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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Breast feeding tips

12 replies

Liloosmum · 21/07/2010 14:17

I realised a couple of weeks ago that my nipples do not point straight ahead (probably should have noticed before!). I also realised that when breast feeding, if I position my baby where they are actually pointing she latches on a lot better and the slightly uncomfortable tugging I had been feeling disappeared.

It seems obvious now I think about it, I just wanted to share this revelation with everyone and I wondered if anyone else had any tips they would like to share.

OP posts:
Margeaux · 21/07/2010 14:33

That reminds me of a midwife who said that if women put their babies where their nipples are, rather than where they'd like them to be, they'd find breastfeeding a whole lot easier

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 21/07/2010 16:48

That sometimes they are tired not hungry, and it is a fruitless exercise trying to force feed them...

LadySanders · 21/07/2010 16:52

to get a better latch: put your nipple on top of the baby's top lip, then as they open their mouth, the nipples 'flips' into the roof of their mouth - worked brilliantly for me when had problems feeding ds2

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 21/07/2010 17:01

IGNORE the people who tell you that a baby should go any specific period of time between feeds.

NumptyMum · 21/07/2010 18:18

I wish I knew how I could get DD to open her mouth so that the nipple flips in - she always drops her lower jaw, nipple stays just where it is on the top lip. LadySanders - how do you get baby to move top lip/head back? I have to add DD has amazing neck strength and trying to get her head to drop back is near impossible when she's straining to get the milk...

MumNWLondon · 21/07/2010 20:51

Another tip for latching on at the start is to hold breast around 2.5cm above and below end of nipple with thumb and forefinger.

Other tips:

  1. babies born not knowing day from night, so if you want to teach them about day and night try not to let them go more than 3 hours from start of fed to start of next feed during the day (although obviously if they are hungry earlier don't make them wait, and obviously if they are in a really deep sleep don't force it, just wait until they next stir, this is a guide not a rule more to avoid the sudden, OMG he's slept for 6 hours during the day, and clearly if they are too tired to feed its not going to work).

  2. If they fall asleep feeding try taking clothes off - that way you can do skin to skin feeding and also try changing a nappy mid feed.

  3. Ignore anyone who says a set length of time on each side is enough. Let the baby feed as much as as they want.

  4. Baby will have growth spurts from time ti time and feed more. It does not mean your milk is drying up.

  5. Be wary of HVs who are concerned about slower than average weight gain. You know your baby - do they seem contented? Are there wet nappies? Are they growing out of clothes?

bumbums · 21/07/2010 21:03

My DC2 wouldn't open her mouth wide enough for the first 9wks and it made feeding her excruciatingly painful. But then she grew a bit bigger and started opening her mouth wider. Phew!
A good tip I was shown was letting breast hang naturally then using a finger from the arm on the outside of your body (that sounds very wierd but hope you get me!) press into your breast at the edge of the ariola to make your nipple point outwards.Get baby to open its mouth and hook them on, removing your finger simultaineously. This helped with the initial latch.

ISNT · 21/07/2010 21:07

Am ROffling at margeaux's midwife

My tip is if they start falling asleep at the breast, to blow gently on their little faces.

slushy · 21/07/2010 21:54

I have a few Nipple to nose didn't work for me so we did nipple to cheek so if it does not try another.

Trust your instinct and if the textbook feeding is not working try other things until you are happy. Neither dd or ds latch and position are right but they work for me and cause no pain.

In the first few days don't panic when your baby takes up to 20minutes to attach it is normal and if you panic it will take longer.

Also don't be offended if your dc has 30 5-10 minutes feeds a day and the woman in the next bed is doing 5 hour long feeds, all baby's feed for different lengths of time.

slushy · 21/07/2010 21:55

Sorry nipple to chin not cheek

NumptyMum · 21/07/2010 23:42

Slushy - I'm intrigued, I think the nipple to nose position isn't working for us either but just can't picture how nipple to chin would work...

slushy · 22/07/2010 11:00

Well it didn't work on either of my two when I put the nipple to the nose they couldn't open their mouth very wide as they were trying to open the top lip only so I put it to their chin and they used their bottom lip and their mouth was lovely and wide.

Try it yourself try to open your mouth and try to get your finger from your nose and then your chin it is much easier. Give it a try see if it is easier if not no harm done go back to the nipple to nose. Do exactly the same as you normally would put your nipple on the chin and when the mouth is nice and wide flick your nipple into the roof of your baby's mouth. HTH

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