Breastfeeding Problems

There are several types of breastfeeding problems. Let’s take them one at a time.

THE CHILD HAS NO APPETITE

In this case, the mother is producing a lot of milk, but the child has no appetite. Here are a number of effective, natural ways to help.

DRINK FENNEL TEA. Make a tea by steeping 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds in a cupful of boiled water. When the tea cools, give the baby 1 teaspoonful every 10 to 15 minutes.
Childhood is the kapha stage of life, when the body is building. It is also the time when many kapha disorders occur (such as colds and runny noses) and when kapha may stagnate in the stomach, slowing down the appetite. Giving this fennel tea will help to wash out the kapha and in a gentle way stimulate the secretion of digestive enzymes.

MAKE GHRITA MADHU. Mix a pinch of pippali in ½ teaspoon of honey combined with ½ teaspoon ghee. Give it to your baby to lick. The more he or she licks the mixture, the more the appetite will come back.

MONITOR YOUR DIET. One possible reason for a baby’s apparent lack of appetite is that your milk may not taste good to the child. If you tend to have excess pitta in your constitution, and especially if your diet is hot and spicy or includes sour foods and fruits, your milk may become bitter, and the baby won’t like it. This unpleasant taste could be the cause of the child’s apparent lack of appetite. So it is important to determine the mother’s prakruti (constitutional type) and to be sure the diet she is eating is appropriate.

EMPTY YOUR BREASTS. If your child has a diminished appetite and you are secreting more milk than gets used, it is important to empty your breasts. This will avoid congestion of the mastic and lymphatic tissue. Be sure the breasts are emptied of milk at least 2 or 3 times a day.

IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO BREASTFEED. A related situation occurs when a woman chooses not to breastfeed her child. Then the milk is stagnant, which may be one of the causes of fibrocystic changes in the breast. So it is important to empty the breasts whenever milk is present.

THERE IS INSUFFICIENT MILK

The child has a strong appetite, but lactation is scanty. This problem is the reverse of the first. Here are several suggestions to increase the quality and quantity of milk.

SHATAVARI KALPA. To increase lactation, Ayurveda recommends a delicious concoction called shatavari kalpa: the herb shatavari roasted in a pan with ghee and natural brown sugar. Take one teaspoon of that sweet, roasted shatavari in warm milk 2 or 3 times a day.

PLAIN SHATAVARI. You can also use plain shatavari with ghee and sugar. Mix together equal amounts of shatavari and natural sugar, and take 1 teaspoon of the mixture with 1 teaspoon of ghee along with a cup of hot milk.

ALMOND MILK. Another formula to increase breast milk is almond milk. Soak 10 almonds overnight in water. In the morning, peel them and blend them in the blender with a cup of hot water or hot milk. Pour the mixture into a cup or glass, and add 1 teaspoon honey or date sugar, and a pinch each of ginger, cardamom, and saffron. Drink twice a day.

HERBAL FORMULA. To maintain healthy lactation, use this herbal formula:

kutki 2 parts
shilajit 2 parts
shatavari 3 parts

Take ¼ teaspoon of this mixture 2 or 3 times a day with a spoonful of honey. If you wish, you may use this formula the entire time you are breastfeeding.

INFECTED NIPPLE

A third problem is that during the time you are nursing your child, the nipple is not properly cleaned and a fungal infection develops. So take care to wash carefully to prevent this from happening.

PREVENTION

To prevent breast abscess, mastitis, congestion, and stagnation of milk in the breast, gently massage your breasts with warm castor oil. Take 1 teaspoon of the oil, and gently massage the breast from inside outward—that is, from the sternum (breastbone) back toward the armpit, both underneath and around the nipple, and to the side.

Do not apply the castor oil to the areola and nipple. If you apply castor oil to the nipple and your baby sucks the oil, he or she may get diarrhea. So either avoid the nipple or wash off the oil before nursing the child.