Baby struggling with latch now boobs engorged...

[RChapz]

At the start of this evening I FINALLY felt I’d got somewhere with breastfeeding and baby had started latching well.

BUT as the nights gone on, my breasts have become more engorged (baby is 5days so milk just properly coming in) and she’s found each latch more difficult! She’s opening wide but not chomping down when she’s at her widest.

I’ve been pulling her off to re-latch each time, but we’re just not getting it so I’m having to leave her on when she’s not quite right or risk her not doing a full feed.

Will they be less engorged if they just leave them? Should I wait it out? We are feeding very frequently!!

Should I be pumping? Or will that just increase supply?

Help!

You need to express some by hand, then the baby will find it easier.

Pump enough off before a feed just to soften the breast for baby to get a good latch.

Check out KellyMom website for really good deep latch techniques which help baby to drain breast efficiently. Make sure you’re offering both breasts at a feed, and feed as often as baby wants. This bit is tough but it doesn’t last very long! A few weeks and your boobs will chill out a bit.

I had this around day 5 too, someone suggested a warm shower as it helped breaststroke to 'leak' so you are less engorged, a little hand expressing might work, but go easy as it will increase supply. Look after yourself. It's known to be baby blues day, and everything seems overwhelming, it will get sorted out. Call midwife or health visitor and get some support. Breastfeeding helplines can also be good.

Don't just leave them as it will get worse and you may get mastitis.

You want to remove just a little bit of milk to make them easier to latch onto. You can do this by hand expression (Google marmet hand expression) or pumping.

Long term it would be a good idea to look for a breastfeeding support service so that you can get things like the latch checked.

The shape a baby flattens the nipple too in their mouth for feeding is nigh on impossible if your breasts are very engorged. I had to hand express for 30 seconds before each feed just so that there was some give in my breasts as they were like rock hard balloons. Hand expressing to soften breasts for latching will not affect supply and your boobs will settle down fairly quickly once baby gets established with feeding.