Breastfeeding Difficulties: When to Ask for Help

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things in the world - but that doesn't mean it comes naturally to every mother and baby. Difficulties are common, and they can leave parents exhausted, anxious, and unsure whether what they're experiencing is normal.

This post is for parents who are struggling and wondering whether to seek help - and what kind of help is right for them.

Why breastfeeding difficulties happen

Breastfeeding requires a precise and coordinated set of movements from your baby. They need to latch deeply onto the breast, create a seal, and coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing in a rhythm that allows them to feed effectively without tiring or taking in too much air.

When any part of that process is disrupted - whether by the way your baby is positioned, the shape of your nipple, your milk flow, or your baby's own oral function - feeding becomes harder for both of you.

Sometimes a structural difference such as tongue tie - where the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth restricts movement - can make it harder for a baby to latch deeply and feed effectively. This is one of several factors that can affect feeding, and an assessment can help identify whether it is playing a role.

Common signs of breastfeeding difficulties

• Painful or damaged nipples that aren't improving with support
• Your baby feeding very frequently but never seeming satisfied
• Slow or poor weight gain
• Your baby falling asleep at the breast before finishing a feed
• Clicking, gulping or spluttering sounds during feeding
• Your baby pulling off the breast repeatedly or arching away
• Excessive wind, colic or unsettled behaviour after feeds

Some of these can be resolved with good positioning and latching support. But others point to something more specific in the way your baby is feeding - and that's where a Speech and Language Therapist comes in.

Is it a technique issue or a feeding difficulty?

Lactation consultants and breastfeeding counsellors are excellent at supporting positioning, latch, and milk supply. If you haven't already seen one, that's often a good first step.

But if you've had support with positioning and things still aren't improving, or if your baby shows signs of difficulty with the physical act of sucking and swallowing - not just latching - a specialist feeding assessment may give you more answers.

An SLT with expertise in infant feeding can assess how your baby coordinates sucking, swallowing and breathing during a feed, identify whether there are any oral or neurodevelopmental factors affecting feeding, and work with you on strategies to make feeds more effective and comfortable.

When to seek specialist help

If any of the following apply, it's worth speaking to a specialist:

• Pain or damage that hasn't resolved after skilled breastfeeding support
• Your baby is losing weight or not gaining as expected
• Feeds are taking a very long time and leaving your baby unsettled
• Your baby is coughing, choking or going red during feeds
• You've noticed signs of a possible feeding or swallowing difficulty

You don't need a referral to access private support. A free initial call can help you work out whether a full assessment is the right next step.