Nipples too big? Really struggling with latch

[SerenaOverjoyed]

My lovely DD is 4 days old. I'm really struggling with her latch, she doesn't seem to open her mouth wide enough to accommodate my nipple, let alone other breast tissue. We often fail to get a latch, or the latch is really painful as she mashes her gums against me!

I have been advised to draw my nipple back until her mouth is open wide, but she doesn't seem to fo this. She gets quite frustrated and scratchy/grabby with her hands when trying and failing to latch

I feel for you... it’s so tough when they don’t latch properly and you have sore nips. Have you tried aligning baby’s nose with your nipple? This apparently triggers the reflex to latch (or something like that) and they open their mouth wider. Make sure baby is tucked in close to you also. This link might help: www.breastfedbabies.org/attachment-and-positioning

Do you have any local support groups you can go to for help?

I have enormous, flat nipples (how sexy am I!) and struggled in the first few days but he got it eventually! I had to kind of squeeze my boob and shove it right to the roof of his mouth to prompt the sucking. Keep at it, you're doing brilliantly, you'll both get it :-)

Meant to add, if they struggle to open mouth wide there’s a possibility they could have tongue tie... this is the issue we have currently.

Someone more knowledgeable than me will be along with advice in a min but first things first.

You need this:
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Like a boat full.

Thanks for the advice. I try aligning her nose to my nipple and it helps to an extent but her mouth doesn't quite open wide rnough to accomodate my nipple and breast tissue so we don't latch.

How do you start investigating tongue tie? I was going to go to breastfeeding clinics next week.

It's so hard, she gets so agitated trying to latch, then starts screaming

Congratulations on your baby
Are you supporting her shoulders rather than her head so that she can tip her head back to open her mouth wide? Have you got contact details for a bf support group? If not you can contact the Breastfeeding Network on 0300 100 0212 for advice and to find a breastfeeding support worker near you that can come and help

Are you still under midwife support? Will somebody come out to you to try and help you one on one? At this age you really need the personal support rather than online.

I would definitely agree with asking for tongue tie assessment and breastfeeding clinics sound like a good idea.

I used to swaddle DS1 to pin his arms down while I was trying to get him to latch.

If you have large areola, it's not necessary for them to take all of the areola into their mouth. But opening her mouth very small and taking only the nipple itself is likely to be painful for you.

Some good videos about extended latch here

themilkmeg.com/get-better-latch-exaggerated-latch-flipple-breastfeeding-technique/

This was me, and I don’t really have much to advise that other posters haven’t already said, but just wanted to add that things got much, much easier for us in the second week and from then on out, I think because DSs wee mouth grew bigger! Hope you are feeling ok x

Definitely worth getting her checked for tongue tie (by an IBCLC/other BF specialist if possible) but also just wanted to reassure you that this is really normal, their mouth is tiny at this age and it will usually get easier as they grow bigger.

Rather than trying too much to help her latch, have you tried a laid-back position with her skin to skin on top of you? Sometimes that can help them to find a better latch themselves.

Serena.... how do your boobs feel? Are they hard/ engorged/ painful? If so, baby might struggle to latch and draw the areole in to their mouth. At day 4 your milk will just have come in so it’s possible you might be engorged. If you try expressing first, your boobs will soften and it will be easier for baby to draw your nipple and areole in. Wanted to add... keep going, you’re doing amazing thing for your little one x x x

Google Clare byam cook and try the shape and shove method. I have large nipples and was unable to breastfeed first time. Did the research second time and have managed it successfully. She has a book that's good and some YouTube vids show her technique in action

Google Clare byam cook and try the shape and shove method. I have large nipples and was unable to breastfeed first time. Did the research second time and have managed it successfully. She has a book that's good and some YouTube vids show her technique in action

Although I'd agree with Clare Byam Cook's approach on this specific latch issue, I would not recommend her book generally. There is some shocking misinformation about BF in there.

Although it is the same thing as the exaggerated latch mentioned earlier IIRC.

To update - things are so much better. My breasts were definitely engorged so pumping really helped her in getting a latch. I also think just a few days more practice helped us both. I found initially that giving her a bit of formula calmed her enough to make it possible to spend 5mins trying to latch. We seem to be able to latch now every time, with patience. Still using a bit of formula (6hrs cluster feeding yesterday PM left me unable to stay awake) but I'm confident we can cut this out entirely in the next week or two.

Thanks all for your lifesaving advice

Oh that's brill :) And don't worry about a bit of formula. DS2 had some too and he made it quite clear when he'd had enough of that :o