My DS has been bottle fed since birth since he couldn't latch due to my flat nipples. Is it to late to try and get him to latch? I would love to nurse instead of pump and bottle feed, but I don't know how to go about getting him to latch. Any advice and tips would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: 2 week old won't latch
I would recommend seeing a lactation consultant. Have you tried a nipple sheild? I tried one and it works only sometimes- DD doesn't seem to like it, but it helps sometimes.
My DD is not the best latcher, but she gets by and I (we) am still hanging in there 1 month later. She has a high pallate and always suckles. Sometimes it takes really long to feed, and sometimes I get so frustrated to tears. I contemplated quitting several times because it breaks my heart to get angry at HER when we have trouble with feeding sessions. But then she gets a successful latch every now and again and I decide to hang in there. Plus she is gaining weight and thriving, and it seems worth it. I always have in the back of my mind though, that I will quit and pump if it gets too hard.
I pump and bottle feed once a day to save my sanity.
I don't know if any of this helps...maybe at least to urge you to try it and be persistent for at least a while...and just know that you're not the only one struggling!
I have issues too...although I didn't bottle feed...in the hospital a LC came by and, told me that I had flat nipples, my milk hadn't come in and my baby's frenulum needed to be clipped...It was awful at the 24hr mark I had to supplement with formula, but did it with a syringe and a finger...I was also given a nipple shield which didn't work due to the frunulum and no milk...I still use it now but am working to also go without it...she has had her frenulum clipped and it better but it's really hard to get her to latch because using the shield and the finger...she is getting better but its still hard and she gets frustrated really easy and then I do too...I think you should talk to LC they really are super helpful and encouraging...