It takes 5-10 mins of fighting with LO to get her to latch...normal?

damabo80 · July 2011

We're using nipple shields in an effort to wean her from bottles and move to the breast. Problem is, even when she is semi-hungry or really hungry, she fights the latch. She won't open her mouth (stimulating her lips/cheek does nothing) wide enough to fit the whole shield in (I'm using the smallest: 16mm). Then, she'll get frustrated and start moving her head back and forth while I try to hold it still, which sets her off even more. I'm lining up her jaw/face/mouth/body appropiately (according to the LC).

It's a pathetic dance we do. Once she's latched and sucking, then she's fine...but man, I dread those first 10 minutes of each attempt.

Any tips? Is this normal for a one week old infant?

bunnymama625 · July 2011

try the baby bird method-- lay LO flat, lower your boob into her mouth-- make sure you hand express a little milk into the shield first so she gets the taste right away-

my mother showed me how to do this to get LO on the shield and it worked great-- now we're working on getting her off!

lola6711 · July 2011

My LO did the same thing, with or without the nipple shield. I decided to not use the shield and am sooo glad I did - one less thing to wean her from. My LO didn't latch well until she was 9 weeks old (3 weeks adjusted). I had to pump and give bottles, so I would say that if you are already gettting her to latch and suck you both are doing great! My LO still does the 'fight' if she is super hungry or completely uninterested.

momtoRaegan041008 · July 2011

My daughter does the same thing on my left breast. The nipple is an innie though. When I'm really full she has a really hard time latching on. I hope things get better for you.

Serena52308 · July 2011

Sounds like you're describing my DD!!! She also had some issues latching and we were using a shield (and still do sometimes when she's throwing a tantrum at the boob). Our LC had us start each feeding with a small bottle of pumped milk at the ready. If DD started to scream we squirted a tiny bit into her mouth, while she was still at the breast, just to calm her and give us an opportunity to latch her. She's two weeks now and in the past 4-5 days, she's started to open wide enough to latch and will even do it without the shield most of the time. I guess it just took some practice on both of our parts, but I feel where you are right now. It's incredibly frustrating and I give you lots of credit for sticking with it!!

funchicken · July 2011

Ask your LC for a syringe with a little tube. You can fill the syringe with pumped milk or formula, insert the little tube in one of the holes in the shield, and put some milk into the tip of the shield. This might give your LO a little incentive to latch on. You can also slide the little tube under the shield and squirt a little milk into the shield to keep your LO interested until you get a letdown--it might be a little harder for baby to latch on that way, though.

lindsay.lou · July 2011

I don't really have any advice, but I will say that my ds was the same way and just sort of figured it out on his own and eventually stopped fighting. He's seven weeks now and (almost) never fights the latch.

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It takes 5-10 mins of fighting with LO to get her to latch...normal?

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