Staying Consistent and Keeping a Routine: The Key to Successful Potty Training
Mar 15, 2025By Tanvi Munjal
Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it doesn't always come easily. While some difficulties are considered normal and temporary, others may be severe and require professional attention. It's essential to recognize when breastfeeding challenges are more than just minor issues and to know when to seek help.
What To Do If Breastfeeding Challenges Don't Improve?
When breastfeeding difficulties persist despite your best efforts, taking action is essential. Here's a step-by-step approach:
1. Trust Your Instincts
If something feels wrong, it probably is. Mothers often sense when breastfeeding isn't going well before clinical signs appear. Don't dismiss your concerns because someone tells you "breastfeeding is supposed to hurt" or "it's just the baby cluster feeding." Your comfort and your baby's well-being matter.
2. Get a Professional Assessment
Schedule an appointment with a lactation professional as soon as possible. Look for:
- International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
- Hospital-based breastfeeding clinic
- Pediatrician or family doctor with breastfeeding expertise
During this assessment, expect a thorough review of:
- Your pregnancy and birth experience
- Medical history for both you and the baby
- Current feeding patterns
- Physical examination of your breasts and baby's mouth
- Observation of a complete feeding session
3. Develop a Care Plan
Work with your lactation professional to create a specific plan addressing your challenges. This might include:
- Technique modifications for better positioning and latch
- Feeding schedule adjustments
- Breast massage or compression techniques
- Expression methods (hand expression or pumping)
- Supplementation strategies, if needed
- Pain management approaches
4. Consider Medical Interventions When Appropriate
Some breastfeeding challenges require medical treatment:
- Antibiotics for bacterial mastitis
- Evaluation for tongue-tie or other oral restrictions
- Assessment of hormonal issues affecting supply
- Treatment for thrush or other infections
- Pain management for severe discomfort
5. Implement Temporary Feeding Solutions
While working on resolving underlying issues, ensure your baby is well-fed:
- Express milk to maintain supply if direct breastfeeding is temporarily difficult
- Learn alternative feeding methods (cup, spoon, finger-feeding, or supplemental nursing system)
- Use properly-paced bottle feeding if necessary
- Consider donor milk options through milk banks
- Discuss appropriate formula supplementation if needed
6. Build Your Support Network
Recovery from challenging breastfeeding situations requires emotional support:
- Connect with other breastfeeding mothers through support groups
- Involve your partner, family members, or friends who support your goals
- Consider counseling if the experience has been traumatic
- Find online communities with mothers facing similar challenges
7. Set Reasonable Expectations and Boundaries
Create realistic goals based on your unique situation:
- Establish short-term objectives that acknowledge your current challenges
- Define what "success" means for you and your baby
- Determine how long you're willing to work on specific issues
- Know your personal limits regarding pain, time investment, and mental health
8. Re-evaluate Regularly
Schedule follow-up appointments to track progress:
- Review your baby's weight gain and overall health
- Assess improvements in pain or discomfort
- Discuss any new concerns that have developed
- Adjust your care plan as needed
9. Consider All Feeding Options
If breastfeeding challenges remain unresolved despite appropriate intervention:
- Explore partial breastfeeding combined with other feeding methods
- Learn about exclusive pumping as an alternative
- Research formula options with your healthcare provider
- Remember that the feeding method is just one aspect of parenting
10. Practice Self-Compassion
Whatever the outcome:
- Acknowledge the effort you've invested
- Recognize that feeding difficulties are rarely anyone's fault
- Focus on the relationship with your baby beyond feeding
- Give yourself permission to feel disappointed while also celebrating your strengths as a parent
Still unsure if you need professional help? "How to Know When You Need Help with Breastfeeding" provides additional guidance on identifying when to reach out for support.
Unique Breastfeeding Situations Requiring Specialized Support
Many breastfeeding journeys involve circumstances that require customized approaches:
- Multiple Births: Nursing twins or triplets presents unique positioning and supply challenges that often benefit from specialized guidance.
- Pre-Term or NICU Babies: Premature infants may have less stamina for feeding and require tailored approaches to building milk supply and transitioning to direct breastfeeding.
- Post-Surgical: Mothers who have had breast surgery (reduction, augmentation, biopsy) may face specific challenges with milk production or flow.
- Anatomical Variations: Babies with tongue-tie, lip-tie, or cleft palate or mothers with inverted nipples may need specialized techniques or procedures.
- Medical Complications: Conditions like diabetes, thyroid disorders, PCOS, or retained placental fragments can impact milk production and require medical management alongside lactation support.
Conclusion
With appropriate and timely help, many breastfeeding challenges can be overcome. However, even when exclusive breastfeeding isn't possible, knowledgeable support can help mothers find peace with their feeding decisions and maintain a precious bond with their babies.
What's most important isn't how a baby is fed, but that both mother and baby are healthy, comfortable, and thriving. Seeking help when breastfeeding challenges persist isn't a sign of failure—it's a sign of a mother's commitment to her own health and her baby's well-being.
