Please check photos of my DCs latch (breastfeeding)

[goggles43]

Hiya, can you please check photos and comment if my 3week old DC is latching properly? (dnt mind my attempt at “censoring” DC!)
I’m experiencing pain on right breast (soreness all over) and feeling abit achey all over my body. My breast itself looks fine and also, I have a fast let-down if that’s relevant.

Thanks all

I think it looks ok, have you joined any of the bf Facebook groups? Like breastfeeding network? They are offering virtual support. Congratulations on the birth of your little one!

It seems okay but hard to tell from just those two photos.

The perfect latch is where you can’t see much of the top lip but the bottom lip is turned out like a fish lip. Make sure you line up your nipple with their nose so they get a big wide open mouth to get a big mouthful of breast. They need more than just the nipple to have effective latch and sucking. When I was breastfeeding DD I sort of ‘dabbed’ my nipple on her nose/top lip and it made her open her mouth wide to get a good latch.

There are loads of good videos online which will show you what to look for in a good latch.

If you’re on Facebook have a look at Lucy Webber. She’s a UK breastfeeding consultant and she posts loads of really helpful stuff.

Congrats on your baby!

Difficult to tell from those photos but it looks like quite a shallow latch to me and I suspect that might be behind the pain. I think baby could also do with being closer to the breast with chin touching the breast. Do you have any lactation consultants that could see you?

The general body aches could possibly be a sign of mastitis so I would keep a close eye on your temp and your boob.

It’s so hard isn’t it. Sympathies

From.the pics I think baby has your nipple but not much areola. I would advise bringing baby to you with chin nearer to the centre of your cleavage. Make sure you arent holding the back of babies head so they can open their mouth wide and tilt head back to do so. Should have more areola visible above top lip than bottom.

Thank you for your replies. The more I look, the more I feel the latch is poor. His bottom lip isn’t out like a fish and I feel a lot of tugging on my nipples. I don’t know what to do now? I contacted my local lactation consultant but she’s on annual leave. And I don’t know how I can “re-teach” proper latch to dc. Dc never opens mouth wide enough. Wish bfing wasn’t this hard

I don't know if it will help but when I was getting a lot of pain in the early days with DD2 a friend of mine, who was a breastfeeding support volunteer, told me to get her in really close and perpendicular to the breast and tuck her legs in tight under my other arm. I don't know why it made a difference to the latch but it worked. Once she was bigger and better at feeding (and my nipples toughened up a bit) we could relax a bit more, but it definitely helped in those early weeks.

I'd also contact the gp / midwife as the achey all over and pain could be an early sign of mastitis

I was told to make a c shape with my hand, cup my breast with it and put as much of it in his mouth as I could.
What are babies cheeks doing? Can you hear baby gulping milk? Are you getting lots of wet nappies?
Evenings are cluster feeding territory I remember my nipples feeling particularly chewed on at this time of night x

If you get a chance, Nancy Morbacher videos on youtube are wonderful for helping with latch. Also worth speaking to La Leche League. Good luck!

That latch is too shallow. It’ll cause pain. When you latch baby on, wait for them to make a huge wide open mouth. Then guide their head in chin first. Point the nipple at the soft pallet (sp?) of their mouth. So kind of upwards and to the back. Do you have any local bf groups? The ones near me have fb groups and will do video chats.

When dd1 had issues with getting latched dh put her on for 2 days.

Strange I know but it was easier to see her latch when he was doing it. I also think because I was in pain I was maybe subconsciously not letting her get close enough to the boob.

Anyway, it worked for us and I bf dd1 for 9 months.

Not sure what to do re the not opening mouth. Just try waiting a bit before putting boob in to see if baby opens wider.

I second PP- try squashing the breast with a c shape cupped hand and posting it into the mouth to get as much in as possible. Also, try different holds. Mine would only latch property in the rugby ball hold at first.

No, his bottom lip needs to look like he is pouting.
Brush his nose with your nipple to make him tilt his head up, then latch him on.
I used to put two fingers horizontal, like holding a cigarette, and put them either side of my nipple. One finger on top, one on the bottom. Then offer it into the open mouth.

I agree with the nose/nipple bit, is forgotten about that. Line up baby’s nose with your nipple. That encourages them to tilt head back and open up wide once they feel your nipple on their nose. Then latch on with chin first and then top half of mouth. It’s really hard to explain.

www.breastfedbabies.org/attachment-and-positioning This link has quite a good picture of the nose to nipple position and how the chin goes in first.

Looks like baby is hanging off the end of your nipple to me. Often happens with posterior tongue tie - ask any healthcare workers you come across to check for you! Also have a look at the 'flipple' or 'extended latch' technique on youtube - helps you to roll more of the nipple into your baby's mouth. Sorry it's so painful, I found it agony at first but getting the tongue tie sorted and latch right helped a lot and after 6 weeks or so it got a lot easier!

Hi OP, agree with pp about posterior tongue tie - DD had one that wasn’t picked up until she was 8 weeks old as every single health visitor, midwife and breastfeeding supporter I came across assured me her latch was fine despite extreme pain, short feeds, gassiness, fussing at the breast, clicking noise when she fed (all signs of tongue tie).

I would either try and see a private lactation consultant or ask your health visitor for an urgent referral to another one who is available now. 3 weeks in you should be fine but if was too late for me and I really wish I’d seen a proper consultant earlier on. Good luck!

Hello, latch does look shallow- while you're waiting for some real life support have you heard of the 'flipple' technique- it can really help with a deeper latch ( assuming no other issues like tongue/lip tie)? lots of luck to you!

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

Xx

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I had some success bringing the baby in much closer to me - their chin should be massaging the boob.

Also nose to nipple is important to get them to open wide.

Hi OP, I hope you have had some improvement.

It will definitely get easier as your little one gets older.

If you feel you are getting mastitis, it would've worth pumping after your baby has fed to empty your breast. This worked for me and enabled me to avoid progressing to full mastitis.

You may be able to get help from La Leche League www.laleche.org.uk/get-support/

Good luck. You're doing amazing. Breastfeeding in the early days is so hard!

If my boob felt full and hard in one area I would gently massage down towards the nipple while feeding to help empty the boob.
Remember that your boob is like an orange cut in half, with segments going around.
Sore boob and feeling achy is a sign of mastitis so you need to see your GP.

When taking photos check is your babies chin touching the breast, if not the latch is shallow and you are likely to experience pain.

www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/breastfeeding/how-to-breastfeed/latching-on/

Hi OP. As others have said, his chin should be tucked into your breast. This would make his head tip back sightly, taking a big mouthful of breast with his lower jaw. Ensuring his chin is tucked into your breast will allow a much deeper and pain free latch. He needs to lead with his lower jaw when reaching for the breast and close his upper jaw just above your nipple. This will draw the nipple deep into his mouth, to the soft palate.