Overview
Introduction
A feeding problem is not always a milk supply problem.
A feeding problem is not always a milk-supply problem. The infant must attach deeply enough to remove milk, while the breastfeeding parent should feel steady pulling or tugging rather than pinching pain. A shallow attachment can produce both sides of the same problem: the infant remains hungry because transfer is poor, and the parent develops nipple trauma because the nipple is being compressed. The nurse assesses the dyad together. Observe the infant’s mouth, chin, nose, cheeks, and feeding behaviour while also asking about pain and inspecting the nipple after the feed. That combined picture is more useful than relying on one hunger cue or one difficult feeding.