Maternal and Child Resource Initiative on Breastfeeding (MaCRIB) addresses common breastfeeding concerns:
I am not sure if my baby is getting any milk.
I don’t know if my baby is getting enough milk.
How often should my baby breastfeed?
Can I take medicines if I am breastfeeding?
Can I wake my sleeping baby?
2. “The nature has
designed the provision
that infants be fed
upon their mother’s
milk. They find their
food and mother at
the same time. It’s a
complete nourishment
for them both for their
body and soul”
- Rabindranath Tagore
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4. Breastfeeding Concerns
I am not sure if my baby is getting any milk
I don’t know if my baby is getting enough milk
How often should my baby breastfeed
Can I take medicines if I am breastfeeding
Can I Wake my sleeping baby
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5. I am not sure if my baby is
getting any milk
When breastfeeding, listen closely for the
sound of swallowing
When breasts makes small amounts of early milk
(colostrum), baby swallow every 10 sucks
When breasts produces a lot more milk baby
swallows more loudly and with every suck
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6. I don’t know if my baby is
getting enough milk
To find out, count wet and dirty diapers
Urine
Bowel Movement
Importantly, your baby’s weight is the key factor
that tells you that he/she is getting enough to eat
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7. How often should my
baby breastfeed
First week at least every 3 hours or sooner if your
baby acts hungry
at least 8 feedings in a 24-hour period
Watch for signs of hunger like mouth movements,
sucking, bringing hands to mouth etc
As baby gets older it will be easier to tell when they
needs to eat
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8. Can I take medicines if I am
breastfeeding
Medicines pass into your milk in small amount
Discuss any medicines you are using with your
doctor
Ask before you start using new medicines
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9. Can I Wake my sleeping baby
Most babies are sleepy for the first few days as they
adjust to life outside of mom’s body
You may need to wake your baby so he or she will
nurse often enough to establish a good milk supply
Tips on waking up babies
Loosen your baby’s clothing or undress your baby so
that he has “skin to skin” contact with you.
10. Can I Wake my sleeping baby
Rub your nipple against baby’s upper lip to
stimulate baby to open his mouth
Express some breast milk onto baby’s lips
Change baby’s diaper
Walk your fingers up baby’s spine; rub baby’s
hands, legs and feet
Wipe baby’s face with a lukewarm washcloth
With a clean finger, stroke baby’s cheeks, lips and
mouth
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13. Breast Engorgement
Breasts feel full and heavy before a feeding, this is
normal
But pain, swelling and hardness of the breasts is
engorgement
It can happen if your baby doesn’t eat often enough
or long enough, or if you miss feedings
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14. Engorgement
Prevention
●Allow the baby to feed as long as he or she likes
●Nurse often on demand. Build up to eight to 12
times every 24 hours
●Do not limit the baby’s time at the breast
●Nurse on each side of the breast at each feeding until
the baby is done or satisfied
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15. Engorgement
Treatments
●Gentle massage to stimulate the let-down reflex
●Apply warm compresses to help the ejection of
the milk
●Manually express some milk before breastfeeding,
so that the areola gets soft enough
●Cold compresses in between feedings to help ease
pain
●Wear a well-fitting supportive bra that is not too
tight
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17. Sore nipple
Treatments
Use a proper breastfeeding technique
Keep the nipples dry
Change the nursing pads used to prevent milk flow on
a regular basis
Avoid products that remove the natural protection
of nipples, such as soaps, alcohol or any drying agent
Offer the least affected breast first
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18. Sore nipple
Treatments
Express enough milk before breastfeeding to
stimulate the let-down reflex
Discontinue feeding, slip the index or little
finger into the infant mouth
Apply expressed breast milk on the nipple due
to it’s anti-infective properties
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19. Flat and Inverted nipple
do not stick outward from the breast
do not protrude out of the breast, but face inward
toward the body
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20. Remedy
hand express or use a breast
pump to pull your nipples
outward right before you
nurse you
If breast is engorged, try to
remove a little bit of breast
milk before you put your
baby to the breast baby
syringe can be use to pull
nipple out 20
21. Plugged duct
Free flow of milk is blocked.
Tender and sore lump in the breast
It happens when a milk duct does not properly
drain and becomes inflamed
Occurs in one breast at a time
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22. Plugged Duct
Causes
Delayed, incomplete or missed feedings
local pressure, for instance, a very tight bra, or the
use of creams on the nipples
use of the same nursing position or incorrect
positioning of your hands on the breast
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23. Plugged Duct
Treatments
Apply moist heat to the area before nursing
Gently massage the plugged area after using moist
heat
During nursing, massage gently from the sore spot
toward the nipple
Begin feeding on the breast with the plugged duct
Position the baby’s chin toward the plug so his or
her tongue milks the affected area
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24. Plugged duct
Breastfeed more often (at least every two to three
hours) and long enough to relieve fullness
Make sure baby is latched on well to the breast
Hold baby in more than one position during
nursing to remove milk from all parts of the breast
Check that your bra and clothing are not too tight
Get extra sleep or relax with your feet up to help
speed healing
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25. Mastitis
Breast Infection
Infected area always red, hot, and
tender to the touch
Caused by
Fatigue and stress
Untreated plugged duct or
engorgement
Cracks or fissures in the nipple
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26. Mastitis
Treatment:
Breastfeed often on the affected side, as
often as every two hours
Massage the area, starting behind the sore
spot
Apply heat to the sore area with a warm
compress
Wear a well-fitting supportive bra that is not
too tight
See a doctor 26
27. Poor milk production
Most mothers can make plenty of milk for their
babies
Pain, discomfort, stress, anxiety, fear and lack of
self-confidence may inhibit the let-down reflex,
hampering lactation
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28. Remedy
Increase the frequency of feeding
Offer both breasts in each breastfeeding
Allow the infant to empty the breasts completely
Alternate between breasts during the same
Feeding if the infant feels drowsy or if he/she is not
sucking vigorously
Avoid the use of bottles, pacifiers and nipple shields
Eat a balanced diet
Drink enough fluids
Take a rest 28
29. Oversupply of milk
● Having an overfull breast
●Sometimes stressful and
uncomfortable
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30. Remedy
Breastfeed on one side for each feeding
Continue to offer that same side for at least two hours
until the next full feeding
Hand express for a few moments to relieve some of
the pressure
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31. Nursing strike
●Baby suddenly begins to refuse the
breast
Major causes
●mouth pain from teething, a fungal
infection
●ear infection, which causes pain while
sucking
●Pain from certain breastfeeding
positions
●Being upset about a long separation 31
32. Remedy
●Try another feeding method temporarily to give baby
your milk, such as a cup, dropper and spoon
●Keep offering your breast to the baby
●If the baby is frustrated, stop and try again later
●Try various breastfeeding positions
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33. Remedy
Focus on the baby with all of your attention
Comfort him or her with extra touching and
cuddling
Try breastfeeding while rocking and in a quiet room
free of distractions
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