New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

Hi

I'm a new Mom to my baby boy Blake who is about to turn 2 weeks old!! I have been exclusively breastfeeding, but at 12 days old we are still having issues latching on.

I saw a LC the last day in the hospital but it was the day DS was circumsized and he just too sleepy to even nurse while she was there to help.

I can only seem to get BF to work using the football hold and My Brest Friend nursing pillow. But it literally can take 15 or more minutes just to get him to latch on! He just doesn't seem to open wide enoug and his hands are always in the way. I usually get a good latch once he is crying/screaming since his mouth is open wide but that doesn't seem like the best process!!

Please tell me how long it took for your child to latch on quickly? DH goes back to work Monday and is asking me to consider a bottle just to make things easier but i want to wait until we have BF established. So at least 2-3 more weeks!

I'm going to the lactation specialist Monday. Hopefully she can help us!!

New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

I don't have any direct advice on what you should do other than DEF see that LC &, to be honest, what helped me was watching breast feeding how-to videos on you tube. Weird, right? But I'm convinced it helped me lol. It can't hurt! Just want to offer u words of encouragement. BFing is the best for your DS & it's awesome that u r so willing to try to give him nothing but the best! I hope it works out for you!!! :)

New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

Ps- it won't help with latching but I just wanted to recommend "earth mama angel baby nipple butter"... I like it so much better than lanolin ... It's less thick & gooey than lanolin & even smells good. Great for sore nips & for pumping. GL!

New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

Congrats and it sounds like you're doing great! I definitely think a good LC should be able to help. Now that you're two weeks in and not in the crazy environment of the hospital and have a million more questions it is a totally different experience.

As far as advice, make sure you're in a really comfy position yourself and you're relaxed. In the beginning, sometimes the crying, wide open mouth is the best thing, lol. Another suggestion if he's not latching is to change sides. Sometimes DD would be screaming and refusing to latch and then I'd try the other side and she'd latch on no problem. You can ask DH to help you too. DH would point out if DD's neck wasn't in line with the rest of her body and little things I wouldn't notice. He'd help me adjust her and it was just nice to have the support so I didn't feel like it was all on me.

I remember those early days when it really was stressful. When I was having a really hard time, I'd tell myself, "It's not like she's never going to eat again." For whatever reason that reminder always helped me relax. Each day will get easier and in another week or so your little guy will know what he's doing much more! GL

New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

Thanks so much!! It does make the feedings a little stressful knowing its going to first start with crying/screaming.

I will try changing sides! I get so stuck on which side he fed from last and making sure to switch during feedings. He should be getting up soon, if one side doesn't work I'll just switch and offer the oher side. Hopefully that helps!

Re: New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

What worked for me getting him to latch was to aim the nipple towards his nose then it's not so available to the baby and he sort of works to get it by opening his mouth to find it. Sounds silly but when I was having issues I read that in a breast feeding book and it really worked for us.

Re: New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

Re: New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

It could be possible that you have nipples on the flatter side. Try pumping for a min or two to enlarge your nipple and then see if Baby will latch more quickly.

You may also want to try a nipple shield. Can be bought at BRU. Only thing with a nipple shield is that eventually you need to wean off that back on to the boob but it's not that bad.

Re: New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

I took my DS a long time to latch. i hated Bf ing for the first 3 weeks and without the help of my LC I would have stopped but eventuallyI exclusively Bf'd for 15m. Don't give up. Many around you will say t just give a bottle to make things easier but how they can support you is by making you meals , laundry food shopping etc.
Maybe I was crazy but I felt like my only job was breastfeeding and I'm so glad I did.
SO keep up to great job and hopefully the LC will make the difference

Re: New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

Re: New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

Re: New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

oops - double post! sorry

Message edited 1/5/2013 10:11:57 PM.

Re: New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

your doing great! And the best thing to do if you really want to do it is keep at it..bottle so early might just confuse them and prefer it more...

in the beginning they are so sleepy and lazy - they are new to it and need to get used to it...i agree with PPer to aim off the side not right at the nipple so they are forced to open their mouths wider....and when they do - jam in your nipple quickly ..

i also was told by a LC in the hospital - that if they get an "Almost good latch" to manually correct it: once my DD was latched I would use my pointer finger to pull down the chin and lower lip and lift the upper lip as well to get more of the mouth around the nipple/areola!

if they give trouble once they are latched also try to manually do breast compressions to get the flow out a little faster so they dont get frustrated...and doing this before they latch too to get some milk onto the nipple so they taste it and know what they are getting

also make sure they arent too sleepy when they latch..then that is when you get a lazy latch...so undress them, skin to skin contact, tickle feet, rub the top of their heads (this works great too if they fall asleep at the breast..they for some reason continue to nurse if you rub the top of their head with your whole palm)

good luck! It is the hardest thing i have done.....but so worth it...i had trouble with ALL THREE of my kiddies in the beginning...but before I knew it - it was like 2nd nature for both me and my kiddies..and i nusred them all for 1 fullyear!!!!!!

it takes about 4-6 weeks to feel like you are a pro at it!

Don't hesitate to ask any questions on here...lots of great support for all the troubles in the beginning!

Message edited 1/5/2013 9:17:27 PM.

New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

Oh and I tip me LC gave me if you need to give a bottle is to not let him take the whole nipplein his mouth almost like your always pulling it out of his mouth. Seems cruel but the bottle is soo easy for them and it may help them to go back to the breast. I had to do this since my son was tongue tied and had to bottle feed him until i was fixed at day 12

Re: New Mommy with Breastfeeding Question

As someone who also had issues with latching, the best thing someone recommended is a nipple cover. Ds latched immediately with it, and up until i went back to work, we continued to use it. For some strange reason as soon as i went back to work, he started latching without it. At 5 1/2 months we are still nursing. Knowing this, i will be prepared if and when i have another. Good luck!!