9 weeks and still not latching on properly

[janx]

Fed dd fine for a year - but ds will not open hsi mouth - had my latch checked by three bfeeding councellors who all thought it was fine - but its not - its painful and his top lip is curled under. I have since the books - tried so many positions - am on the point of giving up but I really don't want to - anyone had this and can it be solved. He is thriving - its me that is going insane

Hi Janx, sorry to hear you're having a tough time. I had similar problems with ds when he was born - midwives told me he was latched on fine, but he just wasn't feeding; then a bf counsellor spotted that he wasn't opening his mouth wide enough. We took him to a cranial osteopath who thought the problem was with his jaw (he had a really wonky yawn!) and it really helped. He's now 16wo and certainly knows how to open his mouth properly now

Hi I would go back to your bfc and say it is still painfull they may be able to help further. I found bf painfull for 3 months I would cry at feeding times, it just got easier and my boobs could handle it after that and I'm so glad I stuck with it. You are doing an amazing job and your baby is thriving because your breastmilk is the best thing for him. Hang on in there.

janx - has the baby been checked for tongue tie?

Interesting you say about his top lip being curled under....a few babies actually have a tight frenulum anchoring their top lip lower down than it would ideally be. This is rare, I guess, and I have only read about it, but someone should take a look.

Thanks for all your support - tiktok - he has been checked for tongue tie - saw this fantastic feeding specialist at UCH who checked him over - she spent an hour with me trying to get ds to open wide, but to no avail.
Interesting about the osteopath cb - I have been about his windiness, but did not talk about his latch - will go back.
I too am in tears grouphug - have had mastitus too! My partner wants me to give up as I am pretty down about it - the only thing that keeps me going is knowing how much I enjoyed it with my daughter and the fact he is thriving - a whopping 14lbs at 9 weeks.

Forgot to say that the wonman at uch said he had a very high arch in the roof of his mouth and that the latch would have to be spot on to be comfortable - has anyone had this?

Hi janx, never heard of the high arch, I'm afraid, hope someone can help on that. Good luck with the osteopath, fingers crossed it helps, we saw results pretty quickly. And for the mastitis - I've had it twice now and it's no fun.
Well done on producing such a whopper! Big babies are so great...

Wow mine is 151b at 6 months lol, think her small mouth was what caused me all the problems half my nipple came off if that makes you feel better Janx my oh thought I was getting tourettes! but all healed now and love bf hoping to make it to 10 months. Hope things improve soon.

How did you cope with the discomfort grouphug? Was it long before it got sorted out? I need inspiration to keep me going

I don't think I really did cope but I went to a group for breastfeeding mums every week and talked to a bfc she also said my latch was fine I think it was just my boobs were very sensitive and it took 3 months to heal and harden up I tried expressing but I used to express blood!. I used to count to 10 when I first put her on the breast and the pain would then stop I used to stamp my foot and sware at the same time god the pain it made giving birth seem like an absolute breeze my GP told me to stop bf. I just kept thinking I can do this and that what did women do before formula years ago and that this is about the best thing for the baby not me I come second now and I'm going to trust my body that it will get better and it does, you can do this you really can janx I am so proud of myself now and it was so worth it.