Newborn feeding

[jolies1]

My newborn is 16 days old & finding breastfeeding a challenge - health visitor has checked baby’s latch and says it seems fine, however he seems to latch on and after a few sucks fall asleep or just hold the nipple in his mouth. He will be on the boob or wanting to latch back on for ages - today he has been on and off since 2pm, he screams if I unlatch him before he is ready, often falls asleep then when I go to put him down or burp him is desperately rooting again . He’s having plenty of wet nappies and has regained birth weight + 3 ounces. Any tips??

Congratulations on your new LO.

This does sound like it could be fairly normal newborn behaviour, so there might not be a problem that needs fixing, it should just better with time.

He's only just getting used to the fact that he's no longer inside you.

Some things you can do are using a T-shirt DH has worn as the sheet in his Moses Basket to give the space a nice, reassuring smell for him and warming up the Moses Basket before you put him down. Have you tried swaddling too?

Breastfeeding your Newborn is a good article and are you going to any BFing Support Groups? I found those helpful for seeing what is normal and what might need some help.

Have a look at these videos too:

This one on latch

and one on breast compressions.