Correcting a poor latch?

[KiwiPanda]

Hello - does anyone have any advice on improving a latch? My 2 1/2 week old seems to have developed a bad habit. Her lower lip isn't as obviously turned out as it was initially, I think. She still feeds fine and is putting on weight but I think it's contributing to the pain I'm still feeling, particularly at the beginning of the feed. I've tried attempted to move her lower lip but it's very tricky to do so without accidentally pulling her off. It is, as far as I can tell when I poke my boob out of the way and look hard, still turned out, just not as much as I think is correct...? It seems like the O she's making with her mouth isn't as big as it was.

Any advice?? Thanks!

hi, my DS had a terrible latch for the first 10 weeks or so and used to turn his lower lip under - i would try to tease down his chin during the feed, with some success. As I recall, there is some good advice and some videos to watch on drjacknewman.com that may help.

good luck and hang in there!

Try this:

Start nose to nipple, be very careful not to push breast over when you latch baby on, so many mums make that mistake, bring baby to breast.

Hold by the shoulders so baby is able to throw head back, ie with right hand if feeding on left breast and vice versa.

Make sure baby is in a straight line, not twisted, and push shoulders close into you.

Tickle baby's top lip with nipple and possibly express a drop onto top lip.

Wait for big wide mouth......

The first thing to touch your breast should be baby's lower lip, then the nipple should follow it into the roof of the mouth. Imagine the bottom lip has velcro on it and you're sticking it to the breast.

Count to 15, if it's still hurting after that, start again.

Good luck, hope that works!!

How does it feel? Are both you and your baby comfortable? Can yousee a pause in the chin that indicates she's swallowing (take a look at the videos on the Jack Newman website mentioned above)? What about her nappies, are there plenty of wees and poos?

Some mums find that poking about with their breast actually causes their baby to slip and adjust their position. Looking at the bottom lip probably isn't the most helpful sign, certainly not on its own.

Are there any breastfeeding groups near you where someone could observe a feed and perhaps suggest any little tweaks that might improve things?