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Wit's End

pele658pele658 member
in Breastfeeding
My baby is now 5 weeks old and from the start breastfeeding has been a struggle. I have been trying to work on getting a deeper latch with no luck. I've seen a lactation consultant a couple times and when they assist it's a better experience but once I get home it's a different story.

LO isn't good about opening her mouth wide and I'm not good at getting her on quick enough. I've been trying the laid back/nurturing positions reclining back which is more relaxing, but now she'll move her head around and pull my nipple upwards which hurts.

The latch is bad enough on my right breast that I'm blanching and loosing blood flow due to her clamping on the nipple. She also "windmills" her arms if I try the cross cradle making it harder to get her on.

Sorry for the long rant but I feel like after so many weeks and getting help I should be better at this. Still feeling so frustrated makes me feel like a failure. At times I want to give up, but I want to do this for my baby.

Any advice? Any positions or tricks?
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Re: Wit's End

  • shotzieshotzie member
    The football hold is great for getting a deeper latch. Have you tried swaddling her before you nurse? That would keep her arms contained so she can't flail them around.

    Hang in there, I promise it gets easier with time!
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  • NicoleSB80NicoleSB80 member
    imageshotzie:
    The football hold is great for getting a deeper latch. Have you tried swaddling her before you nurse? That would keep her arms contained so she can't flail them around.

    Hang in there, I promise it gets easier with time!


    Ditto. We had the same troubles. I touch my nipple pointed upward to her mouth until she opens big and then I sorta roll the nipple it really fast. It took some practice but after a few days I got it. She gets a deeper latch on my right side so we are still workin on the left but it's was better than before.

    image

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  • monikatommymonikatommy member

    I had the same problem and she would eat very strongly, please don't avoid any feedings, I stretched the time in between them as I was afraid of the pain, I didnt even realise I was doing it, until later, she was hungry and she would bite on my nipple harder than she would otherwise. 

    I got the trick with pointing my nipple upwards only the 6th time - appt with consultant, keep on trying! When you get it, it'll be plain sailing! I promise. I've been enjoying it ever since. Also, the GREATEST advice I got from her was to air my nipples out, sleep topless, the sores go away very fast and don't really form if the nipples are exposed to air. Good luck. 

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  • TJ1979TJ1979 member
    I had a really rough start to. Things really improved around 6 weeks. It's like something just clicked for LO. Just keep hanging in there, you're doing a great job and you will get through this and it will be worth it.
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  • ec0983ec0983 member
    we had a very very similar issue.  i second the football hold- it's easier to pop your nipple in quickly when LO finally does open up.  if it helps, DS is 7 months old now and we've been EBF since day 1.  it is so hard at the beginning, but keep at it and it will get easier.  you're doing an amazing job, hang in there momma!
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  • summermedicsummermedic member
    I don't have any advice really, other than to just keep on trying. One day soon it will just all come together. I am lurking from the toddler board. My DS is 13 months and still breastfed. I am just starting the weening process and I am missing it already! I know we had issues in the beginning also because his mouth was so tiny, but a year later I barely remember those issues! Definitely keep talking, reading and asking questions. So much to learn for both of you! Best of luck! :)
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  • shlittertootsshlittertoots member
    I agree with PP and try swaddling LO.  I also use a Boppy still, even after 7 months.  It will get better :) Hang in there!
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  • pele658pele658 member

    I've been trying out the football hold but not a whole lot of luck. One of the (many) issues is that my milk is stored up front behind the nipple (versus further back towards my ribs) making for a more firm surface for her to take in. She just opens and closes her mouth and sticking her tongue out. I have rarely seen her tilt back with a wide open mouth. I'm trying to work on pointing the nipple up, just harder to do when I'm a bit fuller. 

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  • pele658pele658 member

    I saw a LC today and it seems the issue is that LO has learned and now prefers to "drink from the straw" and we even saw her pull her self off a bit when I had a good latch and then continue to drink. Ugh! So now it's trying to retrain her how to nurse properly and use a wide flange bottle to help stretch out her mouth and assist in training her.

    Have any of you moms had this happen before? Were you able to work through it?

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