Intro and Tips for a Deep Latch?

jexah14

Hello! My name is Jessica and I had a beautiful baby girl on October 19; her name is Laurel. I was induced due to suspected IUGR, but it seems Laurel is just constitutionally small. Anyway, since Laurel was born so small (4lb, 9.9oz), we've been challenged with breastfeeding. However, I am determined to make this work! The LC has encouraged me to keep practicing our latching technique and assures me Laurel's latch will get better as she gets older (she is still just shy of 7lbs at 5 weeks old). Do any of you have tips/tricks for achieving a nice deep latch? FWIW, I am using the cross-cradle hold along with My Breast Friend. TIA!

JKB1986

I found that if I expressed a bit of milk and spread it on my nipple that it made it slippery and DS2 latched better that way. If you can't hand express any I would also let him nurse for 30 seconds with the not so great latch and then I'd unlatch and spread the milk around and have him relatch. Also, make sure you are tummy to tummy so it's not just his head that his turned to you.

TJ1979

Google laid back nursing and watch the video.  It helped my LO learn to get a deeper latch with much less stress for both of us.

hilsy85

I was told to do a "C" hold on my breast and compress it like a sandwich so LO gets as much areola in his mouth as possible. Also, make sure his chin is down and his nose is clear of your breast. 

aylafsu88

I have flatter nipples and always have to work hard at getting a deep latch.  One of the things I do is make a nipple sandwich where I pinch the nipple between my thumb and forefinger and then latch LO on.  This helps her get as much areola in her mouth as possible. Now that she has gotten bigger I do not have to do this as much.