Fixing shallow latch

MikeBeth1

Hi Ladies, this is my first time posting on this board, so I also want to introduce myself. I have a 17 month old DS and 11 day old DD. I ended up giving up on BFing with my first after a couple of weeks for a few reasons that I now realize could have likely been fixed. I'm EBF DD, but every time we nurse I want to quit. It's so extremely painful and I know it shouldn't be, so we went to an LC yesterday. She helped with the latch and nursing inmediately felt better. I was feeling optimistic about everything, and then got home and was not able to reproduce what the LC was saying to do. DD latches shallow so I have to do the sandwich boob thing and this just isn't coming naturally. I can't seem to follow all of the steps for a good latch like the LC said, then have to take DD off the boob at least 10 times a feeding, and maybe 1 out of 10 times we get it right. DD doesn't want to latch deeper and fights it, and gets mad with all of the repositioning and we end up with crying baby and mommy 10 min in. If I can't get it right, then I can't expect my 11 day old baby to, so I just end up letting her nurse like she wants and the cracked/burning nipples continue. I'm failing at this and just don't understand why it's so hard. I'm going to go back to the LC today, but wanted to see if any of you had advice or were successful at correcting latch issues and how long it took. Didn't mean to write a book! Thanks in advance for the help!

NatureLovers

Can you or your H video the LC to help you reproduce it later?

Salemkitty13

My DS had a weak shallow latch. I found I could get a deeper latch easier using the football hold. I also used a pacifier to work his tongue down several times a day. (I was told to do this by the OT at the children's hospital to help his oral motor) when I was latching him I had to really focus on trying to get the nipple to the top of his mouth. I always tried to feed him before he was hungry so he would not get too mad at me. I went to the LC breastfeeding group at our hospital and private sessions with the LC. i also had a breastfeeding DVD that i watch several times. I'm glad you are going back to the LC. breastfeeding is hard. but it does get easier (DS just turned one) Good luck to you.