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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Baby suddenly not latching properly

17 replies

stollen123 · 05/02/2023 08:16

Help! My 5 week old seems to have suddenly lost the knack of latching on. Breastfeeding has been a bit of a struggle for us - he was sleepy and reluctant to feed after birth (induced at 39 weeks and ventouse delivery as cord was round his neck and heart rate dropping) so we had to start topping up from day one. Then he was briefly hospitalised with jaundice, then a tongue tie diagnosed. We managed feeding using nipple shields until tongue tie was snipped at 2.5 weeks. Then we started getting to grips without them and he cracked it on the right really quickly but the left has always been a struggle - he can't latch properly and there's always clicking sounds/ pinching of the nipple no matter what we try. He has been gaining weight though and we were able to stop the top ups. I've been getting support from local breastfeeding groups and most recent advice was to try laid back position which worked when I was at the session and one time at home but since then it's not going so well and he just seems to be totally squashing my nipple even if it seems a decent amount of breast in his mouth. And still a lot of clicking. Its really been getting me down and anxious and then today he suddenly started struggling from the right breast too with a shallow clicky latch - fine all day until evening and then it just fell apart. I got so upset that my partner gave him a bottle of expressed milk whilst I slept which he took. Then I did a night feed where he did eventually latch from the good side but was hard work.

He is also falling asleep on the breast a lot and has been very gassy and snorting a lot so not sure if he has a cold and that's an issue? He was very gassy in the night and seemed uncomfortable and blowing a lot of bubbles. He hasn't woken as usual now for a morning feed but am letting him sleep a bit before I wake him and have been expressing into my Haakaa to avoid getting engorged...

Any ideas?? I am really stressed out. I've found the whole process so emotionally hard even though i know it's not my fault and am in tears a lot feeling so worried for him and like I've failed. Have tried leaving a message for a LLL leader but haven't heard back yet...

OP posts:

thefemaleJoshLyman · 05/02/2023 08:20

@stollen123 Oh you poor thing, it is so hard in the early days. I haven't got any real technical advice (it has been a long time since I breastfed) but we had real struggles here too so I know how you feel. Rugby ball hold seemed to work for my DS until he was latching consistently (probably until about 6 weeks or more) and with DD I used nipple shields for 6 months. Would going back to them help?

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will be here soon but wanted to let you know you are doing brilliantly and not to be hard on yourself.

mumyes · 05/02/2023 08:23

Oh OP hang on in there lovely

Take a deep breath or two.

BF can be v hard at tomes but hang on in there. You can do it!!

When I got problems (about 2 weeks in) on a Sunday, I called my midwives and a lady came out later that day and helped...could you try that.

She sorted it for me; helped me with latching etc.

Hang on in there, it will get better. These are the hard days.

Original poster

stollen123 · 05/02/2023 12:19

Thanks @mumyes and @thefemaleJoshLyman , it's always helpful to hear that it's going to get better. I ended up speaking to a lovely lady from LLL who was really reassuring - I think I've been putting too much pressure on myself that everything needs to be perfect already but she said it's normal for it to take ages for things to resolve after a tongue tie division and to just persevere even if it doesn't feel "perfect", as long as its working and he's gaining weight and it's not causing pain and damage it'll get better as he gets older so just going to hang onto that and try and calm down as I'm doing myself no favours by getting so upset! It just makes me so irrationally emotional though, the slightest thing can set me off blubbing...

OP posts:

staybyyou · 05/02/2023 12:25

DS2 was similar, he clicked a lot and sometimes it used to pinch. I just kept relatching him, it was very frustrating though. As his mouth grew bigger it seemed to just get easier. He also continued to put on weight and I never topped up.

I was also told that tongue tie can reattach so you may want to get him checked again for that if you can. Well done OP, sounds like you're doing great.

staybyyou · 05/02/2023 12:26

One thing that did help my boobs was silver nipple cups, sounds a bit weird but honestly it stopped all soreness and cracking. I used to put lanolin on and then the cups after each feed.

