Doesn't want deep latch

lalg28

DS latches great and I get him on well at first, he opens wide. Sometimes he stays on like that and sometimes, like all night and all this morning, he fusses and screams when he starts nursing and wants to pull off into a shallow latch. And milk keeps coming out of his mouth. Are these oversupply symptoms? He's killing my nipples trying to do that shallow latch.

kristib1027

Sounds like he's latching to soothe rather than eat. Honestly it's up to you, but I'd offer a paci. I EBF and offer DD a paci when I feel her latching to soothe since it can sometimes be painful and we have had no issue with nipple confusion.

kksquared

It might be forceful letdown. I have a heavy letdown more on my right side and it frustrates DS since it chokes him. Does your LO cough and sputter when he pops off? Also sometimes if it's really heavy letdown milk will go spraying everywhere.

lalg28

He refuses a paci but that may be what it is. I've not noticed milk spraying out. He just spits it out and latches shallow. Sometimes he coughs and sputters when he's eating too though. If you have forceful letdown would you see it when pumping because it's not forceful when I pump?

Mizuiro007

I've always seen that I have a forceful letdown when I pump. Not only that but hubby has commented that he can hear it across the room it's spraying the back of the flange so hard.

DD does the comfort nursing thing. She acts hungry and eager and as soon as she starts getting milk gets angry and pulls off but then is just as angry and frustrated she lost my nipple. When she does that I started offering her a pacifier and let her keep laying against my breast. That seems to do the trick most times. If she's hungry she'll spit the pacifier out and root for my nipple.

kksquared

lalg28 said:

He refuses a paci but that may be what it is. I've not noticed milk spraying out. He just spits it out and latches shallow. Sometimes he coughs and sputters when he's eating too though. If you have forceful letdown would you see it when pumping because it's not forceful when I pump?

When I pump it sprays but I'm not sure if it's a normal strength of not? Do you overproduce? My LC said they are directly correlated. I tend to get at least 7 ounces of not closer to 10 when I pump so I know I have an oversupply. If you are really full then milk tends to come out under a lot of pressure.

Mizuiro007 said:

I've always seen that I have a forceful letdown when I pump. Not only that but hubby has commented that he can hear it across the room it's spraying the back of the flange so hard.

DD does the comfort nursing thing. She acts hungry and eager and as soon as she starts getting milk gets angry and pulls off but then is just as angry and frustrated she lost my nipple. When she does that I started offering her a pacifier and let her keep laying against my breast. That seems to do the trick most times. If she's hungry she'll spit the pacifier out and root for my nipple.

We also use a pacifier if DS seems to be comfort nursing since he gets frustrated with getting milk if he doesn't want any.

groovylocks

I have a heavy letdown too and I think Olive's latch is shallow about 50% of the time. She only ever wants a bepi (pacifier) when she's upset at bedtime (very specific). She might take a pinkie finger for soothing but typically she wants a nipple. Period.

lalg28

groovylocks said:

I have a heavy letdown too and I think Olive's latch is shallow about 50% of the time. She only ever wants a bepi (pacifier) when she's upset at bedtime (very specific). She might take a pinkie finger for soothing but typically she wants a nipple. Period.

Does it not destroy your nipples?

grkgdss00

Maybe he has gas/needed to burp? My babe has a shallow latch too, and i think my nipples have toughened up.

Court11152325

I just want to complain about DD'a shallow latch. I saw an LC on Thursday bc I suspected her latch was shallow. My nipples are only sensitive, so her latch is better than some other shallow latches. But even the LC had a hard time helping me get her to open her freaking mouth. She doesn't use a pacifier. She's not tongue or lip tied. She's just lazy. So now I have to pump 2x extra a day to make sure I don't lose my supply while we work on this latch. But over the last day and a half nothing is even remotely better. I'm feeling very defeated.

kelseyofanne

Court11152325 said:

I just want to complain about DD'a shallow latch. I saw an LC on Thursday bc I suspected her latch was shallow. My nipples are only sensitive, so her latch is better than some other shallow latches. But even the LC had a hard time helping me get her to open her freaking mouth. She doesn't use a pacifier. She's not tongue or lip tied. She's just lazy. So now I have to pump 2x extra a day to make sure I don't lose my supply while we work on this latch. But over the last day and a half nothing is even remotely better. I'm feeling very defeated.

It takes a bit of work, but for me it works to tickle the upper lip with my nipple and gently pull the chin down. When it looks open enough I bring the baby's head in as quickly as I can (important to bring baby to breast not breast to baby). I also sometimes squeeze my breast flater to try to cram more in. You need to get as much of the breast in as possible so the baby isn't right on your nipple - that's what causes soreness.

It will take a while but eventually the baby will learn to open wide!

Court11152325

I feel like I need 4 hands to do all that and wrestle her arms out of the way. If my nipple does not get in her mouth fast enough then her hand is there instead!

lalg28

Court11152325 said:

I feel like I need 4 hands to do all that and wrestle her arms out of the way. If my nipple does not get in her mouth fast enough then her hand is there instead!

DS is a squirmed too lol. I use football hold so I can pin one of his arms against my body. Then I just have one arm to fight with. Its dirty but it helps.

missphil

My LO has a good latch when he's very hungry but a shallow latch any other time. I also suspect he's just too lazy to open his mouth. Since he's currently congested in the throat, pushing too much boob in there just activates his gag reflex. My nipples get pretty sore, especially when he cluster-feeds or comfort nurses. It sucks! His little tongue is like a raptor! Super strong and my nipples end up blanched and flattened because when he's comfort sucking, he doesn't like a deep latch

missphil

Court11152325 said:

I feel like I need 4 hands to do all that and wrestle her arms out of the way. If my nipple does not get in her mouth fast enough then her hand is there instead!

Yes! Mine will put both hands in front of his mouth and I have to pry them apart to get my boob in!