Baby won't latch on

[HollyBen]

DS is 11 days old. Our breast feeding journey has not been a happy one so I am desperate for some advice.... DS fed almost continually for 6 hours after birth with little issue. He then slept and slept and slept -partially some ill timed morphine during delivery and mild jaundice. I was advised to wake him every 3 hours to feed which I did. He was sleepy during feeds but used various things to wake him. He developed a habit of latching, feeding for a while, then slipping off the breast and nipple feeding (ouch!!). Despite all of this we seemed to be getting there. However on day 9 it started getting more and more difficult to get him to latch, sometimes taking up to 30 mins. Despite a visit to the breastfeeding clinic and help from mw I have not been able to latch him in around 36 hours. I am expressing at each feed and giving him expressed milk/formula via bottle. I spent most of yesterday in tears over this and am on the verge of giving up. I would much prefer to continue but it is awful that we both get so upset and frustrated each feed. I'd really appreciate any advice

Sounds very stressful. What happens when you try to get him to feed Holly?

He usually seems to be trying to latch on. He will root around, when he finds my nipple he will sometimes just suckle on it (gently so not sore), others he will just pull away. He keeps trying then gets frustrated and cries. Sometimes he just gives up and cuddles up to my boob.
It is really stressful. I mix fed my DD for 3 months and although it took a while to get going we never had any issues like this. I have the health visitor coming to see me tomorrow so I will keep trying until then

Has anyone suggested laid back Bfing? It might encourage him to open his mouth wider, have a look here.

Did the Bfing Clinic give you a contact number in case you need any assistance? If not, the Bfing Helplines Numbers are here. I'd give one a call this evening, sounds like you need the support

has he been checked thoroughly for tongue tie? I would suggest bathing with him, worked wonders for us - warm, skin to skin, relaxing, etc. and youtube the "flipple" technique.

Thanks I will take a look at these suggestions. I did managed to get him to latch on for a feed during the night but not since

How are you now Holly? Have you managed to speak to a BFC yet?

The health visitor came today and was hugely supportive We have managed 4 bf sessions today with little fight Thanks for responding and asking. The websites and skin to skin helped. I am taking it feed by feed for now but feeling more optimistic

That's goid news. Remember, we're always here

Hope it keeps getting better HollyBen sounds a lot like my DC1 who didn't latch at all until a few weeks old (and I didn't manage to establish bf), my DC2 was a more sucky baby but had posterior tongue tie and much better at feeding after it was cut. We did flipple and breast compressions to help latch and get milk in. Only diagnosed by trained BFCs, HV and midwife didn't think it was there because not visible. I think DC1 probably had the same.