How to teach a six month old how to latch better?

[alice93]

Breastfeeding is really hurting at the moment. On Monday the GP gave me some antibiotics for mastisis, which in my opinion was a bit rushed but I'm on them now so.. Yeah. Well I don't think I have mastisis anymore but I have noticed a white blister like thing on my nipple. I think this is why breastfeeding is still hurting lots.

This would suggest that baby isn't latched correctly. As he latches himself, and he latches on off several times before a big feed (he is very hyper active and boisterous!) how can I teach him a better latch?

Contradictory, I actually think his latch is fine by the way it looks. And it doesn't hurt the hold feed. Just the start.

I'm not making any sense am I? Basically, breastfeeding is hurting unlike usual, how do we get back to normal?

if it is uncomfortable or hurts it should only be for the first 10 seconds, if he is hungry he will suck quiite hard to begin with then generally ease off when the milk starts flowing, If he is eating alot your nipples will generally become sore but you can get nipple protectors if it is an issue which should make it more comfortable for you (this should not make any difference to baby). A proper latch on His nose should be in line with your nipple. This gives your baby room to tip his head back just before he latches on. He should be leading with his chin, and have an open gape to his mouth. With his head tipped back, his lips will then touch your nipple. he will then latch on, he should have a good mouth full of breast and you should have less areola visable at the bottom then the top.

You may want to find a more comfortable position for the both of you maybe try lying down on your side and your baby on his side next to you (i find this quite comfortable)

White blister sounds like a milk bleb? if so then this is a small blockage in the milk duct rather than a friction blister - so not caused by a bad latch but just by a lump of mmilk getting stuck in the duct.

google milk bleb images - if that's what it looks like, then you need to very gently clear the bleb (basically it's a bit like removing a splinter or squeezing a spot) and once the skin has healed you should be ok.

milk bleb info from kellymom

I had exactly this at about 5-6 months, out of nowhere. it hurt me for about a month, then just as I finally got round to making a GP appt it cleared up. Sod's law.
I tried piercing my bleb with a needle, feeding on it lots, shower massage, pumping. For me it was just good ol fashioned time.
Good luck getting rid of yours, it was very annoying and painful.