BF - how long for a NB to learn to latch?

[addictedtofrazzles]

I have just had DS2 (yay!). He is 3 days old and have been really determined that this time round I will EBF (DS1 was express breast/formula fed due to latching + my nipple problems. After 4 weeks I gave up and gave just formula).

Although DS2 is a better sucker, he is struggling to latch on my large, flat, swollen boobs and I am currently having to use a shield. I am trying to latch him on after 5 mins without the shield but with no success!

In your experience, how long does it take a baby to learn to latch on correctly? (I really don't want to go down the expressing bm route, if possible as I have a 21 month old - I know in my heart of hearts I will end up giving formula for speed/ease if I also have to express for each feed )

Any experiences would be warmly welcomed please.

hi i ff my dd after a week of bf due to sore nipples and frustration 5 years ago so this time now have 4 week old ds and have tried to stick it out longer, he just seems to be getting the hang of it now and its much easier the more he feeds, less pain and quicker to latch on, except in the night when were both a bit sleepy and not concentrating as much. the more you feed the easier it will become

CONGRATULATIONS on your new arrival

I also failed to bf DC1 (latch/tongue tie/flat nipples/etc) but am currently (as I type in fact ) bfing 2 month old DC2. It took about 5 days to get the latch right with DC2 and perhaps a little longer before we had it right first time every time. However, within 3 weeks it was a truly effortless point-her-vaguely-at-nipple-and-she'll-latch-on-herself experience.

Keep on in there (easier said than done when you have another DC to look after I know - I have an 18 month gap)! It's so easy to get disheartened when it didn't work out for you the first time, but it sounds like you are doing really well.

BTW - has he been checked for tongue tie?

Another thought - could you wait more than 5 mins (e.g. until the breast is a bit emptier and he's a bit fuller) before trying DS without the shield? My DD always found it much easier to latch onto an emptier boob.

Hopefully one of the bf experts will be along with some good advice soon x

I remember crying on ds because he just wouldn't latch and I have been raised with bf my mum came in and told me I was remembering a older baby Ds took about 10minutes to latch on for about a month then it got easier.

DD I relaxed and just patiently kept trying and because I was calm and un-worried it only lasted two days and would only take about 5mins to latch. Sorry if my advice seems silly but it really did help me to relax and realise it is okay nb baby's take a while to latch it won't harm them just be patient and it will happen .

It took DD about 5-6 weeks, which seems forever when it's 12 times a day every day, but just wanted to reassure you that she did get there eventually (we had to mix bf and ff in the early days just to get something inside her, but went to ebf by 1 week) and then went on to pile the weight on etc with no more problems. The biggest piece of advice we give women who come to our bf group is keep trying - loads of us had probs to start with, but they always worked out in the end.

When you remove the shield is your breast less engorged and your nipple out?

I always found when engorged in the early days hand expressing a little then encouraging my nipple out.

Using a different hold like the football hold might also help as you can see more what your doing and get the baby latched on when their mouth is wider.