the intervention of a lactation specialist in consultation with a physician. Symptoms include fever and chills or flu like symptoms, vomiting, and breasts become tender and warm to touch. Mastitis tends to affect only one breast and a physician should be contacted immediately as some form of oral antibiotic is effective in treating the condition. Joyce advises never to treat oneself by using over the counter medication. A nurse / lactation specialist in collaboration with your physician should always be the go to person as you do not want to complicate issues for yourself and the baby.
Sore Nipples:Asabor Joyce describes that some mothers complain that their nipples
feel tender when they start breastfeeding for the first time. It should feel comfortable once the mother and her baby have found a better latch having ruled out all the aforementioned problems that can occur during breastfeeding. Changing different positions every time they breastfeed by offering one breast for one feeding and the other for the next feeding would help. Airing the breast and massaging the nipples gently, using a small amount of lanolin after feeding and allowing breast to air dry is helpful. Use of breast pads is helpful but nipples must be inspected and allowed to air dry as you want to avoid any form of fungal infections around the nipple area. General hygiene is paramount during breastfeeding and frequent inspection of baby’s oral cavity is something to keep in mind. The best form of bra is cotton and if breast pads are used they must be changed frequently. Breast feeding for Joyce as a mother of two who breast fed her children past the age 12 months was very fulfilling. It’s a time to bond with your new born and the benefits are immeasurable. Breast feeding should not be painful and it is nature’s way of supplying the newborn with the best easy digestible adequate form of nutrients in the first few months of their life.
As a licensed instructor, Asabor Joyce uses a pragmatic problem solving approach, sensitive to the culture, concerns, and questions of the learner. She educates and supports parents and families and encourages mothers to breastfeed their babies as this is beneficial to them and their babies, if not contraindicated by their physician. Breast milk is natural and easily digested by babies and it’s a win–win situation for mother and baby.
The many advantages of breast feeding to both mother and baby will be discussed in the next segment.
If you would like to consult with Asabor Joyce on any issues regarding Breastfeeding, she is available on email@ [email protected] or [email protected]
Thank You
Asabor Joyce