Original poster

stollen123 · 05/02/2023 14:45

@staybyyou yes that sounds exactly like my little one, I try to keep relatching him but it's hard when he doesn't seem to ever be able to get it right. Not sure if I should just let him do it "wrong" to stop him getting frustrated and get some milk in him.

The silver cups are a godsend, I've had them in constantly since day 4! Those and multi-mam compresses which are keeping my nipples from getting too damaged...

OP posts:

Supertayto · 05/02/2023 14:58

I feel for you, OP. Breastfeeding is really bloody hard at times. I found it helpful to develop a few different tools to help with latch issues which I could whip out whenever we had issues (engorgement after illness or growth spurt, teeth coming in, etc). Have you tried the flipple technique, that was a game changer for me. Dangle nursing can help too for short periods so you don’t totally sod up your back. Maybe also check out any local breastfeeding Facebook groups or an NCT cafe if you have one nearby. Good luck!

mumyes · 05/02/2023 18:35

stollen123 · 05/02/2023 12:19

It's all hormones and lack of sleep!! Try to remember this. V v powerful things hormones!

So pleased you got some help.

Original poster

stollen123 · 05/02/2023 22:51

Thanks @Supertayto I had a look at the flipple technique and have been giving it a go - he's been feeding way better today though. We managed a really good feed with a great latch in rugby ball hold on the left 🎉

@mumyes thank you, so important to keep in mind that it's the hormones and not me going mad! My mum came over today to help out and gave me a chance to get in an extra nap so feeling much more human

OP posts:

Flittingaboutagain · 05/02/2023 23:05

Don't expect breastfeeding to feel like you and baby have it cracked until 6-10 weeks. I am still breastfeeding my 18 month old and it was a hard start for us with not getting tongue tie diagnosis until 8 weeks so I empathize! I found I needed different positions depending on each side because your boobs are sisters not identical twins if you get what I mean.

Koala/jockey and rugby are good to try as is the flipple. Also 6 weeks is the first leap/growth spurt so you're about to hit the period where it feels like no matter what baby is frustrated at the boob. Expect punching, head banging and screaming I want the boob/I don't want it. Keep on keeping on, it's totally normal and will be over quickly!

Original poster

stollen123 · 06/02/2023 00:32

@Flittingaboutagain thank you, that's really good to keep in mind! I need to reframe the way I think to expect constant new challenges, not that he's a puzzle to be solved and that there's a magic fix I'm missing. I'll brace myself for week 6 then...

I wonder if too fast a flow might be an issue as just now I was feeding him in Rugby hold and he was gulping a lot and clamping down really hard... switched to laid back but still very clampy, not sure what the best position is for trying to reduce baby biting down so hard...

OP posts:

YukoandHiro · 06/02/2023 00:33

Try the flipple technique to get a deep latch - it really helps especially with TT issues

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

Flittingaboutagain · 06/02/2023 04:27

You can also try things like hand expressing to simulate let down and get the flow going, latch on then sit back rather than forward if flow is fast. But it could be nothing is wrong at all... It's all one big learning curve for you both absolutely. And things will change as baby grows. If you're on Instagram Kathryn Stagg has a what to expect week by week that's so reassuring.

Original poster

stollen123 · 06/02/2023 06:58

@YukoandHiro thanks I'll check this out!

@Flittingaboutagain I did not know about Kathryn Stagg, I had a look at her Instagram, thankyou looks so helpful!

OP posts:

Original poster

stollen123 · 05/04/2023 10:01

Hi all just wanted to thank everyone who commented on this thread - DS is now 13 weeks and feeding like a champ and has been gaining weight brilliantly🏆 it was a hard slog to get here (pain, latch issues, brief worry about weight gain, exhausting cluster feeding...) and only feels like we've cracked it for the last couple of weeks but your kind and supportive words really gave me the encouragement to keep going and it's such a great feeling to finally feel like we've hit our stride! ❤

OP posts:

Bringmethesleep · 05/04/2023 10:09

Amazing! This is a lovely update ❤️

Flittingaboutagain · 05/04/2023 20:11

So pleased for you. Well done! Your perseverance has paid off!

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