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Infant feeding

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

Got off to a bad start and baby not latching well at all; help and encouragement needed please.

26 replies

LackaDAISYcal · 10/11/2008 12:49

DS is 9 days old. His latch was pretty shallow at first and he likes pulling back off the nipple and munching which was making me sore. We were just getting to some semblance of a decent latch when he had the most horrendous dose of oral thrush and wasn't latching well at all. We've both been treated for the thrush and his mouth is clear again, but he seems to have forgotten everything and just won't open wide enough to latch properly. When I do get him latched on, he does that pulling back thing to where he is comfortable and I can feel my nipple twanging around inside his mouth. He doesn't have a tongue tie, but the frenulum from his top lip to his gum looks very tight. Could this be affecting his latch?

He was forceps delivery and we have seen a cranial osteopath once and are going again on Friday to see if she can help.

I have resorted to nipple shields as the pain has been sooo bad that I nearly sent DH out for some formula over the weekend .

Now I think baby is getting used to the nipple shields. I keep trying to latch him properly, but am so sore that I end up giving up and getting the shields out again

You'd think it would get easier with subsequent babies

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LackaDAISYcal · 10/11/2008 13:06

help

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ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 10/11/2008 13:10

I had this with ds2 and it only got better with time and experience. I also had to experiment with positioning his body correctly and bringing him forward to me by bringing his shoulders (not his neck or head) forward.

Remember you may have done this before, but your lo hasn't.

Second time around I found I still had the same hurdles to jump as the first time, but they were easier to jump and I got over them quicker - iyswim.

BouncingTurtle · 10/11/2008 13:13

Daisy, no advice but bug hugs to you.
I have a friend who di resort to nipple shields but with persistence she managed to get him to latch on without them.

BouncingTurtle · 10/11/2008 13:14

big hugs even!
I take it you have plenty of lansinoh?

LackaDAISYcal · 10/11/2008 13:15

thanks Moveit

It feels today like we are back to square 1 because of the thrush and stuff last week. I'd hoped to be off and running with it by this time.

And some ways knowing that I should know how to correct it (I'm a peer supporter) but can't is making me feel worse. Same thing with the thrush; I didn't even notice and thought it was just milk residue on his tongue . some peer supporter. His tongue was like a white fuzzy carpet and he must have been in pain

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LackaDAISYcal · 10/11/2008 13:17

I like bug hugs BT

You slathering on the lansinoh at every opportunity. It's the base of my nipples that are sore as he is munching on them every time.

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Beachcomber · 10/11/2008 13:18

Perhaps a session with a breast feeding counsellor would be a good idea?

There are loads of numbers on Hunker's excellent blog.

howbreastfeedingworks.com/

Also this site is good for advice on latch problems.

www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html

Good luck and that you are in pain.

Keep bumping and you will probably get loads of answers from people who have had similar problems.

LackaDAISYcal · 10/11/2008 13:18

oops, meant Yes, slathering, not You!!

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LackaDAISYcal · 10/11/2008 13:19

thanks beachcomber. I'm waiting on an NCT BFC getting back to me. Hopefully she will be able to come out and see me.

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Beachcomber · 10/11/2008 13:19

Ah just seen that you are a peer supporter so you probably know who to call!

BouncingTurtle · 10/11/2008 13:21

If it makes you feel better, my bfing counsellor had a horrendous time with her 3rd baby. She got through it, though she did need some help herself from a colleague. I guess it is not easy to counsel yourself!

LackaDAISYcal · 10/11/2008 13:32

I'm off to look at biological nurturing and take young Fin and me back to bed; see if we can't crack this (no pun intended)

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LackaDAISYcal · 10/11/2008 15:42

just having some lovely skin to skin and finlay fed for 20 mins, had a wee break and then another 25 mins. My boob feels drained for the first time. I needed to correct his latch a coule of times, and my nipple still feels sore, but I'm hoping this is just a hangover from his previous bad latch rather than continuing bad latch. Time will tell I suppose.

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Mij · 10/11/2008 16:15

If it's any consolation, I'm a peer supporter and just recently got sore nips again feeding my toddler, ffs! You'd have thought I'd have both a) spotted they were getting sore, and b) sorted it out. Everyone needs a second opinion and a helping hand sometimes Hope things are improving.

LackaDAISYcal · 10/11/2008 16:28

thanks Mij

we'll get there I'm sure.

The only thing about cuddling him skin to skin all afternoon is that now he doesn't want to be put down in the crib (and who can blame him ) but my older two need some mummy time as well.

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expatinscotland · 10/11/2008 16:31

good luck, daisy!

hope it gets sorted for you and goes well .

LackaDAISYcal · 10/11/2008 16:45

thanks expat

how is your little man doing?

I was wincing at your ambulance ride to PAH on your birth thread. I had a 20 minute car journey while in full labour and that was bad enough; can't imagine what two hours would be like!!

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BouncingTurtle · 10/11/2008 17:16

Brilliant!!

expatinscotland · 11/11/2008 17:53

i've got hte same 'problem', daisy.

DS just wants cuddled.

he was on my lap from about 9AM!

i have since popped him in his coorie sling and he is most happy .

he likes his baby bjorn as well.

ilovemydogandPresidentObama · 11/11/2008 18:00

re: baby bjorn....

daisy, try rubbing his cheek... this helped DS aka the suck monster...

expatinscotland · 11/11/2008 18:17

baby bjorn perfect for kissing the top of his baby head.

AND i can turn sideways and rinse out my mouth after brushing, too.

LackaDAISYcal · 11/11/2008 21:28

aw expat

there is something delicious about the top of a baby's head...all soft and peachy and smelling like toast.

Thanks ILMD, will try that and see if it encourages him to open wide; sometimes he ignores my nipple ang roots off in the other direction . Things are much easier today though and he is getting the hang oif being re-latched if necessary. He is struggling on one side, I think due to a stiff neck, but we are back at the cranial osteopath on Friday.

I have couple of slings, a close baby and a baby buddha; must get the instructions out and figure out how they are assembled

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LackaDAISYcal · 12/11/2008 15:15

had the boy weighed today and pleased to report he has put on 9.5ozs since Friday ...so his not optimium latch obviously isn't stopping him from getting what he needs. Just need to work on the latch so he isn't hurting me every time he feeds!!

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ilovemydogandPresidentObama · 12/11/2008 21:22

wow! Lacka, that it seriously good weight gain. Send me weight gain vibes! DS (8 months) is putting on weight but very slowly.

He was measured at the Paediatricians, and then a few weeks later by the H/V and apparently grew 4 cm

LackaDAISYcal · 12/11/2008 21:37

Wafts weight gain vibes for your DS ilmd

how is DD? is she sleeping better after the HGV incident?

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