Latching issues

I am sorry I can' help but wanted to offer a . A friend has a baby about 3wks old and she is having the same problem. I don't know but maybe he satisfies his thirst/hunger initially and then after that he gets a little lazy with feeding. I am definately no expert but gould you just feed him more often for these shorter times (a pain I know), or could it be your let down is too fast or slow for him? If you fed him for this short time then changed his nappy, played etc and then offered again, or offered several times before he went back for his next nap would that work?

The only other things I can suggest is either contacting La Leche League or a lactation conultant, I know there is one at our local hospital so maybe yours is the same.
Or could there be something wrong i.e. something in his back/neck etc is out and cranial osteopathy will work?

I hope I have at least given you a few ideas rather than raising more quesions. You have done a wonderful job sticking at it for this long.

Hi Acetyr.
Really important that Bubs gets a big mouthful when first latched, you shouldn't be able to see much of the areola when he is on. Also when you look down Bubs mouth should be nice and wide. Try to keep him like that by keeping him tucked in closely to your own body so it is harder for him to pull his head back & let the nipple slide.

If still no luck then maybe try nipple shields? iI will help your nipples & he will get fed.

Well done on perserving, it can be really hard to get sorted but once you click with your latch it gets much much easier I promise. Latching correctly is the big key to breastfeeding

Acetry, can you possibly see a lactation consultant?? Have you got some lanisoh to rub on your nipples, it really does help & sit & sun them will help as well. Can you try & adjust your hold, try a rugby hold until you guys can gel again. Also try a pillow on your knee to get him higher. Also have you checked to see if he has a partial tongue tie? that won't help with his latching.


toniellis, please don't say that you shouldn't see much of the areola with most being in the babies mouth. Some women have big areola & have no hope in hell of getting the whole lot in babies mouth. This is where I really struggled from misinformation with BFing, I had to figure myself as long as the latch is comfortable & they are not on the nipple & the right sucking is happening, then it is all good.

i thought possibly thrush too... at 3 months old the way they breastfeed has changed a bit. one of mine always felt like it was nipple feeding and it turned out ok... maybe you could see what happens if you dont readjust and see how it feels for both of you... agree about the areola thing too - no way in hell all of mine would fit in any babies mouth! lol!     

Thanks Aliasmum. Bubs actually did have a tongue tie. I was reluctant to get the tie snipped as I felt bubs was doing everything right (he was). I was still having difficulty BFing after 6 weeks so we got his tie snipped and it didn't make any difference.

I have been trying to adjust my hold like you suggested.

toniellis, I found your advice very helpful and do think I have to get more into bubs mouth. Don't give up on becoming a lactation consultant, you've helped me already!

Toni, Definitely look at becoming a LC...they are sorely needed.

I probably read more into how you said it. Automatically reading that can't see much = most of it in bubs' mouth.

They definitely need to be latched right & sometimes learning to BF is a lonely experience with a lot of pressure from a very tough critic. The more support that women can get the better, especially support ongoing well after the first few weeks!

Hope each feed is improving for you Acetry

Thanks toniellis. Despite seeing heaps of videos and reading heaps of books I have never seen the deep latch (sandwiching) technique and bubs is latching on better. He still makes the occassional "clicking" sound but it's not hurting anymore.

I went to the BFing support group today. They assured me that because he is well and happy, I shouldn't worry about his poor weight gain or pooing only every few days. Apparently breastfed babies can go up to 10 days without pooing. They also said that at 3 months old, BFing can change a bit as they're more inquisitive or interested in other things going on.

Thanks again for everyone's suggestions. I'll perserve with a deep latch and should stop weighing bubs!

toniellis wrote: The main things to look for is weight gain (weight staying the same or loss is not so good) that is reasonably constant.

not technically correct sorry.
weight gain is not the be all end all of growth. mine all slowed down about 6 mths... growth can happen in other ways, length for instance.... so yeah dont get all hung up on how much they weigh and which percentile they are in.

and re the poop, yeah bf babies dont poo on schedule.

I thought it was great advice Tons. I think it's easier to explain the big wide latch by saying bubs should have 'most' of the areola in their mouths.

acetyr - you're doing an amazing job!
I think sometimes by 3 months we kinda think we've got breastfeeding sorted and we become a bit 'lazy' (i know I did) with the latch and then things start to hurt a bit more etc. I went to see a lactaion consultant at about 3 months as I was getting blocked ducts and a blister on my nipple. Turned out I only need to have DS position changed slightly to correct things, I was cradling him to much over to the side, instead of having him more central IYKWIM?
Also my LC told me that babies weight gain can slow down after 12 weeks as they've done so much growing up until then. And that if plunket said anything about slow weight gain, not to listen to them, lol! I never had that issue with DS though, hehe!
Keep up the great work hun!

ETA - forgot to agree about the wet nappies. Some BF babies can go 10 days without pooing.

www.kellymom.com is fantastic BF resource too. I've learnt so much from that site.

Edited by pomikiwi