Can a latch be corrected after 10 weeks?

[Sabie]

Hi there,

I started expressing in week 5 and then in week 6 we started giving my 10 week old dd a bottle of expressed milk before bed.

I have gradually noticed a change in her once perfect latch, she now sucks my nipple like a teat and it comes out flattened.

Is it possible to correct this and how? all advice gratefully received...

I noticed this after I left my twins with my Mum for a day at about 7 weeks (I had to visit work), so they had about three bottles in a day.

The latch corrected again after about two weeks, but during that time I didn't give any bottles.

I've now introduced one bottle or so each week in the hope that this will keep the ability to bottle feed (and therefore to leave them) without affecting their latch on me.

Hope you manage to get things back on track

thanks. anyone got any other advice/view? I have to use one bottle a day....

Help please....

Help please....

ok will ahve a go but not something I've got experience of. can you try a different shaped teat if you want to keep bottle feeding going? otherwise if it's not vital, can you stop bottlefeeding for a few weeks to let her latch re-adjust again? there's no truth behind the idea that introducing a bottle early means they won't reject a bottle later on - babies are contrary little things and quite as likely to decide they prefer boob to bottle as the other way round at some point in the future
otherwise just vigilance during bf - make sure she is latching on properly and readjust her (finger in mouth to break the seal then re-latch on) if she's hurting you during the feed or it feels wrong

Speak to your local breastfeeding support group. They will help you :)

It can help to feed in the rugby hold, it makes it impossible to feed without a wide latch. Try that and see if it helps. :)

Had simar problems where ds2 has struggled to latch when has had ebm. The more ebm he has the worse his latch is on the breast. Not sure what the answer is as some babies seem more likely to nipple/teat confusion or teat preferance. I've found the only way to prevent it is not to give bottles at all which won't help you if you need to give a bottle.

Could try:

very wide latch to encorage more breast to be taken.

If the flattened edge is to one side (as u look down at nipple after coming off), ie like a lipstick, get more areola in at the opposite side.

Try more naturally shaped teats, ie closure to nature. My lactation consultant wouldn't agree that any are decent tho!

Try a soft spout instead of a teat so less likely to be confused. MAM and NUK supposed to be ok.

Try cup feeds rather than bottle.

This was all advice given to me and truth is only ditching aertificial tears did the trick for us so hope u fair better.

Good luck!!

Sorry for delayed thank you but thank you!