Sudden shadow latch

[LivelyGoose]

I had my baby on Friday last week and straight away he latched really well and had a really healthy appetite. He's quite a big baby at 9lb 12oz, and only lost 4% body weight in the initial days after coming home as he was feeding so well. Out of nowhere yesterday he developed a shallow latch and nothing I've tried to remedy it works. We are both finding it really frustrating as he gets really distressed trying to feed, and I can't fill his stomach despite long, frequent feeding sessions all day yesterday and today, so he is fussing constantly. My supply has been excellent so I have resorted to hand expressing into a bottle and feeding him that a couple of times, but I'm concerned that this will confuse his latch further and worsen the problem! Any advice much appreciated.

Has he been checked for a tongue tie by someone properly qualified (most midwives are not) ask for a referral to the infant feeding/tongue tie team, there should be one at your hospital

Has it happened since your milk came in? If your supply is excellent he might be backing off if he's being swamped by milk. I'd try expressing your initial let down and latching him once your flow has steadied.

@BuffaloCauliflower Could this be the case even if he was feeding really well initially?

@Redplenty I've tried this and it hasn't helped 😞

Have you done the basics like making sure he's nipple to nose, tummy wedged to your tummy? X

Could it be because he has grown and you need to adjust how you hold him? Make sure his nose aligns with your nipple, hug in tight and make sure he's gaping wide before you latch him on? Also the angle of your nipple may have changed since your milk came in. Can you see a breastfeeding counsellor at all? They are fab at helping with small practical things like that. I had to prop my boob up with a muslin to get the right angle and would never have thought of that on my own 😂

(Also consider he may just be having a feeding frenzy due to a growth spurt and is increasing your supply. Sometimes you have to roll with it and trust your body to adjust, even though it feels impossible at the time)

Yes definitely, it’s really only a few days. My DS had a really severe tie, about 90%, which I noticed right away but didn’t affect latch to start with and he barely lost any weight, maybe 6%? But he was feeding for hours and hours and then it started to get painful maybe a week again as the latch had looked fine but actually wasn’t. Definitely get him checked, even if it’s not that the infant feeding team should help, be able to signpost you to other breastfeeding support etc

Here's a great video to help with how to bottle feed in order to support breast feeding while you get this issue figured out. I found using a paced bottle feeding approach while me and my little one smoothed out any BF hiccups we had, so helpful. Congrats on your baby BTW! Enjoy the love bubble x

Thank you everyone. I've tried all the usual things and had my technique checked by several midwives and a doula. From what I've been reading and what @BuffaloCauliflower has said I think he probably has a tongue tie. I'll request an appointment with a feeding consultant tomorrow x

@BuffaloCauliflower you were right on the money! Just been from the clinic and he has a tongue tie. They should have checked at the hospital when he was born but I'm guessing they didn't because he was latching and feeding so well? Anyway he has an urgent referral to a specialist and I'm continuing to express in the meantime. He's gained 3oz in the last two days so they're not worried and neither am I. I'm sort of relieved as was worried it was something I was doing wrong.