Breastfeeding problems can  arise quickly. When they do arise, they can  get worse quickly and   interfere with milk production or your baby’s ability  to get the nutrients she needs. For these reasons, it is essential  to get help immediately if you’re having any problems .

Common breastfeeding problems

•  Your baby’s nursing sessions is either extremely short or very long :  Short nursing sessions ( less than about 10 minutes)   could mean  that the baby is not getting enough milk and that not enough milk is being removed to stimulate the ongoing milk production. Very long sessions  ( longer than about 50 minutes) may indicate that the  baby isn’t receiving enough milk due to ineffective suckling or low milk production.
• Your baby seem hungry after most feeding : You may want to visit your pediatrician and have the baby’s  weight checked to make sure she’s ingesting enough milk and gaining the right weight. However you also have to double-check her latch-on and position at the breast to try to increase the milk she is getting.
• Your baby misses feeding sessions frequently and sleeps through the night : It is important for new babies to frequently feed around the clock. The baby needs this to gain enough weight to thrive. If a newborn sleeps longer than 4 hours , wake her up and feed her.
• By two weeks of birth, the baby is still under the birth weight or hasn’t started gaining at least 5 to 7 ounces a week since the milk came in :  Baby not gaining the right amount of weight is a  strong indication that the baby is not getting enough milk.
• After a week, your baby has fewer than 6 wet diapers and 4 bowel movements per day, her urine is dark or specked with  red or her stool is dark rather than yellow and loose : Keep an eye on your baby’s bowel movement and urine output if you’re worried about her food intake.
• After 5 days , your milk  hasn’t come in or your breasts doesnt feel as though they are filling with milk :If you feel this way, have your baby’s weight  checked immediately to make sure she getting enough milk. You may also want to have your breasts examined.
•  You experience severe breast engorgement :  Breast engorgement can make it difficult for the baby to latch on correctly and discourage both you and your baby from nursing. In this case, you may need to manually express the milk or use an electric pump until the breast softens a bit.
• The fullness and hardness of your breasts does not decrease with breastfeeding  :  The baby may not be sucking effectively or drinking enough milk.
• Severe pain interferes with breastfeeding : Your baby is probably not latching on correctly.  If you have severe nipple pain or cracked nipples, consult your doctor or lactation consultant.  You may be checked for infections such as mastitis  or latching problems. You may need to start breastfeeding on the less sore breast or even use an electric pump until the nipples have healed.
• Ater a week or two, you don’t notice the sensations associated with your milk let down reflex :  This could be nothing but it could also mean that your milk production is low. Get the help of a lactation consultant.