Q about a couple of specific feeding/rooting cues/behaviours?

[badguider]

Hi,

My little boy is 11 days old and has a classic tongue tie. We've been referred for a consultant apt which will be this or next Friday. In the meantime we're struggling along with inefficient bf by him which is sort of working due to me having lots of milk and enduring some minor-ish nipple damage and then adding some expressed top ups when he gets very worked up/frustrated or very tired or my nips get too sore.

Anyway, that was just background. There are two specific rooting behaviours that are causing us a lot of trouble and I wondered if anybody knew what they are - one is when he opens his mouth a little, wants to put the nipple in but only shallowly and then he shakes his head side to side with it in his mouth?? Any idea what this is for or what I can do with it?
The other is when he tries to latch on but arches is his back like crazy at the same time... I can't do anything at all with that... any ideas?

Thank you!

B.

The shaking is him trying latch on- my lo used to this too. Have you tried cupping your breast to help him getting a bigger mouthful? You could also express a little to draw your nipple into the correct shape & then latch him on. The back arching- wind? Frustration? Have u been given a support worker/lactation consultants number? They are brilliant if you can get in touch with one and help me to latch LO on better.

Thanks - thought that might be the case. We have a bf clinic where the TT was diagnosed which does help and the apt has just arrived but is for the 20th so we've got to manage for nine more days which seems doable for now... just! :)

When he does either of those behaviours too much and I can't sooth him we give him a touch of expressed milk (10ml) and then go back to the breast with him calmer. So far he's ok with going between bottle and breast if we keep the bottle horizontal and him on his side so it's same position and flow as he's in at the breast.

I have found a page on Kellymom about 'breast feeding a baby with tongue tie' so I am reading that avidly.

Thanks for your input - it helps to know other babies do the shakey head thing.

Should say - I do the cupping the breast and the drawing the nipple out.. but the poor wee boy is just a bit limited while he can't move his tongue much :(

There were loads of typos in my last post, sorry! Just thought, have u tried different positions too? X

Thanks bunny.
We feed lying on our sides from bottom boob and cross the body sort of traditional I guess.
I can't get rugby ball to work and with ds so sensitive to getting frustrated I haven't wanted to push it.