Gulf Coast Lactation FAQs
Common Problems | Helpful Solutions
Have Questions about...?
My Nipples Are Painful With Latch:
Common Issue
Severe Engorgement:
Use Cabbage!
It is common to feel an initial discomfort/pain with latch in the first 7-10 days. The pain goes away after a few sucks if the baby is latched deeply. You should NOT have blisters, cracks or compression stripes on your nipples. This can indicate a shallow latch or poor positioning. Check the bottom lip and make sure it is flanged out. Please make an appointment with the lactation consultant for an assessment. If the pain is not tolerable, then unlatch and try again. If it continues to be painful, you can pump and feed your breastmilk to your baby.
Wash a fresh head of green cabbage and place cabbage in refrigerator to chill. Just before use, crush the veins with a rolling pin or crush the leaf in your hand. Place the leaves over each breast, covering ALL of the engorged area. Leave on until they become wilted, about 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat one to two times within a 24 hour period. Too much cabbage can decrease your supply too much. Try hand expressing or pumping to express some milk and decrease the fullness in the breast. If your breasts are severely engorged for too long then it can severely decrease your supply. If your milk decreases too much, then pump after feeding for 3-6 times in a row and your supply should bounce back. Please call for an appointment if your breasts stay engorged and you are not able to get relief with pumping.
My Baby Keeps Falling Asleep After Just A Few Minutes:
Look for Clues
Undress your baby before trying to latch and look for feeding cues: alert and active behaviors, rapid eye movement, sucking on fingers or hands​.
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Massage the breast and hand express a few drops of milk. Latch baby deeply and compress the breast. Have your hand back away from the areola so the latch isn’t broken with compression. Watch for active sucking and swallowing. Once the baby is sucking in a good rhythm, then you can stop compressing. Watch the suck. If the baby slows down, give another squeeze to get the swallowing going again.
If your baby is not nursing well with active swallowing, stop and hand express or pump and feed your baby. Sometimes giving just a half of an ounce will help them wake and then they latch just fine.
Please call and make an appointment for a full assessment if your baby is not latching and nursing with active sucking and swallowing. Babies that are doing well usually stay awake. Babies will tend to fall asleep when the milk isn't flowing well. Protect your supply if you think your baby isn't nursing well and pump and feed your baby while waiting for an appointment.
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What can I expect at my first appointment?
Is there support after hours?
​​You will receive a link to Milk Notes before your appointment. Please fill out the medical history, profile, and sign the HIPPA and consent. Your baby will be weighed before and after eating. Baby needs to be ready to eat at the time of your appointment. You will be asked about your baby's breastfeeding patterns, pees, poops, sleeping and awake periods. You will be assisted with breastfeeding and positioning to improve latch and milk transfer. Your breasts will be assessed for supply, nipple trauma, any signs of clogged ducts or infection. You will be asked about your diet and sleeping. There will be time to ask questions and you will be given a plan and a list of community resources as needed.
Please send an email or text with questions or concerns. When in doubt, pump and feed your baby. If breast milk is not available, then choose a formula and feed your baby. If you have signs of an infection or headaches unrelieved with Tylenol or Ibuprofen, please call your doctor.
What do I need to bring to an appointment?
For prenatal lactation appointment please be ready with any questions you may have. Please reach out to Gulf Coast Lactation prior to ordering your pump. If you have your pump, please have it available to review sizing of flanges and settings.
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For a breastfeeding appointment your baby needs to be hungry and your breasts full to get a good feeding assessment (please do not pump or feed the baby within 2 - 3 hours of your appointment). Have your pump ready to review settings. If you are supplementing, have a bottle with previously expressed breastmilk or formula.
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Do I still breastfeed when sick?
Yes! Extra antibodies appear when we get sick, our baby gets sick or even someone around us gets sick.
It's our body's way of protecting our babies. Keep breastfeeding. Click here to learn more.
Should I breastfeed more often when sick?
Yes! Keep those antibodies flowing and your baby well hydrated.Let your baby suckle when they want to.
They will want comfort, hydration, and protection against the illness.Remember the importance of those night time feedings.Your baby will most likely take more naps/rests while sick.The best you can do for your sick child is to breastfeed and rest.
What medications are safe when breastfeeding?
​​​It is safe to take: Advil/Ibuprofen, Aleve, Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Alegra, Motrin, Plain Mucinex, Tylenol, Robitussin, Flonase, Afrin, Nasacort.
*It is important to watch milk supply. Stay hydrated and take supplements.Click here for more information on safe medications.
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Do NOT take: Aspirin or anything with Aspirin in it (Alka-Seltzer products), Decongestants (Sudafed, Pseudoephedrine, Phenylephrine), Hormonal Birth Control, Peppermint or anything with mint in it.
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How do I start/maintain a healthy supply?
Have you ever heard of the Golden Hour? It is so important to latch/pump during the first hour after birth, aka the Golden Hour. Latching/pumping during this hour will increase your ability to produce milk in the months to come. To maintain this supply, it is so important to latch often during the first few months of postpartum. Make sure to breastfeed every three hours, even through the night, while you and your little one are establishing your breastfeeding routine. Night feedings are key to keeping up your supply during the day. The key to starting/maintaining a healthy supply is to breastfeed on demand. Once your baby is ganging well and steadily then it is ok to go 4-5 hrs stretches at night. Be sure to pump some after nursing if it has been 4-5 hrs and you get engorged. Slowly your breasts will learn to go longer stretches. It is important for many moms to breastfeed or pump at least every 6 hrs at night. For help with a plan give us a call and make an appointment.
What increases supply?
Your diet has a lot to do with the supply you will have. Make sure that you maintain a balanced diet, with lots of calories. It is important to be aware of what increases supply and what decreases your supply. A few things that you can incorporate into your diet to increase supply are: protein, nuts and seeds, hemp hearts, healthy fruits and vegetables. Herbs are also helpful in maintaining a healthy milk supply, click here to read more!
What decreases supply?
Your diet has a lot to do with the supply you will have. Make sure that you maintain a balanced diet, with lots of calories (2000-2500 a day on average). It is important to be aware of what increases supply and what decreases your supply. A few things that you can avoid in your diet that will decrease your supply are: caffeine, excess vitamin c/b (citrus), peppermint and sage. These are only a few foods to avoid to maintain a healthy milk supply. Click here to read more!
Breast Milk Is Versatile
HEALING
If your little one gets a scratched eye, or even something hot/spicy in their eye, use your breast milk to ease their pain and start the healing process. You can use an eye dropper, or wash your hands and use your finger, to place a few drops of your breast milk into their eye. Put it in the corner of their eye, closest to their nose, and they will blink and the milk will coat their eye.
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SOOTHING
You can make your own baby soap at home with your breast milk! Breast milk is wonderful for your baby's skin, hypoallergenic and healing. All it takes are a few simple ingredients: 7 oz. clear glycerin soap base, 150 ml breast milk (room temp.), 1 tbs. coconut oil, oatmeal (optional), and a few drops of Vitamin E (optional). You also will need a few soap molds and some storage bags. You begin by melting the soap base, then melting/stirring in the coconut oil. Remove from heat and quickly add in the breast milk and Vitamin E drops (optional). You will then pour the soap into your soap molds, and add a sprinkle of oatmeal on top for a cute addition (optional). Please be sure to store in the refrigerator until use. Once in use, you can keep the soap in the shower while you are using it daily.
CALMING
Give your little one a breast milk bath! This has long been a popular way for calming your little one's body- soothing common skin issues ranging from dryness and diaper rash to acne and eczema.
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Tips with Scotty
RN, BSN, IBCLC
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