One common problem a lot of mothers face during breast feeding is having sore nipples. This can come from several instances, improper latching being the most common. To help soothe your sore, cracked, nipples, a lot of remedies you can do to help you solve this problem.

After each feeding, manually express breast milk and rub it on your nipples. The anti-bodies found in colostrum helps fight infection, and acts as a natural moisturizer for your nipples. Bear in mind that this cannot be done when you have thrush.

Try to correct the latching of your baby. Support your breasts underneath by stretching the areola with your thumb and middle finger while pushing the tissue towards your chest. With your forefinger, depress your baby’s chin to make sure that his lips are fully open and flat against your breast. If you still have some problems with latching, consult a lactation specialist with your baby to see how you can position your baby to solve this.

Switch between nipples during feeding. Start with the nipple that is the least sore before changing to the next. Your baby will spend less effort sucking on the sore nipple for he’s no longer that eager for sustenance, and just sucking for comfort.

Do not let your baby grow hungry by feeding him every 2 hours or just before he starts to ask for food. The less hungry he is during feeding, the less eager he would be in sucking.

Use only the thinnest and the softest artificial nipple that you can find, and use it for a short duration only. This will help protect the tissue from being constantly injured as it heals. Be warned that this must be used for a short period of time as it can cause nipple confusion in babies which can further aggravate latching-on problems.

Never dry your nipples with a blow dryer. The dry air will only increase the sensitivity of your nipple through cracks on the surface.

While bathing, do not use soap on your nipples for it can only dry them more. Avoid rubbing your nipples dry after bathing. Instead, softly pat them dry with the use of very soft, absorbent cloth.

Pat off excess moisture from your nipples after feeding and allow them to air dry. Less contact and friction allows the tissues to repair themselves naturally.

You can use ointments only after feeding. Do not use Vitamin E on your nipples as they can be absorbed by your baby and cause toxic reactions. Ask your pediatrician what creams can be used to help you sooth your nipples.

Do not “pop” your baby off a breast. This will result to your baby stretching your nipple tissue, causing sensitivity and soreness. Insert your clean little finger at the corner of your baby’s mouth and to the gum line to slowly ease the sucking.

Wear proper-fitting bra’s and make sure they are of natural material that absorbs moisture.

Don’t use breast pads, especially synthetic ones, as they can only increase your nipple’s sensitivity by trapping in heat and moisture.

Place a warm tea bag on your nipple after feeding. A lot of mothers find this soothing, and the herbal elements in tea promote healing of the tissues.

If all these elements fail, you must consult a specialist for other treatment options. If worse comes to worse, you may have to opt out breastfeeding for a while. Just be prepared for some latching problems and possible nipple confusion if you have postponed breastfeeding for a long time. Still, pump your breast to maintain your milk supply and to make sure that your baby still receives natural breast milk.

When normal and natural methods to increase breast milk do not work, herbal supplements may be just the answer for you. Although some mothers report that it does not work, a lot of breast feeding mothers are satisfied and attest that the herb’s action of increasing milk supply is nothing short of amazing. Currently, Fenugreek is the only herbal medicine that is FDA approved for lactation. This means that this herbal supplement is safe to consume, but still with caution. Discussion of the side effect of Fenugreek will be discussed later in the article.

Fenugreek is originally used as a spice for food. Used as such, the effect is not felt for the dosage is not that potent to produce an effect. For faster results, a 610mg capsule must be taken at least 3 times a day to boost your milk production. The effect varies from mother to mother. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, this comes purely from a natural resource. Problem with herbal remedies is that dosage is not exact in each leaf or seed. A leaf may have lesser potency, while the other leaf from the same plant would be twice as potent, and the same can be said for seeds. This is probably why the effect of the drug is not the same for each mother. Others have reported immediate results after taking in just one dose, while others need to take the drug for a slightly longer duration and higher dosage to experience the effects.

HOW TO TAKE

Fenugreek comes in different dosages. The higher the dosage, the lesser the frequency the 580-610 mg tables, as stated is taken 2-4 capsules 3 times daily, for a total of 6-12 capsules consumed in a day. If you have bought 1200-2400 mg capsules, it is taken 3 times daily. The dosage may seem quite high. You need about 3.5-7.3 grams of Fenugreek per day to make the supplement effective. 500mg ca

There are also other forms of Fenugreek available. A lactating mother can drink it as tea, but the same effect will not be achieved quite as dramatically as the capsule form. Seeds can be bought in an Indian spice store or the grocery. Place a 1/4 teaspoon of the seed in a cup of water and bring to a boil. Once the water boils, turn the heat off and let it steep for 15 minutes to produce a concoction. Afterwards, you can drink the concoction and eat the seeds. It is not commonly done by mothers for some report dislike of the bitter taste of the seeds. Others, however, do not mind the bitter taste or report not noticing it. You have to drink the concoction twice a day: once in the morning and another before going to bed.

The duration of taking Fenugreek is highly dependent on the preference of the mother. You can take it for as long as you would like, or you can stop taking the supplement the moment you produce adequate milk supply. Some mothers take it for 2 weeks only and maintain their milk supply by constantly feeding and pumping. Feeding and/or pumping must be done every 3-4 hours for several minutes or until your milk supply for the session is finished. It is recommended that you empty your breast with each feeding and pumping to prevent overloading. If after feeding you are still full, then by all means use your breast pump to expel milk.

