BREASTFEEDING SOLUTIONS

For many new mothers, it's a shock to discover that breastfeeding, which seems so natural, is not necessarily easy. You'll probably be given much useful advice by your midwife, health visitor and friends, but every newborn gives birth to a brand new nursing experience. When your breasts start producing a regular milk supply a few days after birth, they may feel painfully tight and your baby may have trouble latching on. Many other factors affect your baby's feeds - and your own comfort. When problems arise, like nipple soreness or a blocked milk duct, it helps to know a few age-old tricks.

Take the pressure off 

• If you feel uncomfortably full, before starting a feed express a little milk by hand. Press repeatedly with your fingers above and below the areola (the dark area around the nipple). This will take off some pressure and allow your baby to attach more easily.The smell and taste of the milk will also encourage the baby to latch on. 

• If your breasts are so full that no milk conies out, apply a warm, damp compress for several minutes. A wet flannel will work, or try a disposable nappy, which holds a lot of water and retains heat. Just soak the nappy in hot water and lay it over your breasts when you're in the bath. 

• Use a breast pump if the baby falls asleep while feeding or finishes feeding and you still feel uncomfortably full —pumping a little milk may relieve the tension. But as this will encourage more milk next time, don't make it a routine thing or you're producing more than the baby requires. 

• Nurse often, day and night. In fact, you should nurse about 8 to 12 times during every 24-hour period. This will keep your breasts from filling up with too much milk. Feed your baby every time he or she seems interested in eating. 

Position yourself (and your baby) for success 

• Use a nursing pillow; this is a horseshoe-shaped cushion which is specially designed for nursing mothers. It fits around your midriff, providing a convenient armrest when you're breastfeeding your baby. Nursing pillows are available from stores such as Mothercare, from catalogues such as Blooming Marvellous and online. 

• Make sure your baby is not too warm. If infants are too warmly wrapped while nursing, they're more likely to doze off in the middle of feeding. 

• Feed your baby in a quiet, dimly lit environment. Being relaxed makes the process easier for everyone. 

• When you feed the baby, make sure the entire body is facing yours. Hold the buttocks in one hand,Tickle your baby's lower lip. This will prompt the mouth to open wide. Pull the baby straight in, quickly, so the mouth attaches to your areola (the dark area around the nipple). Be sure the whole areola is taken, or as much of it as possible. 

supporting the head in the crook of that elbow Slide your other hand under your breast, fully supporting it.

• Sucking will stop when the baby is full. If you need to detach the baby from your nipple for any reason, such as to transfer to the other side (or to answer the door), gently insert your little finger between the corner of the baby's mouth and the skin of your nipple to break the suction. Babies have a natural survival reflex: they hold on tighter if they're suddenly interrupted while sucking. If you can gradually break the seal between your nipple and the baby's mouth before you pull the infant away, you'll reduce tugging, which can contribute to nipple soreness. 

     Left, right, left 

• To make sure each breast is doing its share, start each feed with the breast you ended with at the previous feed. If you are so tired that you can't remember which breast that was, fasten a safety pin to your bra on the side you need to begin next time. By. switching the breast you offer first, you give each one a chance to get completely emptied. 

    Become more productive 

• If you feel you aren't producing enough milk, drink one glass of alcohol-free beer a day. There's a yeast derivative in the beer that increases levels of prolactin, a hormone that influ-ences milk production. Just make sure it's alcohol-free and drink the beer 30 minutes before a feed. 

• Apply pressure to your chest to stimulate milk flow. According to doctors who specialize in acupressure, the best pressure points are directly above your breasts. Place your thumbs between the third and fourth ribs straight down from your collarbone and in line with your nipples. Press steadily for a minute or so. If this procedure helps, you can repeat as often as you like. 

• Drink fennel tea each morning. Herbalists have long recommended fennel to first-time mothers to help increase milk production. Some research indicates that fennel may have a mild oestrogen-like effect, which could encourage the production of breastmilk. Or perhaps babies just like fennel's mild liquorice-like taste. Put a teaspoon of fennel seeds into a cup of boiling water, leave to infuse for two or three minutes, strain and drink the tea. 

     Munch some healthy encouragement 

• Eat garlicky foods. Apparently garlic affects the flavour of mother's milk in a way that appeals to babies. One US study showed that babies took more milk and stayed at the breast longer if their mothers ate some garlic a few hours before breastfeeding. It's also very good for you. 

     Nip soreness in the bud 

• If one nipple is very painful, offer the other one first to your baby. Even if you used it during the previous feed, you'll want to favour the good nipple until the sore one feels better. 

• Between feeds, place a cold flannel on each breast to relieve soreness. 

• If your nipples are cracked or tender, let them dry naturally in the air after a feed. Speed up healing with your own milk: once the nipple is dry, express a drop and apply it to your nip-ples. Other healing salves include vitamin E oil — simply squeezed out of a pierced capsule (clean off any oil before the next feed), olive oil, sweet almond oil or lanolin cream. 

Keep milk ducts clear 

• For a blocked milk duct (which may present itself as a red, tender lump in your breast), soap the affected area while you're in the bath or shower and then gently run a wide-toothed comb over it to stimulate milk flow and help clear the blockage. (In general, however, avoid using soap on your nip-ples, as it can dry them out.) 

• Empty your breasts as completely as possible during each feed. Offer your baby the affected breast first. 

• Try to gently massage the lumpy area towards your nipple during feeding. 

• Increase bloodflow to the area by placing a warm flannel on your breast, then gently massaging the breast. 

• Make sure your bra fits properly. Specialist maternity stores and lingerie departments in larger stores often have advisers who can help you to choose the right bra. Ideally, choose a cotton bra with broad straps. The opening for feeding must not be too small or the fabric can press into the breast and cause a blockage.