When choosing to breastfeed there can be a number of barriers to breastfeeding which you may face as a mother. We can help to provide support and education with techniques to overcome these difficulties.
Breastfeeding difficulties can not only be caused by the baby's nutritional needs but may also be due to your infant being unable to successfully learn the complex process of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding difficulties can affect on your baby's growth and development, hindering their ability to meet and achieve optimal nutritional status.
Breastfeeding difficulties that can occur include, pain when breastfeeding, oral motor movement difficulties, childhood aversion to breast milk, poor nutrition and aspiration difficulties.
The Kids Feeding Team will work hard to ensure that these difficulties are minimised or reduced. We are able to assess, treat and monitor the breastfeeding problems and advice on how best to support yours and your infant's needs.
The most common cause of breastfeeding difficulties identified is premature birth. This implies that the infant was not fully able to develop the muscles required for effective breastfeeding. Breastfeeding problems may also occur when the infant has any physical disabilities, including cleft lip and palate or tongue tie. The infant's ability to breastfeed may also be caused by any neurological conditions, allergies or intolerances.
The Kids Feeding Team will work hard to assess the causes of breastfeeding in order to gain more understanding of the nature of your infant's problems and how best we will be able to help you.
Mothers and infants that experience any breastfeeding difficulties may have the following problems that our team of dieticians, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists can minimise and support:
The Kids Feeding Team will be able to provide many benefits to a mother and child unit that experience breastfeeding difficulties. Through careful assessment and bespoke treatment options, we would aim to:
We make every effort to help and support for continued breastfeeding as we know the great benefits it offers babies. However, on occasions there may be indication for combinations feeding (breast and formula).
Our multidisciplinary Kids Feeding Team will use various treatment options to support a child and their mother with breastfeeding difficulties, this might include one or a number of:
How do I arrange an assessment for breastfeeding difficulties?
If you would like to know more about the services we offer for breastfeeding difficulties or to arrange an assessment with a member of our multidisciplinary Kids Feeding Team, do not hesitate to email office@kidsfeedingteam.co.uk or call 0161 820 8262.
Breastfeeding is a complex process that the infant must learn in early life and so many difficulties may occur, causing feeding to be an unpleasant or difficult experience for both the baby and mother. The Kids Feeding Team are able to identify any causes of breastfeeding difficulties and can help implement strategies to support breastfeeding and the infant's development.
If you or your child experience any difficulties with breastfeeding and feel that you would benefit from seeing our Kids Feeding Team, email office@kidsfeedingteam.co.uk or call 0161 820 8262.