Most mothers who stop breastfeeding early do not stop because they wanted to. They stop because of pain, a baby who will not latch, worry about supply, or simply because nobody showed them what to do in the first week. Almost all of it is fixable with the right help, and the help works best when you ask early rather than late.
Here is what usually goes wrong, and what we can do about it at Botshilu Private Hospital.
Latch problems
A poor latch is the root of most breastfeeding difficulty. It causes pain for you and inefficient feeding for your baby, which then feeds the fear that your supply is failing. It is correctable, usually quickly, with hands-on guidance from someone watching you feed — not with advice over the phone.
Worries about supply
Most mothers produce enough milk. Frequent feeding and correct technique are what protect supply; topping up with formula out of fear is the most common reason supply actually does drop. Before you switch, get advice. A feeding assessment and a weight check usually settle the question in one visit.
Painful or cracked nipples
Pain is a signal, not a rite of passage. Cracked or bleeding nipples are usually a latch problem rather than something to endure. Persistent pain, or pain that starts after weeks of comfortable feeding, needs review — it can point to thrush or another treatable cause.
Mastitis — when to come in the same day
A breast that is hot, red, hard and painful, especially with fever, aches or feeling generally unwell, is mastitis and needs medical attention promptly. Treated early it settles quickly. Left alone it can develop into an abscess that needs draining. Do not wait it out over a weekend — our Emergency & Trauma Unit is open 24 hours on 012 798 7076.
If your baby is not gaining weight
Slow weight gain has many causes, most of them manageable. It needs a proper assessment rather than guesswork, and it is a reason to be seen rather than a reason to give up.
How we help
- Maternity — feeding support starts in the ward, in the first days, before problems set in.
- Botshilu Bambinos — our mother and baby programme, designed around you and your baby from pregnancy through the early months.
- Baby Wellness Clinic — growth monitoring, weight checks, immunisations and feeding support, run by Sr. J Nkuna.
- Dietetics — maternal nutrition advice from our dietitians, Mr. K Medupe and Mr. VA Sape.
- Paediatrics — if your baby is not gaining weight or you are worried about feeding, our paediatricians Dr. NN Gibango, Dr. JN Mathibedi, Dr. I Tshetlo and Dr. DL Kutumela assess and advise.
You are not failing. Breastfeeding is a journey, and you do not have to navigate it alone.
Struggling to feed? Speak to our maternity team — 012 798 7000.
