V difficult latch (and a thousand other issues)

[TeaandCake]

Where to start? Dd is 9 days old and I'm having major issues latching her on and have done from the start. The MW came at 5 days to weigh her and found a 15% loss so we were referred to the peadiatric observation unit who found her a little dehydrated so we were admitted and she was put her on a drip for 24 hours.

Feeding improved so we were then discharged. I asked to see the breast feeding counsellor but she was at another site and just offered some general advice down the phone to a nurse who then relayed it to me. feeding has been a roller coaster of feeding quite well and screaming if I put my nipple near her mouth.

I think kshe may have tongue tie and asked everyone I could at the hospital but nobody was sure and would not commit to an answer on this.

She is hungry anD rooting but hysterical if I try to feed her the eventually gives in (perhaps 25 mins) and has a feed then goes to sleep. I really can't tell how well she is doing.

I am stripping her and doing skin to skin every feed which I feel is helping but am utterly terrified of having to go back to hospital.

In desparation I have cup fed her 10 ml of formula this evening and she then took a bf (eventually).

Dd is my 3rd child and I bf the other two very successfully and entirely without incident so this has been a bit of a shock really. Don't know what to do next, the midwife will be back in the morning to weigh again and no doubt put pressure on to formula feed.

Have just read this back and it's all over the place, I'm in such a mess, sorry and thanks if you've got this far.

If you are wanting to continue with the bf, you must insist on seeing a lactation consultant or similar. Its no use the midwife having a go at you, she needs to actually help you with the problem.

It sounds like you have got some milk into her at least, so see how you get on at the next attempt.

hi what are your nipples like? mine were non-existant virtually and it took ages to get dd to latch on. i used nipple shields to give her something to grip and that got my nipples out so it didn't last long. if this is no 3 and you haven't had problems before you should be fine once you get going but she might be tired and it's sort of a vicious circle. we have a bf support group here that you can drop into, do you have similar there?

Hi, I agree you need to insist on seeing a lactation consultant - and one who is experienced in tongue tie. Have you checked her mouth for signs of thrush too?

Mine had tongue tie and I had a similar time of it in the first couple of weeks. He hospital people didnt check properly, and the midwife barely glanced.. Only a lovely NCT lady at a breastfeeding clinic was able to diagnose and refer. Was vastly better straight after it was sipped, and a couple of weeks later she is now feeding like a pro..
So get help, and well done for keeping up with it so far!

Sorry you're having problems.

I find it incredible that you were admitted with 15% weight loss and nobody really seems to be helping you very much.

Yes, if you can afford it, a lactation consultant (IBCLC) would be perfect, or see if you can get any specialist help through the NHS. In our area, we have somebody called an infant feeding specialist who can refer for tongue tie.

Other suggestions- have a look at Biological Nurturing (just google) or try having a bath with your baby and just gently offer the breast, no struggling or pushing, just lots of skin to skin.

But insist on help if you need it- you may have to shout loudly, but it sounds like you need some.

Thank you all for reading and taking the time to reply.

Gave 50ml of formula in a bottle last night when screaming with hunger, she's not a particularly loud baby so I knew she was desperate. Expressing is and always has been v difficult for me.

Midwife has been today and weighed, dd has gained 100g (hurrah) so she is at least going the right direction, if slowly. She is convinced that dd has a tongue tie and is referring us to the clinic today, we may have to wait until Friday (which seems an awful long way away from today) but at least those wheels are now in motion.

I have now got the details of our local lactation consultant and am waiting for a return call from her, I would like to be observed feeding and get a proper opinion.

Manitz - nipples seem ok and not had probe with them in the past. BF support a little patchy here now, was brilliant 5 years ago when I had DC1.

3goingon4 - mouth was checked a few times at hospital for thrush so can prob rule it out.

Florizella - I am truly heartened by your story. Hopefully I can resolve this.

well, at least they're referring you for the tongue-tie.

I think it's awful that it goes unnoticed and untreated in many cases.
:(
It affects feeding first, so why would you not give enough attention to the one thing that's a source of life?!

If you don't want to give formula, but she's feeding from a bottle, you might want to try expressing as much as you can.
you can freeze it if you manage to get quite a bit.
then at least you know your supply won't diminish while you're waiting for the tongue tie to be sorted.
:)

hi sorry I just posted and ran as am having problems of my own. I don't have experience of a tongue tie but glad you are getting help.

I've not been able to express myself either for the first 3 but ds2 (dc4) was in intensive care for 8 days and i was expressing 8oz (4oz) per express (10 mins per breast) I'm now expressing about an ounce in about an hour - like with my other kids and he's about 6months. the midwives told me to massage for ten mins b4hand and then hand express into a syringe. I got about 5ml initially which was all that was needed, I didnt stress and topped up with formula in the feeding tube and then was up to about 8oz by day 4 or 5. I have never been able to do this before so I was amazed. Mind you I was stuck in hospital with nothing else to do. I was really stressing on day 1 and constantly expressing with no rest and that made me more stressed. As soon as I followed their advice and rested between and expressed every 3 hours for only twenty mins (half of that massage) it just got much better.

After posting here earlier I rushed off to bf support group and they said you can express much more in the early days so maybe give it a go if you have the time. x

Hello, only just come back to look at this again.

Tongue tie has been snipped. My midwife made a plea to the clinic and they offered me a cancellation the same day. I am v v grateful.

Feeding has improved no end. We are just trying to catch up with milk supply now so I have hired a hospital grade breast pump to help.

Lactation Consultant was brilliant, she gave me an action plan to stick to until the appt came from the clinic.

Midwife has been to weigh again today and dd has lost 40g, not too much concern though. Just go to keep on with the feeding and expressing.

Thanks to all who responded, it was lovely to know I'm not alone.

phew!
and well done to midwife for getting you in :)

he'll start gaining very soon, i'm sure!

Ah thanks for coming back with an update. Glad to hear that things are sorted.

x