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Infant feeding

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

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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 09:58

I can see someone on Tues... but if I keep doing this semi-crap latch will it be too late by then?

OP posts:

bitzermaloney · 18/05/2007 10:00

I really, really can't believe it would be too late if he is getting milk as he seems to be - ds and I struggled with a crap latch for about 8 weeks before we finally cracked it. He (and I) are still alive and still bfing now at 9.5 months

Original poster

Mossie · 18/05/2007 10:03

Oh that's good to know... he is certainly getting milk - well, enough to keep him hydrated, at any rate. Eight weeks - well if that's the case I can keep going for a few more days with the crappy latch... it just means feeds take loads longer, but I can deal with that as long as I'm not messing it up by doing this so he totally forgets...

OP posts:

mears · 18/05/2007 10:09

Have you got him skin-to-skin when you can? Lie down with him even. Are you waiting till he wakes for feeds? Have you tried feeding him in the bath?

These things can help. He will be fine till you see LL person and will probably have sorted himself out by then.

Are your nipples sore?

Original poster

Mossie · 18/05/2007 10:11

Mears he is in his nappy when I feed him, my nipples are sore but not really sore iyswim, not enough to have to get the lansinoh out again like I did at the beginning.

Haven't tried feeding him in the bath though, I hadn't thought about that, will try that this evening!!I do wait until he wakes for feeds, which meant last night was fun and games but he still doesn't seem to open wide enough to latch on.

Will try feeding in the bath thisevening, as loing as he's not going to starve or something over the next few days, and as long as he's not going to forget totally, that's the main thing I'm worried about.

OP posts:

mears · 18/05/2007 10:15

He won't forget totally and he can't be too much off the mark if your nipples feel OK. The other thing to try is holding him in the rugby ball hold - it is easier to control moving him swiftly onto the breast that way. Make sure you are bringing him onto the breast when he opens his mouth rather than trying to push the nipple in IYSWIM?

Original poster

Mossie · 18/05/2007 10:22

Thank you for the reassurance... I think I am just panicky as well because i'm going out today on the train for the first time since he was born... and will also have to bf in public if he gets hungry...

how silly to leave everything til the last minute like this, but he was fine until he got his cold!

anyway better go... thanks everyone for help1!

OP posts:

Shrinkinglily · 18/05/2007 10:58

Mossy, I don't think we have a good latch here alot of the time, reading this is usefull, I can improve my technique.
I think it's good to aim high but also not to worry if everything isn't perfect. You are very hard on yourself! Mossy, be kind to the Mossy, you are doing great.

BandofMothers · 18/05/2007 11:02

dd2 has bf for 9 1/2 mths and her latch always looked wrong, but she was fine.
they get better at it aas they get older too, don't worry. you'll be ok

Original poster

Mossie · 18/05/2007 15:23

Thanks Shrinky and BoM... I think I had worked myself up into a panic because he has latched on well before and suddenly, with his cold... it has stopped!! Also I was feeling worried because today was my first big train trip... actually it didn't go too badly, I did have to feed him on the train and I did get some shocked / nasty glares but I also got a smile of one woman which made me feel a lot better.

Will see the LLL advisor for any tips on Tues, as well.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mossie · 18/05/2007 15:23

Off, not of!

OP posts:

Shrinkinglily · 18/05/2007 16:26

Yay! Well done for getting your boobs out on the train and shocking people

foxcub · 18/05/2007 19:35

Mossie - when you day your boob is wet, do you mean that his lower lip keep slipping shut again, due to your skin being wet?

If so, mine does that too and I have to keep wiping it with a flannel until he's latched.

Another mumsnetter showed me a really good technique for getting the baby's jaw to open wide.

What you need to do is tip the baby's head back as you are latching. If you tip your own head back you'll notice that it causes your mouth to open wide, so if you drop the baby's head back the same will happen.
Antother thing you can do is squeeze the areola prior to latching. You can squeeze it into a long conical shape so its easier to get more into his mouth. The squeezing will also make drops of milk come out, which he will smell and should inspire him to get ready for latching.

Also, when your positioning, gently grip his head between both ears and shove his head onto your boob, rather than shoving your boob into his mouth. Its his head which should move, not your boob.

HTH

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