Breastfeeding problems

Breastfeeding problems can occur at any stage of the infants early stages of development. Breastfeeding is a complex skill for your infant to learn, therefore there are a range of problems that could occur for some mothers and children.

Our speech and language therapists can work with children and their mothers to help develop their breast feeding skills and reduce any risks to the child these problems may cause.

There are a range of breastfeeding problems that may occur, including pain when breastfeeding, child’s poorly developed oral motor movements, child’s aversion to food, aspiration and poor nutrition.

Our speech and language therapists are able to work on some of these difficulties and can refer to the correct professional if needed.

The most common cause of breast feeding problems are due to a premature birth. This means that the baby has not fully developed yet in order to have the skills to breastfeed effectively. Breastfeeding problems can also be caused by physical disabilities, this may include cleft lip and palate or tongue tie. Neurological conditions may also affect an infant's ability to breastfeed.

Children and mothers that have breastfeeding difficulties may experience the following difficulties that speech and language therapists can help with:

• Poor lip closure.
• Poor swallowing function.
• Uncoordinated suck - swallow - breath cycle.
• Poor nutrition.
• Aspiration or pneumonia.
• Poor weight gain.
• Difficulty getting your child to accept feeding method.
• Lack of interest in feeding.
• Poor oral stimulation.

For any difficulties speech and language therapists are unable to help with, SLT for Kids are able to refer you to the relevant professional on our kids feeding team.

Speech and language therapists use various treatment and assessments to treat a child and mother with breastfeeding difficulties, including:

• Assessing feeding skills and abilities to identify cause of problem and current needs.
• Discussing the strategies that you have tried previously to try and improve feeding.
• Implementing strategies to promote efficient feeding.
• Advice and education on specific difficulties that may cause breast feeding difficulties.
• Oral motor exercises to improve child's movement and strength of the mouth muscles.
• Therapeutic breathing techniques to co-ordinate suck - swallow - breath cycle.
• Identifying any swallowing anatomy difficulties to prevent aspiration.
• Ensuring breastfeeding method is safe and effective for infant.
• Referring to another professional if required.

Speech and language therapy has several benefits for a child and their mother with breastfeeding difficulties, including:

• Improving use of mouth muscles.
• Improved lip closure.
• Increased acceptance of breastfeeding.
• Improving sucking ability.
• Coordination of suck - swallow - breath cycle.
• Increased oral stimulation.
• Reduced anxiety and stress during feeding times for the child and mother.

Speech and language therapists use various treatment and assessments to treat a child and mother with breastfeeding difficulties, including:

• Assessing feeding skills and abilities to identify cause of problem and current needs.
• Discussing the strategies that you have tried previously to try and improve feeding.
• Implementing strategies to promote efficient feeding.
• Advice and education on specific difficulties that may cause breast feeding difficulties.
• Oral motor exercises to improve child's movement and strength of the mouth muscles.
• Therapeutic breathing techniques to co-ordinate suck - swallow - breath cycle.
• Identifying any swallowing anatomy difficulties to prevent aspiration.
• Ensuring breastfeeding method is safe and effective for infant.
• Referring to another professional if required.

To arrange a speech and language therapy assessment for breast feeding problems with one our speech and language therapists please call 0330 088 2298.

Breastfeeding difficulties can occur at any time during the early development of the infant and there are many difficulties that may occur. Breast feeding difficulties are commonly caused by a premature birth but can be caused by physical and neurological factors. Speech and language therapy can help promote safe and efficient breastfeeding for the child and their mother as well as help identify feeding risks such as aspiration.

If you and your child have breastfeeding difficulties and you think they would benefit from seeing one of our specialist paediatric speech and language therapists, email office@sltforkids.co.uk or call 0330 088 2298.