Most new mothers expect breastfeeding to come naturally. The reality is that for many women, particularly with a first baby, it takes time, support, and guidance before it feels straightforward. Soreness, concerns about milk supply, latching difficulties, and uncertainty about whether the baby is getting enough are among the most common reasons new mothers feel anxious in the first days and weeks after delivery.
At KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Mahadevapura, lactation support begins from the very first feed and continues through the weeks that follow. Our team of licensed lactation consultants is on board the moment a baby is born, offering in-hand assistance and the type of practical, reassuring assistance that will make the difference in the life of a mother who continues to persevere and survive the initial challenges that the breastfeeding process brings.
Why Breastfeeding Matters?
The advantages of breast milk to a newborn are well-known and important. Breast milk not only offers the optimal balance of nutrients to help the baby grow and develop, but it also changes its composition according to the growth of the baby and has antibodies and immune factors that cannot be duplicated by formula.
Breastfed infants are less likely to be infected, less prone to allergies and asthma, and there is evidence of long-term cognitive development and metabolic health benefits.
For the mother, breastfeeding supports uterine recovery after delivery, reduces postpartum blood loss, and is associated with reduced long-term risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The hormonal effects of breastfeeding also support emotional bonding between mother and baby in the early weeks.
Getting the Latch Right
An incorrect latch is the most prevalent cause of difficulties in breastfeeding during the initial days. In cases where a baby fails to latch on to the breast, feeding is not efficient, milk transfer will be low, and the mother will develop nipple pain, which may develop to cracking and bleeding. A faulty latch will not correct itself.
Our lactation consultants at KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Mahadevapura assess the latch at every postnatal contact and provide hands-on support to correct positioning and attachment. The goal is a deep latch in which the baby takes in a significant portion of the areola, not just the nipple, with the lips flanged outward and the chin touching the breast. When this is achieved, feeding becomes comfortable for the mother and effective for the baby.
Common Breastfeeding Challenges We Help With
Concerns about milk supply
One of the most commonly given reasons why mothers do not continue breastfeeding is low milk supply, although actual insufficient milk supply is less prevalent than the perceived one.
In most instances, the issue of supply can be resolved by the use of better feeding methods, feeding more frequently, and proper support as opposed to supplementation. Our lactation team evaluates the true insufficiency of supply or whether the issue is a normal newborn feeding behaviour, and gives useful advice in either scenario.
Engorgement
When mature milk comes in, usually between two and five days after delivery, the breasts can become very full, swollen, and uncomfortable. Engorgement that is not managed properly makes latching harder, which further disrupts feeding.
Nipple pain and damage
The initial days of breastfeeding are usually accompanied by some discomfort as the tissue of the nipple gets used to it. Persistent or progressive pain in the first few seconds of every feed, or cracked, blistered, or bleeding nipples, are signs of a latch issue that must be evaluated and improved. Our lactation consultants are quick to do this and give proper wound care instructions in addition to latch correction.
Mastitis
Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue, usually accompanied by an infection, resulting in localised pain, redness, warmth, and, in most cases, fever and flu-like symptoms. It is most prevalent during the initial weeks of breastfeeding and is linked to milk stasis due to missed breastfeeds, inadequate drainage, or loss of the nipple. The most significant management measure is to continue feeding or expressing on the affected breast as well as seek medical attention immediately thereafter when there is a suspicion of infection.
Tongue tie
Tongue tie, in which a tight band of tissue under the tongue limits the range of movement of the tongue, may greatly influence the ability of a baby to latch and feed effectively. It is a significant but underdiagnosed cause of breastfeeding difficulty. Our team evaluates for tongue-tie when feeding issues have not been addressed through standard latch support and when the need to have the issue assessed and divided is indicated.
Breastfeeding After a Caesarean Section
Many mothers who deliver by caesarean section worry that their milk supply will be delayed or that breastfeeding will be more difficult. While some aspects of the early initiation may need adjustment to accommodate the mother's recovery, breastfeeding after a caesarean is entirely achievable, and our team has extensive experience supporting it.
Positioning adaptations that avoid pressure on the abdominal wound, and support with the first feeds while the mother's mobility is still limited, make a significant practical difference in the early hours and days.
Returning to Work and Expressing Milk
Many mothers who wish to continue providing breast milk after returning to work rely on expressing and storing milk. Our lactation consultants provide guidance on hand expression and pump use, building and maintaining supply through expressing, safely storing expressed breast milk, and introducing a bottle while maintaining breastfeeding. Planning this transition in advance, with support from a lactation consultant, makes it considerably more manageable.
When to Seek a Lactation Consultation
When breastfeeding is not proceeding well, it is time to call in a lactation consultant. Particular circumstances that might need immediate specialist assistance are:
- Pain during feeding beyond the first few seconds of each feed
- Nipples that are cracked, bleeding, or severely damaged
- A baby who is not regaining birth weight as expected by day ten to fourteen
- A baby who seems unsatisfied after feeds or is feeding very frequently with no settled periods
- Concerns about milk supply that are not resolving with increased feeding frequency
- Signs of mastitis or breast infection
- Feeding difficulties in a premature or unwell baby
- A mother returning to work who wishes to maintain breastfeeding
Why Choose KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Mahadevapura
Lactation support is most effective when it is initiated early, maintained, and done by an individual with actual clinical knowledge as opposed to a well-intentioned yet inconsistent person. The postnatal care team in KIMS Hospitals, Mahadevapura includes our certified lactation consultants in KIMS Cuddles, and this means that the services of the lactation consultant are offered at the times when they are most required.
For mothers in East Bengaluru, Whitefield, and Marathahalli who encounter breastfeeding difficulties after going home, knowing that a qualified lactation consultant is accessible locally at KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Mahadevapura reduces the likelihood of stopping breastfeeding because of a challenge that could be resolved with the right help.
Book a Lactation Consultation
If you have difficulties with breastfeeding, have questions about how your baby is being fed or gaining weight, or are thinking about going back to work while still breastfeeding, our lactation team at KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Mahadevapura can assist. Appointments can be booked online or by phone. Breastfeeding difficulties are common, they are manageable, and you do not have to navigate them without support.
