Tag Archives: breastfeeding problems

Sour Milk?

It’s true that even after you’ve properly stored your milk (and sometimes even before you store it) your breast milk can go sour. It may taste and/or smell sour, metallic or simply rancid. It is not a typical problem but it does happen occasionally: too much lipase. Lipase is an enzyme that breaks down fat. Fat however, it what makes breast milk taste good. Fat actually makes lots of foods taste good for that matter, but I’m getting off topic here. Essentially the lipase is “eating up” all the fat in mom’s breast milk and the result is sour tasting … Continue reading →

Common Problems with Latch-On Technique

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I’ve heard it said before that while breastfeeding is natural, it certainly doesn’t come naturally. Numerous women find that they have to quit because it is so painful! Unfortunately, not many women are told that it shouldn’t hurt at all. Pain is not normal while breastfeeding, and if you are in pain something is wrong. If breastfeeding is painful, it is frequently because your baby has a bad latch-on technique. Latch on technique is not difficult to fix, but it does require patience. The key to fixing latch on technique is to not allow the baby to nurse if it … Continue reading →

When you Have too Much Milk

Sometimes, women can have too much breast milk. Their bodies produce more than their baby demands and the result is an oversupply that can cause symptoms in both the mother and the baby. It is possible that you have this condition if you experience some of all of the following symptoms: *Breast fullness between feedings *An especially strong sensation of milk letdown *Multiple milk letdowns between feedings *Lots of leaking of breast milk between feedings *Mastitis and/or plugged ducts In addition to your symptoms, your baby may show some or all of these symptoms as well: *Gulps, chokes or sputters … Continue reading →

Meghan the Vampire Baby: My Nursing Nightmare

My first two children could’ve been La Leche League poster babies. They latched perfectly, they nursed perfectly. They loved nursing and I loved nursing them. They did exactly what the textbook said they would and except for one bout of thrush with the baby, I had no problems. I solidified my opinion that women who gave up nursing really didn’t want to nurse that badly. Then came my darling Meghan. Meghan did not latch on properly. Meghan did not suck effectively. Meghan did not let go properly either. As far as breastfeeding went, Meghan did nothing right. Overnight, I was … Continue reading →