3 day old won't latch on

[Doctorbrownbear]

All of a sudden she stopped latching and started getting more agitated. I know she is hungry because she is looking for milk but will not latch.... help? She just put her mouth on my nipple and fell asleep but hasn't actually latched on since about 3pm... what shall I do?

Not really sure what to suggest but didn't want to read and run. Let her sleep and try again on the other breast. Try and stay calm and she will sense your anxiousness.

Good luck. Xxx

OR she will sense... Not AND!!

Keep trying, she's probably tired and the longer it goes on the harder it will get. Do you have any bottles if you get desperate? You don't want to leave her too long without food.

If she falls asleep at the breast, wake her by tickling her cheek.

Have you experimented with different positions? A laid back position can give a deeper latch which can then stop falling asleep at the breast

Can you lie back with her skin to skin, close to your breasts and see if she'll latch when she stirs?

Or you could try hand expressing some colostrum on to a spoon and giving it to her? Do you think your milk has 'come in'? Perhaps she's struggling to latch on if you're getting a bit engorged.

If you are concerned then do give your midwife a call.

Hi calmly give it another go. With DD2 there was a very inconsistent latch until about three weeks after birth. I did a mix of bf and bottle feeding. I was more worried about getting food in than about what type of milk it was. After loads of messing about latch established at three weeks. Try not to stress and keep trying.

Thanks very much for your replies. It appaears that she has a cold. I didn't get her to latch and had to express which I have been doing for a couple of days. She is very sleepy and I am having to wake her for milk. The breast feeding lady is coming today but I doubt we will get her to latch on again. I am pretty gutted as it was going well this time until this but in the end she had not fed for 6 hours and I wae concerned that she needd food in her tummy. I am expressing for now so at least I know she is getting good nutrition. Any tips on resuming breast feeding gratefully accepted?! Thanks again for your responses I have been using the tips to wake her for feeds.

Just keep expressing, and try to at night as well as this is great for helping to establish your supply. If you're milk hasn't come in you will def be best off hand expressing so don't get hung up on pumps etc. I had lots of latch problems due to tongue tie, but we got there. It took a few weeks. Hang in there, you're doing really well.

Just keep trying, offer her the breast whenever you can and keep her really close skin to skin as much as possible.

Perhaps get the breastfeeding lady to watch you latch and observe a whole feed, checking that you are holding her comfortably.

Sometimes co-bathing can help babies that can't latch on -you'll probably need an extra pair of hands to negotiate getting in and out though.

Hope you get some good help today, the main thing is that you are protecting your milk supply so there is no reason why you can't get back to feeding at the breast.

How are things now Doctorbrownbear?

Only just came back to this. Unfortunatley my baby has been very poorly and was suffering from a partially obstructed bowel that required surgery. She has had the op and is doing ok in hospital. Had the worst few days of our lives but have been expressing milk and freezing at the hospital for when she is allowed to eat again so at least feel like I can do something positive for her.

So sorry to hear that.What an ordeal for you all.

Hope she recovers well and that you get some rest/sleep when you can.

She will feed again when she is able and your milk is like medicine for her.

It is gentle on her bowel and will also help her scars heal up.

Keep expressing [don't focus on the volumes] and as much skin to skin when she is able.

You poor thing. DD was ill as a newborn and it's so horrible. You'll start to get into a 'normal' routine soon though, don't let it shake your confidence.

Oh Crumbs, that must gave been terrible for you all, what a lot to deal with in the first few days of your baby's life.

Glad you're home now and fantastic that you've been able to express some milk.

Hope you have a calm weekend

Duh, sorry it seems you aren't back yet, hope dd gets better soon and you can have lots of cuddles

Thanks everyone. Baby girl us still poorly but moving from HDU to ward today. We are splitting our time between hospital and ronald mcdonald house where other daughter (2) is staying with us so taking it in shifts between the 2 of them. I am still expressing so she is getting my milk and she is doing what she is supposed to at this stage.

That sounds like great progress doctor.
I hope she continues to heal and recover and that you are making up for missed cuddles soon.
Cuddles will help you both of course.
Hope you are eating and sleeping well now too.
Take care .xx

Just wanted to say I am sorry, must have been absolutely horrendous for you all. Great news that she is moving to the ward. Good luck over next few days. Hope you can all go home soon. xxx