2 weeks in and newborn still taking ages to latch, is he ever going to 'get it'

8 replies

ZippyPippy · 01/02/2011 11:51

My baby is nearly 3 weeks old, he got off to a slow start and didn't breastfeed for a week as he needed to be treated for tongue tie.

He started to latch on after that but only after a lot of fussing coming on and off the breast lots. However I'm now 2 weeks in and some feeds are much better than others, last night he didn't really feed properly at all as was just fussing and coming on and off the breast still. My nipples are getting sore because as soon as I get a good latch he's wriggling and off again and I have to start again.

I feel like things are going backwards and he should have 'got it' by now - is it ever going to click and he'll know what he's doing? I feel so fed up and not sure I can carry on like this.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

OP posts:

japhrimel · 01/02/2011 11:57

Is he windy? My DD fusses like that when either the milk is coming too fast or she needs to burp. I was advised to take her off, wind her and try to calm her and then try again.

2 weeks is not long at all for a breastfeeding partnership!

redandyellowandpinkandgreen · 01/02/2011 12:37

It took us ages to get the latch right. Probably about four weeks. I would be trying to latch DS on and it would take us up to half an hour but then at some point around the four week mark it suddenly got easier. Now we have no problems at all. Stick with it!

Original poster

ZippyPippy · 01/02/2011 13:07

Thanks japhrimel that could be an issue, I will try and burp more frequently.

That's really reassuring red, sounds like you needed a lot of patience too! Sometimes I feel like every else's babies instantly get breastfeeding and there is something wrong with DS. I will keep persevering.

OP posts:

PenguinArmy · 02/02/2011 03:39

weeks 3 and 4 for us

also there's a growth spurt around 3 weeks (and again at 6 weeks) so don't be too alarmed if it all seems bad again.

GoldenKippers · 02/02/2011 08:22

It took quite a while for my son to get the hang of latching on - he didn't have a tongue tie but wouldn't open his mouth wide enough, licked me, wriggled, moved his head, put his arms and hands in the way - it was a nightmare and I was in a lot of pain. I had to get my husband to hold his arms in order to be able to feed him sometimes. He still is difficult to feed sometimes but much easier than he was as a newborn. Can't remember exactly when it got better but I think about four weeks.

SXMummy · 02/02/2011 10:56

Yup week 3-4 for me too. Only realised at weeks 5-6 it had suddenly got easier... Good luck

Metalhead · 03/02/2011 10:59

For us it took months rather than weeks until things got noticeably easier...

Elsa123 · 03/02/2011 12:51

I think it took about 4 weeks and it was like a revelation as DD was feeding but it wasn't exactly comfy. I discovered having pillows across me really high and lying her completely horizontally worked and when she was feeding it became very light feathery movements which made the whole experience far more comfortable. Even then though it still sometimes went a bit Pete Tong until she was 6 weeks. Also i had to strip her off to get her to concentrate and snuggle into me properly.

Have you tried skin to skin?

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