Can a painful latch always be corrected?

[BusyMissIzzy]

I'd really like some advice... I've been struggling with BFing my 2 week old; at first we had problems with positioning which led to cracked and bleeding nipples (and baby spitting up pink blood ), but that was sorted by v. helpful community midwives. I'm still having issues with her latching on though; the first time I put her on the breast she always clamps down with her gums and it is eye-wateringly painful. I then take her off and try again, and again, until it hurts less. It used to be the 3rd try that would be OK, but with each feed it seems to get a bit worse and now it takes 5 tries to get it to be bearable (and even then it's still uncomfortable TBH). Can this be corrected, or is she just a voracious sucker? I have now taken to expressing and am really enjoying the respite, but I miss the closeness of BFing However, given the choice of painful BFing and non-painful expressing, it's very tempting to express exclusively. It's gotten to the point that I feel very anxious every time I try to BF because I know it's going to hurt! Is it worth seeing a BF counsellor, or is this a problem that won't go away? Any comments/advice very welcome...

really sorry i can't help, it sounds awful, but would like to know too

I'd suggest a BF specialist who has a better idea of what is and isn't a good latch.

I went through this for far too long because I didn't know such a thing existed (and didn't find MN til way after the problems!)

I was expressing because it didn't hurt like DD did, and then got told that it would diminish my likelihood to EBF her if I carried on, so I should "suck up the pain, be willing to solely express or switch to formula", I chose pain, but there are obviously other options.

Good luck

HAve you got a Breastfeeding Network group near you?

Or a baby cafe?

Will the CM help again?

In the meantime, you might like to look at the videos here. They helped me a lot when getting started with DD.

Sorry - DD awake. Back later.

I think seeing a bf counsellor would be well worth it.

You could try a telephone helpline in the meantime. Other organisations to try are the NCT, La leche League.

Do you think the crack you had healed fully?

At any rate, a trained counsellor will help you go through the options and possible problems, and if they could see you this would be clearer to you and the counsellor.

bumping for you

Really sorry to hear you are in so much pain. Definitely see a breastfeeding counsellor if you can, but some are better than others - If you are in London I can highly recommend Clare Byam Cook, she came to see me when my DS was a few days old and really helped. She also has a book 'What to expect when you're Breastfeeding' and a DVD 'Breastfeeding without Tears', she really knows her stuff. Message me if you want her contact details and any more info, she doesn't really advertise! Good luck

sounds like someone to work 1:1 would be really good to see what's happening.
Make sure she's really rooting with her mouth wide open when you plonk her on.I often would then reposition my son if he looked more like he was sucking lemons, as that would be painful.
It's still really early days and you're both still learning. Well done and keep going with some 1:1 support. I think it took me a few weeks to really get into it, from memory, but both of mine EBf and self-weaned.

I have nothing to add to the great advice already given - definitely get someone in for 121 help. I did, after 5 weeks of agony. It really helped. What also helped me was time. It just took time for my poor nipples to get used to it. But after about 6 or 7 weeks, it became much more comfortable.

Poor you, sounds really painful. No experience of what you describe but when DS was little, the first 10-12 sucks really hurt but he settled down after that. It got better over time.

Would highly recommend trying the helplines, some of the organisations will organise for a bf counsellor to come to you (for free) especially as your baby is so little. Have used La Leche League myself, always knowledgable and v nice but they're probably all as good:

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
www.abm.me.uk
Helpline: 08444 122 949
Offers voluntary mother-to-mother support, counselling and information for breastfeeding women. Helpline open from 9.30am to 10.30pm.

National Breastfeeding Helpline
Helpline: 0300 100 0212
Funded by the Department of Health and staffed by trained volunteer mothers from the Breastfeeding Network and the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. Lines are open between 9.30am and 9.30pm every day of the year.

NCT Breastfeeding helpline
Breastfeeding Line: 0300 330 0771
The National Childbirth Trust has trained breastfeeding counsellors who can offer individual advice and support. Lines are open between 8am and 10pm seven days a week.

La Leche League
www.laleche.org.uk
Helpline: 0845 120 2918
Helpline offering advice and information on breastfeeding, plus local group meetings.

Breastfeeding Network
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk
Helpline: 0300 100 0210
Offers free, confidential telephone information on breastfeeding and one-to-one local support.

Any luck OP?