While breastfeeding difficulties are not uncommon, putting the baby to the breast as soon as possible after birth helps to avoid many problems.

The policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics on breastfeeding instructs to, "delay weighing, measuring, bathing, needle-sticks, and eye prophylaxis until after the first feeding is completed.

It is cited as the second most common cause for the abandonment of exclusive breastfeeding after perceived low milk supply.

Some researchers have suggested that after breastfeeding, mothers should pump and/or apply cold compresses to reduce swelling pain and vascularity even more.

Factors include too much pressure on the nipple when not enough of the areola is latched onto and an improper release of suction at the end of the feeding.

[27] Symptoms of candidiasis of the breast include pain, itching, burning and redness, or a shiny or white patchy appearance.

Continued breastfeeding, plenty of rest and adequate fluid supply is the best treatment for light cases.

[32] Breastfeeding might harm the baby also if the mother has untreated pulmonary tuberculosis, is taking certain medications that suppress the immune system.

[2] Other than cases of acute poisoning, no environmental contaminant has been found to cause more harm to infants than lack of breastfeeding.

Although heavy metals such as mercury are dispersed throughout the environment and are of concern to the nursing infant, the neurodevelopmental benefits of human milk tend to override the potential adverse effects of neurotoxicants.

[2] According to the American Academy of Pediatrics 2006 Redbook: Women with tuberculosis who have been treated appropriately for 2 or more weeks and who are not considered contagious may breastfeed.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis rarely causes mastitis or a breast abscess, but if a breast abscess caused by M. tuberculosis is present, breastfeeding should be discontinued until the mother no longer is contagious.In areas where BCG vaccination is the standard of care, the WHO provides treatment recommendations and advises mothers to continue breastfeeding.

In fact, the World Health Organization recommended breastfeeding in 1987 and 1992 for seropositive and seronegative women in areas where malnutrition and infectious diseases are the major cause of infant mortality.

A more recent article from 1992 describes how the health of an infant can be compromised by water, which in many resource-poor countries holds the risk of environmental pathogens that are not present in breastmilk.

Even one or two drinks, including beer, may reduce milk intake by 20 to 23%, leading to increased agitation and poor sleep patterns.

"[51] Cannabis is listed by the American Association of Pediatrics as a compound that transfers into human breast milk.

[52] The vast majority of over the counter and prescription medicines are compatible with breastfeeding, but there are some that might be passed onto the child through the milk.

[53] If one does continue tobacco smoking after giving birth, however, it is still more beneficial to breastfeed than to completely avoid this practice altogether.

Even in babies exposed to the harmful effects of nicotine through breast milk, the likelihood of acute respiratory illness is significantly diminished when compared to infants whose mothers smoked but were formula fed.

The main concern about smoking and breastfeeding is that infants may have smoking-induced reductions to the milk iodine content.

Not only will this be problematic on a daily basis for not producing enough milk, it will also cause the mother to wean her baby early.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is more common in babies exposed to a smoky environment.

[57] Breastfeeding mothers who smoke are counseled not to do so during or immediately before feeding their child, and are encouraged to seek advice to help them reduce their nicotine intake or quit.

[58] With respect to alcohol, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that when breastfeeding, "moderation is definitely advised" and recommends waiting for 2 hours after drinking before nursing or pumping.

[60] If the mother consumes too much caffeine, it can cause irritability, sleeplessness, nervousness and increased feeding in the breastfed infant.

[63] An exclusively breastfed baby depends on breast milk completely so it is important for the mother to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and especially a good diet.

A Cochrane review assessed the effects of workplace interventions to support and promote breastfeeding among mothers returning to work after the birth of their babies.

"The return to work can impact the amount of breastmilk that your body produces due to the stress and changes of leaving your baby."