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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Ds seems to have forgotten how to latch on!!!

38 replies

Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:06

Ds has had a cold the last few days... and it's my fault, I've let myself get away with a really crap latch because he was so sleepy all the time and didn't want to open his mouth wide at all.

Now he's a bit better... but he just isn't opening his mouth wide enough, still! He is basically sucking on the nipple, I know he's getting some milk because his nappies are wet (the occasional poo) and he possets up sick, but I know it can't be enough because it just isn't that big gaping mouth he used to have!!

I've tried stroking his mouth with my nipple, waking him up fully by stripping him down to his nappy, everything... but he doesn't want to do it, what do I do???

OP posts:
Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:09

Anyone? He could do with a feed soon and I want to do it properly!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:12

Suggestions?

Sorry to nag, but I'm getting worried!!

OP posts:
Katy44 · 18/05/2007 09:18

Hi Mossie
Have no experience but bumping for you.
Just a thought, can you try putting him on when he's screaming (maybe not for food). That way, his mouth will already be wide. Surely it'll only take one good latch and he'll remember. Sorry if that's really bad advice.
Are you getting sore nipples?

Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:18

.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:18

Hi Katy I tried doing that but as soon as his mouth opened he kind of slipped (hard to describe) off...

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Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:22

.

OP posts:
Katy44 · 18/05/2007 09:22

Yes, I've had that - is your breast really wet at that point? I've also had to go back to holding T's head gently so he can't pull back (obviously I let him if he needs to) - they told me to do that in the hosp but I got out of the habit when his latch was OK.
Hopefully a bf expert will be on soon, or can you go to a local session, or call someone? Sounds like this is one of those things that the longer it goes on the harder it will be to fix. Hope you get it sorted.

Katy44 · 18/05/2007 09:23

bump

Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:23

Katy yes that is it exactly my breast is really wet afterwards...

I would call someone trouble is I'm due somewhere today (getting him registered - can't really get out of it!!!!) so I'm getting a bit nervous, I don't want to keep doing this really crap latch or he'll never remember how to do it properly...

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Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:25

.

OP posts:
appledumpling · 18/05/2007 09:25

Hi Mossie

I have a similar problem. DS has just decided to suckle thin air, then my nipple (ouch!) and not open his mouth big and wide. His weight gain is good so I know he's getting milk but feeding hurts me.

I tried La Leche but they didn't know what to suggest and although the lady said she was putting some info in the post I'm still waiting 2 weeks later. . NCT were hard to get hold of but suggested trying different positions.

HV and local breastfeeding counsellor both v supportive and also suggested different positions for feeding. It hasn't solved the problem but it does mean I can vary the angle DS goes on and not have him on the same sore bit all the time IYSWIM.

Someone on MN suggested tickling the corner of DS's mouth with my nipple which does help sometimes but not always.

HTH. It's not a solution by any means but you are not the only one.

Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:27

Hi appledumpling, I know this is my fault, I have been putting up with a crap latch the last few days while he had a cold, and now he's gone and forgotten how to do it properly...

have tried tickling his mouth with my nipple... I really want him to remember how to do it properly ... because the longer this goes on the less likely he is to remember.

OP posts:
Katy44 · 18/05/2007 09:29

bump

good luck, and enjoy getting him registered

Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:31

He seemed to do it okay on one occasion yesterday, so I don't know what I did differently then. All through last night's feeds though he wouldn't latch on properly and it took him over an hour to feed from each side...

There must be something I can do... he has opened wide before, he knows how to do it, how do I get him to do it again?

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Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:33

.

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Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:35

Anyone? I'm starting to feel a bit panicky that I've messed up bfing him now and he'll not latch again!!!!

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Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:40

.

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MaeWest · 18/05/2007 09:44

I'm not an expert, but wanted to reply to keep this bumped. I've been feeding DS for nearly 10 months and wanted to reassure you that I have gone through periods where it seems to have gone 'wrong' causing tears and panic on my part, but we have got through it.

Your baby is still quite young I think, so still in the early days of learning how to do it? One thing that helped me when I was going through a difficult latching period (think he was about 2 months - v frustrating as I thought we had it all sorted!) was to relax (difficult I know) and lie down in bed with him next to me. I flopped the boob out and let him root, but didn't try to 'put' him on the boob. It took a while, but he eventually latched himself on ok, I had to trust him though.

MaeWest · 18/05/2007 09:46

And you have not 'messed up', things will get better

Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:46

Thanks - I have been silly really, I should have tried to get this sorted yesterday instead of leaving it until today when I have to go out at eleven... silly me I thought once the cold went, he would just automatically latch on properly again.

I guess I really need to know that a few more sessions with a shallow latch until I can see the La Leche bf councillor on Tuesday aren't going to ruin it forever...

OP posts:
lemonaid · 18/05/2007 09:46

Just wondering if there's any possibility that he has an ear infection? DS used to get them immediately after colds and often wouldn't nurse properly when he had one.

Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:46

What would be the symptoms of an ear infection?

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appledumpling · 18/05/2007 09:48

Well, I suppose we are at fault in one sense because we've both put up with a useless latch.

But, for me, DS was hungry and after 15-20mins of trying every and any way it was either breastfeed with a bad latch or send DH out for formula. I don't want to go to formula for all sorts of reasons so that's why I did it.

HV did say that breastfeeding babies have a law unto themselves and to just try and get as good a latch as poss in the hope that he will get over it and do it properly. I don't think there is a magic solution unfortunately.

Original poster
Mossie · 18/05/2007 09:51

I think it is my fault as well because I have left it until the last minute to try to get help, silly really I thought it would be something really easy to fix...

I know what you mean, it's either feed with a bad latch, or he'll go hungry, so... it's feed with a bad latch!

OP posts:
bitzermaloney · 18/05/2007 09:56

Hi Mossie,

My ds did this for a while too. Please don't panic - of course you haven't messed up bfing! Have you tried making him 'reach' more for the nipple, IYSWIM? i.e. hold him really close to you so his nose is near it, so his chin touches your breast first, and he HAS to open wide to latch on, and sort of stretch like he's trying to sniff a flower just above his head ... Sorry, crap description, but that is what my bfing counsellor showed me, and it really helped. Can you get to see someone? Keep trying to get hold of a bfing counsellor as there's no substitute for someone watching you do it.

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