4 weeks preemie dificulty latching - major engorgement HELP!

[determination]

only managing to get a latch using nipple shield and u know how much I hate them. scared of experiencing nipple confusion again. don't want to express a little before latching as MAJORLY OVER PRODUCING. Already stored 6oz and trying topups of 25ml due to loosing 10% of birth weight (5lb 8oz). still in hosp no real support.

bump {hugs}

Expressing a little before latching shouldn't affect supply ime, maybe just hand expressing into a muslin? (I did over-stimulate my supply by expressing but that was with a pump and getting a bottleful)

Sorry, I'm sure someone else will help more.

I found that cool packs helped me with engorgement. I bought some from Boots but improvised for a while with a sheet of icecubes (you know, the ones you make in the special plastic bags) wrapped in a muslin.

Also hand expressed in a warm bath.

would guess you'll need a rl bf counsellor to come out to you, though. To physically help - rather than just advise.

congrats on lo!

Sorry, keep thinking of things.

Try this technique for reducing nipple swelling. This definitely helped ds latch on in the early days:

Reverse Pressure Softening

Definitely get the BF Counsellor but try the RPS tonight - it did help me when ds's mouth was too small to latch on to my v engorged, flat nipples.

bump