Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

Here is my issue-Miss Bean (yes, I am still calling her Miss Bean) is a great latcher and when she nurses, she is amazing. However, I am having a terrible time getting her to keep my nipple in her mouth. I have flat nipples, but when I pump, it helps. I am having a hard time finding a good position to nurse her in as well (I had a c/s and I still have an IV in my arm) and she insists on putting her hands in her face. The LC comes to help, but sometimes takes too long and if I don't feed her at the right time, she flips out and screams and I have to feed her cholestrom with a syringe. She did lose some weight, but she is an incredible nurser when I can get her to stay on. The LC said they are impressed with her and we will learn it. But I am getting so upset and frustrated. I am determined to do this, but I need advice and maybe any helpful reading materials or videos I can watch when we go home tomorrow.

Also, how long until you get your milk? Will having milk make my issue a little easier since she won't have to work as hard? How long did it take you until you got into a groove? I know women have BFed for many many years, so it is doable!

TIA and just because, a pic of my Diva princess Miss Sienna Hayley Bean!

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

I can't help with the latching issues, as I was a BFing failure....

BUT, my milk came in on day 5 post partum.

She's beautiful!

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

good for you for sticking with it! It is incredibly hard and frustrating in the beginning! Keep latching her often to help the milk come in (mine came in a couple of days after being home..so I wanna say about a week!?!?!) and for her to get better at latching! I felt the boppy helped prop my DCs up and my DD was better in the cradle and my DS was better with the football! I would massage the breast while they latched to help with the letdown in the beginning so they wouldnt get frustrated and feed when they FIRST show signs of rooting (in the beginning at least) and not until they are starving so they learn to suck first before getting upset that they dont want to work! They also say lots of skin-to-skin contact helps!
Both my DCs lost weight and I never supplemented! it is completely normal bec they loose all your fluids after birth...so dont feel like it is failing! Good luck!

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

Hey Michelle! Miss Bean is beautiful! Sorry you are having BFing difficulties. Hang in there, it gets better I promise
I had a C too and found it was easiest to nurse him on the boppy pillow (in the cradle hold) when I was in the hospital. The football hold never really worked well for me even though that is what they suggest for c section mommas. My milk came in the night of the day they sent me home, so I was 4 days PP. We had some latching issues too after they gave him a paci in the hospital. It got much better after my milk came in. Good luck and congrats!

ETA: he lost a lot of weight in the hospital too but by the time he went to the ped several days after being home, he had regained his birth weight.

Message edited 3/3/2010 10:44:31 PM.

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

I can't help you, Mich, but just wanted to brag to everyone that I met the lovely Miss Sienna tonight And I changed her poopy diaper!

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

First, your DD is adorable!

My milk came in 5 or 6 days after. My DD had a hard time latching and my LC had me try a nipple shield to help. I ended up nursing for a month, pumping for a month, but the fact that your LC said she is doing great once she's on, is really great news! My LC always said think about folding your boob/nipple like a sandwich for DC. Stick with it, I'm not denying its HARD, but the fact that she's such a great nurser is really awesome!

You can do it and HANG IN THERE! Things will get easier

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

I only nursed for 3 weeks but I had one nipple that was inverted, which was not fun. I kept pumping that one while in hospital and that seemed to help. I only had one that was inverted though, so he latched on the other in the mean time. Are they both flat?

My milk came in about a week after he was born....then I had a breakdown and became and BFing failure, so that's all I can help with She's beautiful

Message edited 3/3/2010 11:02:17 PM.

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

Posted by mrswask

I can't help you, Mich, but just wanted to brag to everyone that I met the lovely Miss Sienna tonight And I changed her poopy diaper!

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

Posted by DPerotti

I only nursed for 3 weeks but I had one nipple that was inverted, which was not fun. I kept pumping that one while in hospital and that seemed to help. I only had one that was inverted though, so he latched on the other in the mean time. Are they both flat?

My milk came in about a week after he was born....then I had a breakdown and become and BFing failure, so that's all I can help with She's beautiful

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

Posted by munchkinfacemama

Posted by DPerotti

I only nursed for 3 weeks but I had one nipple that was inverted, which was not fun. I kept pumping that one while in hospital and that seemed to help. I only had one that was inverted though, so he latched on the other in the mean time. Are they both flat?

My milk came in about a week after he was born....then I had a breakdown and become and BFing failure, so that's all I can help with She's beautiful

Dev-they are both flat-I pump before feeding to draw the nipples out.

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

She is gorgeous and so alert!

My milk came in fast..like three days. Did you try using the boppy to get her positioned better?

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

for a better position, try my brest friend...for the flat nipples, some people have had success with nipple shields, but weaning off of them has been equally as hard and difficult...i don't have any first hand experience, but when you milk comes in (mine did day 4) she'll be great at staying on, hang in there, you're doing a fab job mama!!

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

My milk came in on day 3. We had the same issues with Liam.. actually worse. He would latch on and suck once and come off. But, with persistance it worked. It took a few days. It does get easier when your milk comes in. Keep at it and USE the lactation consultant. For me the football hold and the cross carry were the only two that worked. And he would only do the football on side and only the cross on the other But, honestly, It got better in a few days/weeks and that stuff is such a distant memory now. Hang in there.

And Congrats. She is beautiful!

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

Have you tried using nipple shields? I have no experience with them but I believe randella used them successfully. Maybe try FMing her...

DS was born on a monday night, late, via c-section and my milk came in Friday morning. Good luck!!! You can do it, keep at it and it will get easier I promise!!!

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

My milk came in around day 3. Some other tips are try nursing her topless and her with only a diaper the skin to skin contact is good. I didn't have a c-section so I'm not sure about holds, maybe football would work well? or try laying down nursing.
As far as latch, your nipples will get used to it too. How long is she nursing for? My dd was always quick like 10 min , when you are in the hospital they really pressure you with watching the clock but just nurse as often as possible and don't worry so much about the time! Good luck!

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

First of all she is beautiful!!

Try a nipple shield. That may help until she gets a little stronger.

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

Thank you so much everyone-i let her nurse as long as she wants-about 20 minutes-30 minutes per side. My milk is starting to come in. The LC is giving me nipple shields today!

Re: Any advice re getting NB to stay on after latching?

I had kind of flat nipples at first too and the LC gave me the breast shields to bring them out. I'd wear them for about 15 min before nursing.
I had my c-section on a tuesday and my milk came in on sunday.
You'll find a position that works for you. The first few week are the hardest- but then you find your groove and it gets so much easier!