Despair over bad latch

[ZenNudist]

Ds2 is only 6do. I fed ds1 so wasn't expecting quite this problem.

I followed MWs instruction but think we've gone wrong getting good attachment. I need him to tip his head back more. He's got lazy because I've been popping my nipple in his mouth (as midwife showed me). Bleeding cracked nips, hoping it would settle but need to get him to tip his head back.

I've watched loads of videos on how to attach well but he's getting frustrated, keeps crying & falling asleep.

I got a good night and a few good feeds out of him last Night. Bf consultant came round & said I've just got to practice, do skin to skin & laid back bf.

How do I encourage him out of this bad habit?

Thanks rednellie. I appreciate the kind words. I'm so pro-bf & yet the urge to top up ff is strong. Not regaining birth weight is big deal to me. I need to get a grip!

Oh gosh you're doing such a brilliant job. It sounds so horribly familiar of my early days feeding my DS. I was cracked and bleeding at this stage but utterly determined to bf. I did use nipple shields for a few weeks, despite dire warnings not to. Also plenty of lasinoh and nipple airing helped. I had a terrible day when he was ten days old, I refused to feed him so he got a few formula feeds that day. I had a break and luckily my supply hadn't been affected (I did still express).

I don't know how you can push for referral other than quite forcefully requesting one, or can you go private? I had loads of people check my latch and say it was fine, I wanted to scream at them it clearly bloody wasn't as I was in agony. I should have pushed harder for help really but it's hard when you're tired and in pain. I also thought it was normal, he was my first. As I said up thread it's my bf experience with DD that made me realise that it didn't have to be like that.

Alternating feeds and expressing helped me with the cracked and bleeding nipples. Also Jelonet, which you can get at the chemist, worked much better for me than Lansinoh. I would feed, put on Jelonet, short time later express so that at next feed I could give bottle of expressed to rest the nips and carry on that way. It was tough going for 10 weeks (doesn't mean it needs to be that long for you, btw!) but I got there in the end and it was well worth it. You don't need to be referred in my area, you either just rock up at the NHS bf clinic where they do tt division, or else go private. If you can tell me which part of the country you are in I can happily help you find a private tt specialist .

You are amazing to keep persevering and are doing so so well. Keep plenty of chocolate to hand!

You don't need to get a grip. You're being a perfectly normal mother working out what's best for you and your LO. Keep feeding, keep cuddling and keep strong. If there's a real problem it will become apparent. Don't get hung up on the numbers, look at your baby. And you are doing brilliantly.

Just wanted to add my support, hope all goes well. Maybe look into a private TT consultant, there are plenty about who can do the division there and then during the consultation if needed

Hi,

I have just gone through this with my third. She is smaller than my other two and struggles to get her mouth open enough! I was persevering through the pain and then tried a nipple sheild for a few days to allow my nipple to heal a bit! This was much better and after a couple of days its a lot more bearable and I have the confidence to really shove it in!
Don't give up, breastfeeding is worth the pain!

Thanks for supportive comments. Haven't replied as I've been trapped under a feeding/sleeping baby all day. Feel a bit better, like this can improve.

He's 13do tomorrow. A constant focus on latching and keeping him sucking with breast compressions has meant both nipples looking less raw. Yay . Doesn't make for easy or relaxing feeding & inevitable bad feeds if I doze or lose concentration.

Weighing will help me know if he's gaining so I can relax a little.

He currently has monster hiccups again from all the air sucking.

Well done zen! My dd will not latch on correctly either. Feel like my choice is either feed through the pain or give formula. Have been feeding since 6 pm now 1am and can't bear it any more.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, qumquat, have you had baby checked for tt?

Zen, good to hear you sounding positive. Keep up the good work

Yes I have thanks lookout. Lactation consultant said maybe but work on latch first. I think she's under pressure to refer less people and I guess dd is borderline ? Who knows!

Thing is though, if she does have a tie, working on latch is going to be really difficult. Can you go privately? How's your feeding gone this weekend?

I've been referred to TT clinic by midwife as I asked to be (she still didn't think it was TT but realised that a specialist could diagnose better than her). Ds only gained 1oz in 3 days (20g). Been told waiting list is vvvvlong for TT clinic so if he doesn't gain weight soon I'll consider going private. Nipple pain really improved and crack is healing but he still struggles to latch.

Good you've been referred, and good the pain and crack is less. I found I really had to concentrate on feeding for the first few weeks with no distractions like iPad etc. Do you think the baby might be struggling to latch because you are so full? Could you express the first little bit so that the breasts are softer when you try and latch him? Just an idea.

Good to hear you've been referred and that the pain and cracked nipples are getting better. I hope you don't have to wait too long, but yes, if you can think about going private if necessary it will make things better quicker. So well done for persevering, you are doing an amazing job