8 weeks and still struggling

[Francois]

As the title says DS2 is nearly 8 weeks and I'm still struggling feeding him without it hurting which is making me really not enjoy it. He has a really shallow latch so every feed my nipple is mishapen and he's not getting enough in his mouth. Whatever position I try it doesnt seem to help. I have an oversupply issue so our local infant feeding co-ordinator thinks he's trying to stop the flow by clamping on the nipple. She has suggested I express before every feed but that often leads to a screaming child whilst he waits, and also as we're out and about a lot with DS1 it means a lot of hand expressing in public which I just dont like (I have no problem feeding in public). On the occassions when I have done that he still struggles to latch properly and its like a constant nipping pain throughout the feed. He is also a really noisy feeder and constantly gulping and gasping throughout a feed.

I had similar problems with DS1 and managed to feed him to 11 months so dont want to stop now but I'm really not enjoying it again and cant bear the thought of it being sore and painful for the next 4 months (at 6 months with DS1 it started getting fine and I really enjoyed it) especially as second time round I dont have the endless time to spend with DS2.

Also, have been diagnosed with ductal thrush so on medication for that which is improving the breast pain but not nipple pain.

Do I just need to accept that I have to express before every feed? Also any tips on getting his latch better much appreciated. He's been checked for a tongue tie by a few people and apparently hasnt got one.

Thanks

Is there a local support group?

Failing that, have you tried calling 0300 100 0210. It might help to talk things through with someone, one on one.

You've done so well to get to here through the pain. It does sound like it would really help for someone to have a look at the way the baby is taking the breast. There are also a few issues worth talking through in detail, such as the oversupply.

Posterior tongue ties are often missed by staff, you need someone very experienced to check for them (some are not visible and can only be palpated). Does sound like tongue tie, especially as it can run in families.

It really does sound like tongue tie to me.

I agree with ihavequestions that they can be very hard to spot.

have a look here

no help on the nipple pain but I have oversupply too - I try to do the bare minimum of hand expressing (to stop my breasts thinking 'wahey, they want more!'), just to take the excess foremilk off and avoid a screaming fit from DD but if you find yourself having to do it in public what I do instead is get a square of muslin over my arm and under her head, then put her on - as soon as I feel letdown and hear her start gulping and swallowing air I know it's going crazy down there so I take her off and just direct the nipple onto the muslin until it's calmed down . This all happens under a poncho so nobody sees a thing!

A good way to control oversupply is to 'block feed' which means that in any given period, say three hours, you put the baby back to the same breast every time it wants to feed. Then the same thing on the other side for three hours. It gradually tells your body to regulate the amount of milk it produces.

Tongue tie can give the impression of oversupply. The uncoordinated sucking and swallowing pattern can make the baby cough and splutter, just as they would with oversupply.