8 day old suddenly won't latch

[TheCuriousSofa]

Second baby, 8 days old. Feeding has been going okay. We're bad at latching on: she'll seem to get on then slide off three/four times before managing to latch, and it's made me quite sore, especially on one side. However, once she does get on there it isn't painful and she's already slightly above birth weight, do it's going pretty well all in all.

Since early evening yesterday, it's like she's forgotten how to latch. She's either sliding off indefinitely, and never getting a good grip, or she's just howling with frustration, with my nipple on her mouth, making no attempt to latch - but rooting frantically if I take her away. We've had maybe two good feeds in the last twelve hours, and spent a LOT of time trying to latch unsuccessfully. She's crying, I'm trying my best to stay calm and failing, I can't call the lactation consultant yet - does anyone have any 5am advice till I can get hold of someone?

Things it ISN'T:
Engorgement - I'm not getting particularly engorged and am hand expressing as needed. Was far worse when milk first came in and we were fine then.
Fast let-down: we aren't getting far enough for that, she isn't managing to get latched on in the first place.
Tongue-tie: obviously not a problem given how far we've got before things went awry.
Something I've eaten: it isn't.

Any other ideas?

Try a different holding position, try the rugby ball hold. Worth a go!

But are you sure its not tongue tie? I'd get it checked if I was you, I didn't notice any signs as such in the first 2 weeks because I just thought it was normal. Now he's 6 weeks and on a waiting list for another 2 weeks to have a division after being told when he was born there was no 'obvious' tie. A specialist has told me he has a posterior tie which makes him slip off as his tongue won't stay out.

Thanks for the response! I've tried different positions but it doesn't seem to be making it any easier for her. I will keep trying that though - I think it's not helping as I'm out of practice and trying to figure out a different hold when she's already hungry and cross is making things worse. But if I keep trying and maybe go for something else at the start of our next attempt, it might help!

I could be wrong and I'm sure breastfeeding counsellor will check, but I just can't imagine it's tongue tie. Despite it taking a few goes to get latched, she has been getting on fine. The feed itself isn't painful and she's fatting up like a trooper.

Generally speaking i find that breaking a cycle is what helps to fix things. Feeding often doesn't fall into that category but anything is worth a try. Try feeding her when she's asleep to see if she can do it and also if a full tummy will help. Then when she wakes try feeding immediately again.

Agree st getting her tounge looked at though.

Ugh. Still waiting to hear back from the breastfeeding counsellor. We've managed one more feed, but a lot of crying and failure to latch in between. Tried feeding her on her sleep but it didn't work - she sort of laps at me, but doesn't really open her mouth. Worth a try though! I'm trying to feed her as soon as she wakes up, but it's taking so long to get her on I think she's ending up frantically hungry by the time it works, even if she wasn't to begin with. It's so frustrating and I don't think I'm helping by getting upset alongside her - but it's so hard not to.