Is it the latch?

[melonribena]

Hi everyone,
I've posted on here before about my lack of milk and amount of time my two week old spends feeding each day. It's pretty much constant and although I know this can be normal I am worried about how much he is getting.
I'm on antibiotics for a womb infection and we are both on medication for thrush.
He feeds for very long periods of time and doesn't seem to suck efficiently. Sometimes he does but most of the time he judders and sucks a bit and doesn't ever really seem satIsfied after a feed.
Is it a bad latch and should I be worried? He has about 3/4 dirty nappies and a couple of wet ones each day.
Is there a way to help him suck more deeply to speed up feeds and stop him getting frustrated and tired whilst feeding.

Thanks in advance

You really should get it checked out by someone IRL - and get him checked for tongue and/or lip tie while you are at it... But yes it could be latch.

However - what do you call a long time for a feed? And how frequent is it? It is normal for babies to feed hourly, 2 hourly, 3 hourly or even 4 hourly (although that should be monitored) and for feeds to take about 30mins. BUT if he isn't satisfied after a feed then that is obviously something that needs looking at - are you offering the other side after he comes off? Then back to the first?

He feeds for about 3 hours at a time with maybe a 30 minute sleep at the end. I always offer both sides but still it never seems enough. It does hurt while feeding but I don't know if that's normal or the thrush.
I had a bf counsellor check and it's not tongue tie but I really can't seem to get the latch fixed

That is a very long feed! He may well be asleep for most of that and not really feeding.

You really do need to get someone to watch a whole feed. Whereabouts in the country are you? You need a second opinion!

I'm in Leicestershire, am so worried he's getting dehydrated and hungry. I've heard that cluster feeds and constant feeding is normal but this feels excessive. I never put him down for longer than an hour at the most

You could try a call to one of the breastfeeding helplines. They might be able to give you some initial suggestions to try, and will also try to help you find local, RL help. I believe if you call ABM, national breastfeeding helpline or BFN from a landline, then they'll try to put you through to someone local too.

Please try to see someone IRL, but yes what RedKites said - a helpline might be able to help in the meantime, but really get to see someone within a week if poss.

If he's getting dehydrated the fontanelle would be sunken, wee would be concentrated, and he would probably either be getting very agitated, or more likely sleepy.... there would also be reduced poo

Have you had any joy with finding RL help or ringing a helpline?

I haven attending a breast feeding group and have got a coordinator visiting me tomoro afternoon. I will let you know how I get on. Thank you!

Fab! Good luck! :)

Tongue ties are easily missed by peoplewho are not experts have a read of this and see what you think there is a really good list of symptoms half way down.

and this

Hello! A quick update! After a horrible fractious 8 hours of feeding today, the bf co ordinator came and gave me some fab tips about how to position the nipple. I tried it a few mins ago when little one woke up. We had a great latch, a 20 min feed and now he's back to sleep! Even if that's the only great latch I achieve it will have been worth it! Was so pleased I had a little cry. Thank you all for your advice

WooHoo! Fantastic! Thanks for the update :)