Breastfeeding Problems & Solutions

Breastfeeding Can Be Challenging. You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone.

Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn’t always mean it is easy.

Many parents experience breastfeeding problems at some point. You may be struggling with your baby’s latch, wondering whether you’re making enough milk, experiencing pain, having difficulty pumping, or simply feeling like breastfeeding isn’t going the way you expected.

The good news is that breastfeeding problems are common, and help is available.

The Lactation Foundation at UTHealth Houston provides evidence-based breastfeeding information, education, and personalized lactation support to help families navigate challenges throughout the breastfeeding journey.

Common Breastfeeding Problems

Baby Won’t Latch or Has Difficulty Latching

A baby may have difficulty latching for many reasons. Positioning, oral anatomy, breast fullness, baby’s gestational age, previous feeding experiences, and other factors can affect how a baby attaches to the breast.

If you’re struggling with latch, a lactation consultant can assess what’s happening during feeding and help you explore strategies that may improve comfort and milk transfer.

Learn More About Latch Problems

Low Milk Supply

Concern about milk supply is one of the most common reasons parents seek breastfeeding help.

Milk production can be affected by many factors, including how frequently milk is removed, breastfeeding or pumping difficulties, certain medical conditions, medications, and other circumstances.

If you’re concerned about your milk supply, an IBCLC can help you understand what may be contributing to the problem and develop an individualized plan.

Learn More About Low Milk Supply

Breastfeeding Pain

Breastfeeding should not be consistently painful.

Nipple pain, breast pain, damaged nipples, or pain during feeding may have several possible causes. Getting help early can prevent a manageable problem from becoming more difficult.

Learn More About Breastfeeding Pain

Pumping Problems

Pumping can be challenging, whether you’re exclusively pumping, combining breastfeeding and pumping, returning to work, or expressing milk occasionally.

Common concerns include difficulty expressing milk, finding the right pump settings, discomfort while pumping, or uncertainty about how often or how long to pump.

Learn More About Pumping

Engorgement

Breast fullness and engorgement can make breastfeeding uncomfortable and may make it more difficult for your baby to latch.

Learning how to manage breast fullness and maintain effective milk removal can help you stay comfortable while supporting breastfeeding.

Learn More About Engorgement

Mastitis and Breast Inflammation

Breast inflammation can cause pain, swelling, redness, or flu-like symptoms. Some breast problems require medical evaluation and treatment.

If you have significant breast pain, fever, worsening symptoms, or concerns about an infection, contact a healthcare professional.

Learn More About Breastfeeding Medicine

Oversupply

Some parents produce more milk than their baby needs. Oversupply can contribute to breast fullness, discomfort, leaking, forceful milk flow, and feeding difficulties.

An individualized assessment can help determine whether you have an oversupply and identify strategies that may improve comfort and feeding.

Baby’s Weight Gain

Parents may seek help when their baby is not gaining weight as expected or when they are concerned that their baby isn’t getting enough milk.

Feeding assessment can help identify potential problems with milk transfer and determine whether additional medical evaluation or nutritional support is needed.

Tongue-Tie and Other Oral Restrictions

Parents are sometimes concerned that a tongue-tie or other oral restriction may be affecting breastfeeding.

Feeding difficulties can have multiple causes, so a thorough assessment is important before deciding whether a procedure or other intervention is appropriate.

Returning to Work or School

Returning to work or school can raise new questions about breastfeeding, pumping, milk storage, and maintaining milk production.

Planning ahead can make the transition easier and help you develop a feeding and pumping routine that works for your family.

Breastfeeding Twins or Multiples

Breastfeeding twins or multiples can bring unique challenges, including positioning, feeding schedules, milk production, and finding time to rest.

Specialized lactation support can help families develop practical strategies for feeding more than one baby.

Breastfeeding a Premature or Medically Complex Baby

Premature or medically complex babies may have additional feeding needs. Breastfeeding and milk expression plans may need to change as your baby grows and develops.

Your baby’s healthcare team and lactation professionals can work together to support feeding and milk production.

Breastfeeding After Breast Surgery

Previous breast surgery, including breast reduction or augmentation, may affect milk production or milk transfer for some parents.

A prenatal or postpartum consultation can help you understand what to expect and develop an individualized feeding plan.

When Should You Get Help With a Breastfeeding Problem?

You don’t have to wait until a breastfeeding problem becomes severe before asking for help.

Consider talking with an IBCLC if:

Breastfeeding is consistently painful.
Your baby is having difficulty latching.
You are worried about your milk supply.
Your baby is not gaining weight as expected.
You are struggling with pumping.
You are experiencing repeated breast or nipple problems.
You are feeling overwhelmed or unsure about breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding isn’t going the way you expected.
You simply want reassurance that feeding is going well.

When Should I See a Lactation Consultant?

When Do I Need Breastfeeding Medicine?

Some breastfeeding problems require more than lactation support.

Our Breastfeeding Medicine service provides medical evaluation for persistent or complex breastfeeding concerns, including certain breast infections and inflammatory conditions, significant breastfeeding pain, persistent milk supply concerns, and other problems that may require medical assessment.

Learn About Breastfeeding Medicine

Get Personalized Breastfeeding Help

Online information can be a helpful place to start, but every parent and baby is different. If you’re having a breastfeeding problem that isn’t improving—or you simply aren’t sure what to do next—a personalized evaluation can help.

The Lactation Foundation at UTHealth Houston offers support from experienced lactation professionals who can help you understand your options and determine the next best step.

[Schedule a Lactation Consultation →]

More Breastfeeding Resources

Explore our resources for additional information about breastfeeding and infant feeding:

Whether you have a specific breastfeeding problem or simply have questions, we’re here to help you find reliable information and appropriate support.