Latching/Postioning problems. Hints and tips needed!

[KabelFlowerBed]

Hi there, I could really do with some practical tips and advice...

I have a 7 week old that is ebf and while he's gaining weight well (is about 15lbs now - was 11lb at birth - so definitely no weight gain issues!) I'm still not managing to bf as well as I'd like especially when I compare to how I got on with my last 2. I know every baby is different but some days it feels so hard going and I don't want it to be like that.

I seem to be constantly trying to walk a fine line between avoiding having sore nipples or having blocked milk ducts. I'll have a few days every so often when I think I've cracked it but then either the sore nipple will reappear or I'll start with the tender feeling of another blocked duct.

Lansinoh has no doubt prevented even more soreness with my nipple but they still often come out blanched, reddened or misshapen. He slips off my nipple a lot when feeding which also is a bit of an ouch. And he also makes a clicking sound through a lot of each feed but not always so I don't know if that's making things worse too.

I know the main cause of my problems are down to his latch but I don't know what to do to improve it. I'll get a what feels like a good latch and there is no discomfort with the feed but in order to do that I have to position him and hold my boob in such a way (I don't have the pertest pair ) that I think it's my fingers that are causing the blockages. When I try to make sure I'm not doing that it's at the cost of the latch and I get sore. I've tried all sorts of positions to feed in as well. Lying down is sometimes the most comfortable and needs no hand holding but then he gets milk running out of his nose occasionally!

I feel like I'm in a vicious circle with it all :(

There doesn't seem to be any breast feeding counsellors in my area - the nct one has stepped down for instance - so I thought I'd try here for any help. I'm seeing my HV next week so will talk to her then too but I don't really know how much help she'll be.

Hope I've made a bit of sense with all that (I tried to get all the information in that I could so sorry if I've overloaded) and thanks in advance :)

Obviously that should say positioning....

I have similar problems. Can you try rolling up a muslin and sticking it under your boob? This helps me. Also putting DD on a pillow so she's higher up helps too.

Also worth having him checked for Tongue tie too as the clicking and sliding are signs.

That's a good idea with the muslin. It won't cause any compression on the breast tissue doing that? Or do you just shove it under as far as it will go!

I've been wondering about tongue tie. Should have said that as well in my long-winded post. I forgot completely, sorry.

I asked the GP for a proper assessment last week as I'd read the same about clicky sounds during feeds. I just wanted to exclude TT as possible cause of issues whilst also looking into my latch and positioning. She admitted to not knowing much about tongue ties bar the really obvious ones, looked on the internet for more info and then called a colleague in who did a cursory glance in his mouth then decided because he's putting on weight fine that nothing would be needed to be done even if he did have a TT. I pointed out that bf'ing is problematic and that I didn't want to have something like this stop me (I did lay it on a bit thick for them). All I got back really was an acknowledgment that it is good to bf .

So then I looked at what bf'ing support there is in the area to access for help....not a lot it seems.

Argh! Lost my reply!

The rolled up muslin was recommended by a lactation consultant so should be safe. You do have to shove it right under and experiment with the roll size too.

Push again re the tie. I'm in a similar position and in the process of seeing lactation consultants privately to get DD assessed. It's tricky though she's putting on weigh fine and I'm not having pain. She is however taking down so much air that I cannot put her down foe long at night (45-90 mins) without her waking up with wind. It's killing me having to hold her all night and day.

The milk matters website is useful and worth a look!

I should add, I know DD has a tie as it was spotted at birth - it's having something done that's the problem as I've been told her positioning and latch is poor. I also have a fast milk flow which doesn't help (well it does as DD doesnt have to work for it so can get away with a poor latch)

Thanks for the replies Iggly.

Tried the muslin today and it does seem to help. Like you said just need to experiment with the roll size...makes me wish for a different boob shape though!

I think I'm going to have to go down the private route too. It's a shame there isn't the support in my area. I really just need someone to watch me feed, check latch and positioning and advise from there but I dont think there's anyone other than the HV to do that. Considering that's not her sole role I'm not sure it would be as good as having a breast feeding counsellor see me.

The tongue tie possibility could then be looked at if there were no improvements. Although I do have this niggling feeling that this is the cause of the problems...I just want to exclude other possibilities too.

I've found someone through here that sounds good. So I'll have a think about it all after I see the HV next week.

Forgot to say....hope you get somewhere with the lactation consultants. Then you can look forward to more than 90 minutes at night!