Problem with feeding

[Newmuminapril]

Wanted some advice please. My son is 6 weeks old and has been ebf but he feeds almost constantly probably every hour to every two hours which is draining me completely. Have had a breastfeeding assessment and they have said it is because he latches on and then closes his mouth. Meaning that he isn't feeding efficiently and that is why he wants constant feeds. I have been trying to get him to open mouth but he just won't keep it open during the feed. I don't know what to do and am constantly crying as he isn't feeding properly and I don't want to have to top him up with formula. Thanks for any help x

[springbabydays]

Congrats on your little one! Sorry to hear you're struggling with feeding. It's not a problem I've heard of before but hopefully someone else here can help. Who gave you the assessment? Are you in pain feeding or is it just the exhaustion that's the problem for you? I take it baby is gaining weight etc?

[Newmuminapril]

Nhs support team did assessment. Have had some pain during but let down can be painful. He is putting on weight but hv said it wasn't enough. He has gone down a percentile on the weight graph in red book. Exhaustion isn't helping, plus making me emotional. Thanks.

[Newmuminapril]

Just read assessment and she has put that he has a shallow latch. He does open wide but only for a few gulps.

[cookiefiend]

I keep typing a long reply and losing it by accidentally clicking on adverts. Sodding ipad.

So- had similar issues with dd (among many other bf issues). Not that she closed her mouth specifically but a poor latch. Was advised to unlatch her and get her to try again every time she got it wrong. This seemed impossible as she did it constantly. I googled good latch and breastfeeding and found some great websites and youtube videos. I unlatched her each time and eventually it worked. I hardly noticed when but one day my husband said- you actually look comfortable.

It was hard but she is eight and a half months and bf as we speak. It will get better. I will see if I can find you a link.

If you have open cuts on your nipples change your breast pads after every feed as you may get thrush which is agony. You are doing great to have lasted six weeks- in the next couple of weeks it will improve. It is so exhausting though. Be kind to yourself and eat the extra cake you have earned by feeding.

[cookiefiend]

Just read you note- shallow latch- that was the same as dd. Good- I can help. give me a minute to google and to work out how to put in links.

[cookiefiend]

Deep latch technique [http://www.pumpstation.com/pumpstation/dept.asp?dept_id=3228]

[cookiefiend]

www.pumpstation.com/pumpstation/dept.asp?dept_id=3228

[springbabydays]

Could you get in contact with a local specialist bf advisor?

I'd recommend lansinoh cream after every feed to soothe your nipples if you're not already using it.

It is exhausting, but you should be so proud of what you're doing. I'm sure you'll get over this hurdle with the right help.

[springbabydays]

Excellent. cookie is on it

[cookiefiend]

Sorry each time I move away to another tab the ipad refreshes this page and I lose the link I have already copied and pasted so I will post each link separately- not trying to monopolise your thread.

I liked this video m.youtube.com/watch?v=OGttPTx7iSs

I think it is known as a flipple technique or exaggerated latch.

[cookiefiend]

And this website had some good resources

kellymom.com/ages/newborn/bf-basics/latch-resources/

I found that youtube and google were a little better than the breast feeding clinic lady in that I could watch them repeatedly at 3 am when my brain was fuzzy and I couldn't remember how she had described it.

I hope that helps. I had supply issues as well- for other reasons and had to top up with formula. In the end we no longer need it, but it was necessary and is for many many people so if you need to use it do not panic and do not blame yourself. You sound like you are working very hard to do your best for your baby.

[doodledotmum]

I suggest a bf support counsellor via N cT or la leche - angels

[doodledotmum]

Oh and yes with both mine I had to top up with formula at some point for bf issues. It's fine and helps while you sort issues out

[Newmuminapril]

Thanks am looking at video now.

[Newmuminapril]

Am going to try the techniques in the videos thanks. Think I will try advisor again as I still not sure. How do I know if doing it right? I know it shouldn't hurt and when he was doing a shallow latch that didn't really hurt. Also when does it get easier? When can I bf and it be like everyone else I see doing it? A lovely bonding and calm time for mum and baby.

[cookiefiend]

Watch for him looking right- I thought dd looked like a little Hoover when latched well- like some of the diagrams I had seen. It still hurt at first until I healed, but stopped causing me damage and you could see she was swallowing- look for his forehead kind of wiggling and listen for swallowing noises. I think from point where I started unlatching every time it was incorrect it was days rather than weeks cos she realised she was getting more milk so learned quite quickly.

The anxious sleepless haze make you think everyone is doing it better than you- but for loads of people bf is not as easy as nhs propaganda has you believe. It is hard work for the first couple of months. Soon your baby will be more efficient- and will get more milk quickly so feed less often. Also his stomach will grow and he will eat more at once and time between feeds will increase.

It will get better and before you know it you will be sat on mumsnet telling someone else the same. I am so pleased now I persevered, I am not sure at what point exactly I started to enjoy the bonding calmness etc, but I did. You will too. If you are sleep deprived you could always skip one feed and replace with formula- a one off feed shouldn't upset your supply at this stage, but a solid block of four or five hours sleep might just be enough to get you through this so worth it in the long term. Hope tonight goes ok. I will check in on you tomorrow.

[Newmuminapril]

Thanks so much for help and support everyone it has really made a difference to how I am feeling. Am going to try and sleep now before he needs another feed. It is reassuring to know it could all change in a matter of days rather than weeks :) fingers crossed!

[doodledotmum]

With my DD my oh did bottle night feed for a while when she was tiny so I got some sleep and didn't end up a blubbering mess. I was advised to express a bit between feeds also to trick boobs into making lots of milk. As far as I recall the proper latch / free feels liked they have a big proper mouthful and they suck and swallow as opposed to just suckling - but im a bit sketchy ! With my DS I felt like a petrol pump. Early Problems are far far more prevalent than you'd believe

[doodledotmum]

The other thing about when they latch fully is that you can do things without them coming off - make a cup of tea, cut cake, answer the door ... And no I am not joking. !!!

[Newmuminapril]

Cake sounds good! Last night wasn't too bad he fed for couple of hours whilst we were trying to get latch right and then he slept for 3 hours woke up and I cuddled him back to sleep for another hour. Which is a lot better than normal. Going to ring support service tomorrow to try and get someone round again. He was latching deeper and sucking and swallowing but not sure if it was deep enough. It didn't hurt or make any noise. Thanks.

[Newmuminapril]

Also he makes noises whilst feeding so it is hard for me to hear if he is swallowing.

[doodledotmum]

Sounds very positive - well done

[cookiefiend]

Sounds great- you really are doing well. I was surprised how many people have breastfeeding issues. I think the nhs are so keen to promote feeding that they fail to warn you about the difficulties involved. Unfortunately I think this means people feel like they are alone in having problems or that they are doing something wrong, but in my limited experience I think the majority have some issues.

Hope you can get some help tomorrow, try to relax meantime and take it one day at a time.

[fledermaus]

Both mine have had shallow latches due to tongue ties and I have found the exaggerated latch technique/flipple really useful.

My first was easier to feed and we had it sorted by 6 weeks, but he still dropped more than 2 centiles - he then stayed on that centile though and is almost 4 now so that is clearly just where he is meant to be!

My second is 12 weeks now and is much easier than she was, although she still feeds 2 hourly in the day and 2-3 hourly at night - hard work but pretty normal! I still have to take care when latching her one. She dropped one centile from birth weight and has stayed there.

[cookiefiend]

How is it going newmum?