Avoid the Most Common Breastfeeding Problems

No Breast Soreness!

Soothe those hardworking nipples with lanolin or olive oil. (Avoid using lanolin for more than a week or two, however, because it could contribute to thrush; see the next page.) "Soaking your breasts in warm saltwater after nursing can also alleviate pain and heal cuts," Dr. Gabbay says. Mix 1 teaspoon salt with 1 cup warm water in a bowl, and pour into shot glasses or bowls. Dip your nipples in for about three minutes at a time, and pray nobody rings your doorbell.

Another common cause of discomfort is engorgement, which causes full, hard breasts. The best fix: Nurse the baby on demand. If he is sleeping for long periods at night, wake up to pump. Decrease these pumping sessions over the next few nights so your breasts can adjust to longer periods of not nursing. Before feeding, take a warm shower or place a washcloth doused in warm water on your breasts to facilitate the letdown of milk; to further encourage la leche to flow, massage your breasts toward the nipple while feeding. Placing ice packs on your breasts between sessions will reduce swelling. Frozen cabbage leaves also work for some unknown reason, though you might feel like human coleslaw.