Baby not opening mouth wide

[atrcts]

I have a 7 week old baby (5 weeks prem so 2 weeks old adjusted) and am breastfeeding.

Initially he could not suck because he was so young, and had to be tube fed and wait 10 days to mature enough to try sucking on bottle or breast.

I was so keen to breastfeed that I didn't waste his much needed energy getting the latch perfect, as I was concerned I would be forced to bottle feed (which is easier for them to suck) so I could be discharged home ASAP.

Now that we're home and have been feeding a good while, it is becoming increasingly evident that he cant open his little mouth that wide. So I am having to accept a latch that is more of a gobble until my nipple is inserted enough to clamp down and feed. Not ideal!

I am slowly beginning to get a little bit sore as you'd expect, and don't know how I can open his mouth wider. If I make him repeatedly try to open wide, he eventually screams, but even then his mouth is more wide (rextangular) than open (circle), if that makes sense.

I am doing the nipple-to-nose position qhile trying to latch but he just cant open hia mouth wide enough. Trying to pull the chin down to open the mouth further simply makes no difference.

So I was hoping for any tips on how I might remedy this?

No experience sorry. I'd try one of the bfing helplines. Have you got the numbers? If not, try googling National Breastfeeding Helpline.

Hopefully someone may be along soon though who knows more

Has your baby been checked for a tongue tie?

I've just found out after 9 weeks of agony and pain that my LO has a posterior tongue tie which could be the cause of the poor latch and the resulting problems.

If possible get your LO checked by at least a few different specialists. Starting with a lactation consultant.

a midwife suggested trying skin to skin when I complained my dd wasn't opening her mouth wide enough. she said it can relax the baby and with relaxed muscles open wider. she also suggested holding the baby so their head is more in the center of your body (assuming you have them in front of you ie not a rugby hold) and then sort of inch them along towards the nose to nipple position as they open and try to get the nipple in to encourage them to open more. its hard to describe in writing. dd is still not a champion mouth opener but once she's latched on she does seem to get the nipped in far enough to not cause me pain so perhaps as others have suggested the pain is caused by something like a tongue tie?

Hi I had the exact same issue with dd - she was prem too & I'm afraid it did take time before she latched on properly (about 3 months). Our positioning was always v good & her latch was perfect but it did just take time for her mouth to get bug enough.

Go to a bf support group & use lansinoh regularly. There are positions that can help - biological nurturing is one- but I'm afraid you will need to bear with it for the first couple of month.

Btw mine was also tube feed at the beginning.

How much does he weigh op?

I had a similar problem with DS. Where is your hand? I put my hand behind his head and it sort of stopped him tipping his head back and making room to open his mouth. Can you see a bf counsellor?

JiltedJohnsJulie thanks, I will contact them on Monday as there is a drop in-clinic near me.
ButteryJam I would be surprised if its tongue tie as there have been the rare incidents of success, which I am not sure I'd have got if he were tongue tied. But I will check in person next week.
Cleverbit will try skin to skin and see if that helps, though practice for that will obviously be limited as I feed him out a fair bit!
ForgetfulMog He was born at 5lb (just over) and is now 7lb 12, so thrivi nicely. Can I ask what is the position called 'biological nurturing'?
Wolfiefan yes I can see a counsellor next week. I place my had at the top of his shoulders and lightly support he head but do allow for him to move his head around during the feed (wouldn't like someone holding my head down when I try to eat/drink!).

You could give cranial osteopathy a try - it can release muscles that are hindering him opening wide.

Fwiw, my dd also wouldn't open wide and had a shallow latch. We also had periods of success interspersed with periods of painful feeding plus bouts of mastitis. Turns out she was tongue tied - diagnosed at 5wks.

Biological nurturing - sit baby astride one of your legs. Sit on edge of chair/sofa & latch baby onto boob. Then recline back onto chair (make sure you have plenty of pillows behind for support). The idea is that the position encourages baby to open mouth wider. If you google it you should be able to find some pics that show what I'm trying to describe a bit easier.

Oh & btw that weight gain is bloody amazing so please don't worry

Op I feel your pain! I have a dd with a little mouth, born overdue at 5lbs 15 and now 5 weeks at 7lbs 1.
Her mouth just isn't very big and would suck my nipple in like a piece of spaghetti!! Ouch! Might be worthy our while trying nipple shields? I found they really helped ease the pain and draw my nipple out as mine are quite flat. They remove shield and more nipple would get in your baby's mouth. Xx

Another voice suggesting that you get someone who knows what they are doing to check for tongue tie. The tension in some ties can make it difficult to open the mouth wide.

Have a look in his mouth when he is crying. Does the tongue lift high? Does it curl at the edges? Lack of elevation and lifting only at the edges can be a sign of a posterior tongue tie.

Definitely go to a breast feeding expert, I got loads of help.

In the meantime, My first DD didn't open wide. One BF counsellor suggested biological nurturing too. Wait for a feed when she isn't screaming blue murder for milk, place her on your tummy, not too far away, and she should manoeuvre up to you, as she will have to tilt her head back when she ges to you, she should latch well. Actually, ive just repeated cleverbits advice! Have a look on biologicalnurturing.com. I found the animated video really helpful.

It took me more than seven weeks to get things comfortable, but after bing ready to give up at 5 weeks, I feed her upto 15months.

Good luck.

I've had the same problem with my little girl (4 weeks) and found the rugby hold seemed to help her to open her mouth wider - breast feeding co-ordinator was amazed at what a difference it made. I was also told not to support her head at all when latching on (just hold at neck level) so she can put her head back and open her mouth.

Good advice from other posters. It may also be worth trying the exaggerated latch, where you squeeze your breast into a hamburger shape and tilt nipple up when latching on. Plenty of info if you google exaggerated latch but this link is quite good:
www.pumpstation.com/pumpstation/dept.asp?dept_id=3228

Good luck!

No advice but i can share my story: My full term lO would not open his mouth wide for months. It was a bit sore.
However once i had his TT snipped we still had so much to work on so I got real life support from the Nct bf cafe every Monday morning, attended monthly la lech league meetings and took baby to an osteopath.
By month 4 things were v much improved!
Good luck. Real life support is invaluable. Keep trying different support if you are still not happy. I saw so many different people but in the end we found the right support for us. It just took time!

Oh, & well done for bf your preemie. No small feat!

Oh and I highly recommend a baby moon where you go to bed with baby for 3 days & do lots of skin to skin and let other people change nappies, bring you food n drink and look after the home.
It really does help. I don't know why but it does!

Thanks everyone for all your tips, I've been experimenting today (making the sandwich, really concentrating on head tilting back, nurturing feeding, and have been to the various websites posted. So far the best latch had been the former and the nurturing feed has been with a closed mouth so not quite so comfortable (although very cuddly). But it's early days yet and I will let you know how it goes.