SIDE EFFECTS

Although Fenugreek is among the Generally Recognized As Safe list of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it still has some side effects and some precautions that you have to consider.

One common side effect of Fenugreek is the change in aroma of urine and sweat. You and your baby will end up smelling like maple syrup or pancakes as long as you take the drug. Because of this, you and your baby might be falsely diagnosed with having maple syrup urine disease.

Some mothers report loose stools, both for them and for their baby. It is not known if the baby experiences loose stools because of the Fenugreek or because of the increased ingestion of foremilk. Although the loose stool is of no great concern, you may want to limit changing of breast during feeding. That is, instead of alternating between breasts by interrupting your baby’s feeding after 5-10 minutes, let your baby get satisfied with one breast. On the next feeding, switch to the other breast without interrupting again. This way, your baby will have an adequate ratio of foremilk and hind milk.

Others report having gastrointestinal upset with the supplement such as indigestion, gas, and distension. Headache may ensue, but some find that taking Tylenol or drinking more water than usual commonly eliminates the problem.

ALL THESE SIDE EFFECTS WILL EVENTUALLY LESSEN OR FADE AWAY WHEN YOU LESSEN THE DOSE OR STOP TAKING THE FENUGREEK

CAUTION: diabetics taking oral hypoglycemic and insulin must use Fenugreek with caution. Fenugreek is a natural herb commonly used to lower glucose and cholesterol levels. Depending on the potency of the drug, you may need to regulate your medication accordingly to prevent hypoglycemia. Lactating mothers taking in anti-coagulants and thrombolytics (i.e. heparin, coumadin, aspirin, streptokinase) must also use the Fenugreek with caution. The supplement increases the potency of the drug, leading to increased risk of bleeding. If you have a history of peanut and/or chickpea allergy, avoid using Fenugreek. This herb has similar characteristics and can trigger an allergic reaction. History of irregular menstruation, migraine and asthma warrants increased caution in taking the Fenugreek for it can worsen the said conditions. Pregnancy and history of cardiovascular disease (personal or from relatives) are contraindications for Fenugreek.

Further information on dosage and side effects can be seen in Kellymom, one of the best resource sites for breastfeeding and lactating concerns. Remember that this article is just a resource material for information about Fenugreek. It is advised that you consult with your doctor before taking the supplement, especially if you have the medical conditions stated. The label of each brand and type of Fenugreek must be carefully read and understood before taking the supplement.

One of the things that mothers worry about when taking care of their baby is having enough supply of breast milk. It’s a natural fear for a baby’s diet is purely of breast milk for the first 4 to 6 months of life. A mother would be increasingly concerned when her baby is a voracious eater.

Certain circumstances can cause your breasts to decrease milk production. These circumstances can include stress, illness, lack of nutrition, dehydration, or going back to school or work. The best way to maintain and increase breast milk is through constant feeding and pumping. Normally, breast milk is produced when your body and your baby is in sync. You will notice that you would experience breast tenderness whenever you see your baby, whenever your baby cries, or (if your baby is highly structured) when it is time to feed. The more you feed and pump, the more your breast will produce milk. Try to pump your breast in between feedings. If you have time, pump each breast for 5-10 minutes after each feeding. A hospital grade, double motor breast pump will be just perfect for it pumps your breast in the same frequency as your baby. If you’re at work, steal time to pump your breasts so that when you go home your breasts are still able to produce milk for your baby.

Eat right and drink right. Proper nutrition and hydration ensures plentiful milk supply. A nursing mother needs to consume about 1,800-2,200 calories per day. Empty calories are not advisable (i.e. doughnuts, junk foods). What you need would be foods rich in calcium, vitamins, and protein. As much as possible, unless otherwise indicated by a medical condition, drink 2 liters or more of water. The more water you consume, the more milk your breasts would be able to produce. Eating oatmeal daily also increases milk supply. Exactly how oatmeal increases milk production is still unknown. However, a lot of mothers have found success with eating oatmeal daily.

Try to relax before and during breast feeding. Tension and stress can lessen milk production. Lounge on your sofa, watch TV, read your favorite book or listen to music to relax your muscles. If you’re sleep deprived, have naptimes with your baby. Consider co-sleeping so you and your baby will get adequate sleep.

Don’t give your baby water or juice in between feedings. If your baby’s stomach is full to capacity, your baby will not be spending too much time getting milk from your breast. This would result to decreased milk production. Similarly, don’t give your baby too much sucking time with a pacifier. Your breasts will serve as one if your milk supply is dwindling. Because of increased sucking time, your breasts will be stimulated to produce more milk.

If all the above options fail, have an appointment with a lactation consultant. Bring your baby along with you so that she can assess if feeding technique is the problem (positioning, latching). Latching problems can come from using artificial nipples, alternating feeding of breast to bottle, or having too much sucking time with a pacifier.

There are herbal remedies that are claimed to help increase milk supply. Fenugreek is increasing in popularity as an herbal supplement that can increase milk supply for short and long term basis. Caution is advised when taking this supplement and a doctor’s approval is needed before you undergo the regimen. Mothers with diabetes or taking anti-coagulants are not advised to take this herbal supplement.