Breastfeeding and Health

Breastfeeding moms have certain health considerations that non-lactating women don't have. Usually the biggest breastfeeding and health concerns have to do with breast pain, including clogged ducts, mastitis, thrush, and galactoceles. Pain related to pumping - due to incorrect flange sizes, for example - can also be an issue.

Other concerns new moms might have around breastfeeding and health include taking medications (how much gets into the milk, and whether it is harmful to the baby), trying to lose weight while breastfeeding (to avoid impacting supply), and exercising while breastfeeding (without adverse consequences to supply or baby's willingness to take breast milk).

Here are a few key articles about breastfeeding and health that might be helpful to start with:

Clogged Ducts - Clogged milk ducts (also known as plugged or blocked ducts) are one of the most common breastfeeding ailments. They occur when a milk isn't able to flow out of one of your ducts; usually, you can feel a small, painful lump where the clogged duct is. Here is how to get clogs out and prevent them in the future.

Mastitis - If clogged ducts aren't cleared quickly, they can turn into mastitis, otherwise known as the boob flu. (You feel like you have the flu, but your breast hurts and you have to constantly pump despite feeling terrible.) Here is how to treat mastitis.

How Many Calories Do You Need While Breastfeeding? - Breastfeeding mothers who would like to lose the baby weight (or just have an ideal of a calorie count to aim for) might want to have an accurate understanding of how many calories breastfeeding is burning for them. Here is how to find out!