No BF support anywhere?! Thanks covid...

[Boltsand]

This is baby number 4, so the hospital basically gave me a merry slap on my rump and said "you've done it before old girl, you'll be fine!". Along with 3 phone numbers which seemingly are so busy they're never answering, or are currently closed down due to the coronavirus.

Anyway, all is not well! And I can't get through to anyone for advice. Gah!

2 of my other babies had tongue tie issues, so I'm thinking maybe this one does too...though it feels different this time. She uses her gums to literally scrape the milk out?! It's a constant chomping motion, and is bloody sore! She opens her mouth wide enough, but as soon as the nipple is in, she starts scraping away with her gums and jaws, closing her mouth up tight around the nipple.

Any tips on how i can get her to stop? If i break her off and try to re-latch, she just goes straight back to it. If I keep breaking her off each time, she gives up bothering to feed at all.

Not a huge fan of LLL, as I went to a meeting for advice with my last baby and they just kept saying "isn't it amazing how every baby has a different way that works for them! What a marvel!" - and offered no actual help to any of us in the meeting , though I'm so desperate to stop this chomping that I even tried calling them (too busy to answer every time I've tried).

Baby is now 2 weeks old and I'm at risk of losing my nipples to this! Please help if you can!! Thank you :)

Sorry no ideas but I've hear leleche have a good helpline.
www.laleche.org.uk/telephone-helpline/
Also there is a local breastfeeding group on my Facebook. I know there offering phone / video chat type consulationsso might be worthwhile seeing if there's something similar in your area.

In terms of tongue tie have you tried popping your finger in there - if so does she suck or just do the chomping thing? Can you feel her tongue moving? Have you managed to get a look under the tongue? My little girl did this though - she was very little when born (5 lbs 10) and it just took her a while to work out how to feed, sounds mad but after about 8 weeks she just worked it out! Maybe try nipple shields to see if that encourages her to suck rather than chew? That’s terrible of the hospital - they should still be checking is feeding ok prior to discharge!!

Try milkmakingmamma on Instagram she’s great.

Ahh I really feel for you, it’s hard enough when the normal support is there. Two of my tongue tied babies did this, they couldn’t maintain the normal latch needed with their tongues because of the tie (both posterior) so they hung on for dear life with their gums (ow ow ow). Where in the country are you? I know some TT services are still operating but I ended up going privately with my third just so it was quicker. Money well spent though. Really hope you get sorted asap xx

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3895198-Invaluable-help-advice-and-support-for-anyone-pregnant-right-now

Three are some great live sessions at the moment on infant feeding. Go take a look at the link I posted recently. All the details are on there. Hope that helps!

I found the Nct helpline useful. However, if its toungue tie, maybe midwife/HV?

Hi op. Do you have a local breastfeeding support group? If so I’d be surprised if they didn’t have a Facebook group for you to seek advice and support (ours does). It sounds like she needs a tongue tie check. Your nipple is obviously not far enough back in her mouth, its slipping down towards the front of her mouth, and this would suggest she’s not able to get the correct motion from her tongue to feed. I would try your local group (if there is one) As they should have links to Refer you back to the hospital or tongue tie clinic. If not maybe a health visitor can refer?

I shall have a look around for a local group. Thank you :) I kinda feel like I need her checked in person, as I know how BFing should feel (I've fed consecutively for 5 years now) and I know what doesn't feel right, and I can tell what she's doing wrong (def using gums, like you describe @Almond791), but I just don't know why, or how to fix it! I need someone to see if it is a tongue tie and if it needs snipping...

I've asked the HV to weigh her next week as she looks a bit scrawny compared to how my others looked, and so I do have a rare appointment, so will ask then, though in past experiences I've found HVs don't tend to know too much about TT.

I got through to a midwife today, who suggested I switch to bottles (not keen, as I'm lazy and don't want to get up in the night to sterilise...!), and then also got through to someone on a national BF helpline, who was very nice, and suggested nipple shields - I'm hesitant with these too though, as I'm not sure how easy it is to stop using them again?

Anyway, thanks for your advice. I shall look locally and possibly also look into a private TT specialist if it looks necessary (a quick Google of my area suggests it could be about £200+ which made my eyes water, but if it's needed, it's needed... we're saving money by not going to baby groups, so this can be this baby's fun spending money )

@Boltsand

So sorry to hear you are struggling, your situation sounds similar to mine and I had a hole in my nipple by day 3/4. When she refused to latch I phoned my midwife team and maternity ward for advice . Midwife team have support workers that can help with latching issues and check tongue tie- although not sure about posterior which we think my dd has. It was the hv who referred me to breastfeeding teamand they assessed over video and photos (not ideal) but now waiting for referral- could be waste of time as I believe, before covid you would only get an appointment if definite tongue tie so they can perform procedure there and then 🤷🏻‍♀️ Have you had 5 day check?

I have found breastfeeding a lonely experience with both but even more so now when you can’t just pop to a local group!

I hope you find some help! We are also treating for thrush and reflux without actually seeing anyone- drives you mad!

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