1. Not enough milk.
That is a problem many new mothers face. Many moms give up breastfeeding and switch to formula milk because the baby goes hungry as they don't seem to produce enough breast milk. It is frustrating for both mother and baby when the baby suckles hungrily and the cries inconsolably, frustrated, until a bottle of milk is introduced.
Your body produces milk according to the baby's demand. The more the baby takes from you, the more your breasts will produce. One way to fool your body into producing more milk is this. While baby is taking formula milk (you don't want baby to go hungry), express as much as you can with a breast pump. Feed the baby from a cup instead of a bottle to prevent the baby from getting used to the easy flow of milk from the teat.
Since milk is made up largely of water, drink as many glasses of water as you can before expressing your milk and before feeding baby.
Milk is released during the let down reflex after baby's suckling so relax to allow the milk to flow.
You need nutrients to produce milk. Eat plenty of fish for protein and omega-3. Take lots of fruit and vegetables. Chew fennel seeds to help your body produce more milk. Then get as much sleep as possible. Your body needs the rest in order to produce enough for baby.
Check how your baby is feeding. To breastfeed successfully, baby has to take in the areola (flat brown circle) as well as the nipple. You could help baby by pushing in as much of the areola into baby's mouth when she latches on.
2. Sore nipples.
Cracked, painful nipples are common when you start breastfeeding. After each feed, soothe them with calendula cream which heals the soreness. Wash your nipples with a towel using soap and water just before you feed the baby again. With time, nipples will toughen up and the problem will go away.
3. Baby gagging when feeding.
This is the opposite of the first problem. Baby latches on, suckles and then chokes when the let-down reflex occurs. She gets angry and cries while glaring at the offensive nipple which spurts milk everywhere, embarassing mom and making a mess of everything.
This too will normalize. Or at least, baby would learn to adapt. Mine would suckle, then duck. He would let go, move aside and then watch the milk spurt out, refusing to drink until the flow subsides. After that he would feed contentedly until full.
