does this latch look okay?

[Focusfocus]

Can anyone tell me if this latch looks okay?

[Focusfocus]

Here's the pic

[DontBuyANewMumCashmere]

I'm no expert but I'd say baby's face should be tipped back more, ie eyes further away from boob and chin more closely tucked in.
When you get ready to put baby on, are you lining up your nipple with the nose? Then when they take a big mouthful they tip their head back so nose is well clear and mouth and chin quite well against boob.
Are you in pain? When you've finished feeding is the nipple pinched slightly? Does baby appear full after feeding? Do you hear funny clicking and does milk dribble whilst feeding?

[FloJo151]

its difficult to tell through a pic whether a latch is effective or not. Can you get to a nearby breastfeeding group?

Do you think there is an issue with the latch? Is there pain? Do you think baby is transferring milk effectively?

I obviously cant see what its like inside the mouth but for what its worth I think the chin needs to be more tucked into the breast which in turn should help the nose not be presses right up against the breast. This might be achieved by just tucking baby in to you more. Maybe also try a rugby ball hold as I always found it was much easier to get a nice deep latch using a rugby ball hold.
HTH

[SnozzberryWibble]

If it feels comfortable and baby seems to be getting milk, the latch is fine... If not - i.e. if it's painful or uncomfortable, it could be that baby's head needs to be tipped back a bit more of an angle as previous posters mentioned, to get mouth really wide open :)

[mayhew]

It looks shallow to me. That is the nipple probably is not reaching the back of the baby's palate. I would expect a well latched baby to have its mouth wider, where the chin is pointing towards the chest and the lower lip flipped back.

If that is the case
:your nipple gets sore
:the milk flow is slow
:when the nipple is released it looks compressed (like the end of a lipstick)

But if it feels fine and the baby is gaining weight then it's not a big deal.

[RockCrushesLizard]

If that pic is average for you, then I would say it doesn't look like what we expect a good latch to look like - ie wide mouth, chin against boob, a big mouthful of areola.

However, the importance of the latch is making sure baby is getting milk efficiently without causing you pain or discomfort. How old is your LO? any weight issues? and how are you - any discomfort/pain etc? Those are the key questions in the context.

Also, your baby is super cute!

[Focusfocus]

Thanks for replies. Okay - baby only feeds side lying so that's the pic.

Never have had any pain he is four months old
not a single feed has felt anything close to uncomfortable ever including colostrum feeds
Never had nipple shape change slightly elongated when finished but that's it

The only issue if it at all was an issue was his gradually slowing worthy gain but that too is currently 4 oz a week apparently on average, although yes he started on 25th and is above 9th now so that's not an issue really

I just wanted opinions on the lath because one of the sides appears less drained out than the other to me so I thought maybe milk transfer could be improved...

[Lj8893]

It doesn't look great no, his mouth should look wider and you shouldn't really be able to see any areola at the bottom, his mouth should be covering it. And his chin should really be indenting your breast which doesn't seem to be happening in the picture.

However, it really is difficult to tell from a photo!

[Focusfocus]

Tried adjusting it here's another pic. Any different? Gosh this really should've struck me earlier :(

[Lj8893]

Looks much better.

[mayhew]

That does look better. The chin now points down. A trick that can help is when the baby is attached as well as you can manage, use the side of your index finger near your ribs to push the breast towArds the baby's chin. This encourages them to pull it on a bit deeper.

[Focusfocus]

The breast feel emptied !

[Lj8893]

Brilliant, hope it continues

[DontBuyANewMumCashmere]

Yes I think the second pic looks a much deeper latch. Hope it continues well!