13 April, 2020
Breastfeeding Difficulties
Approximate reading time: 4 minutes
The average newborn breastfeeds for 12 - 67 minutes, 4 - 13 times daily. In total, that’s anywhere up to 13 hours a day!
No wonder you are experiencing cracked, sore nipples. Your baby’s jaw could be feeling tight and tender just like your shoulders, neck and back.
Newborns require frequent feeds. They need lots of energy for all the incredible things they are learning. Their weight doubles in the first five months. Their brains’ develop quickly.
Breastfeeding has countless advantages for mother and child. You’ve heard it before and that makes you anxious why breastfeeding is so difficult. You aren’t alone!
In fact, only 15.4% of Aussies are able to exclusively breastfeed at 5 months. The world health organisation suggests exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age.
There can be lots of reasons for this.
Breastfeeding difficulties can present in different ways. For example:
Feeding only on one side
Feeding in only one particular position
Inability to latch on or stay latched on
Distressed baby during or after feeding
Limited milk supply (rare)
Painful and cracked mother’s nipples
Postnatal anxiety & depression
Babies may have tensions which can contribute to breastfeeding difficulties. Your baby’s muscles and joints around the jaw, skull, neck and spine may get a little jammed up. They are constantly in use with their regular feeding. Just as your neck, back and arms are whilst you are feeding your gorgeous bub.
Thorough assessments of your baby’s movement patterns, such as
If they favour or avoid one side
Muscle and joint tension
Sucking reflexes and internal mouth examination
A scientific study found irregular movement patterns were more common in babies with breastfeeding woes. This included:
Jaw joint restrictions or gliding over to one side
Tight sucking & neck muscles
Restricted movement of the neck & skull
After the assessment, we will have a better idea if there's musculoskeletal tension contributing the breastfeeding difficulties. Paediatric chiropractic is beneficial for some but not all babies’ breastfeeding ability.
If chiropractic isn’t predicted to benefit your child, then your chiropractor will refer you to the best practitioner. As an assessment has already been performed, you will be referred to someone who has the specific skills and knowledge best suited to you and your child.
Chiropractors regularly work with lactation consultants / counsellors, dietitians, naturopaths and dentists to provide specific advice and support.
If baby chiropractic is thought to be helpful, we’ll explain what’s going on and how we can manage it. Tension in young babies can be gently eased through baby-specific techniques. This does not involve any “cracking” but rather light pressure, baby massage, cranial therapy and home advice.
Appointments available in Moonee Ponds or online.
About the Author
Dr Cassie Atkinson-Quinton - Paediatric-Trained Chiropractor & Paediatric Sleep Coach
Dr Cassie is a paediatric-trained chiropractor, sleep coach and, most importantly, mumma to Master H. She loves seeing newborns grow into inquisitive toddlers and busy school kids. She assesses for neurological development (primitive reflexes), posture, sleep health and movement patterns. She's an eager learning just like the kids she sees.
"It's better to grow healthy children than fix injured adults."
Dr Anthony Lugara - Paediatric-Trained Chiropractor
As a kids-trained chiropractors, Dr Anthony has a passion for using cranial therapy, soft stretches and baby massage to assist the development of kids’ bodies and brains. He's both undertaken postgraduate paediatric chiropractic certificate and continue to attend conferences and seminars in family health.
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