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Breastfeeding
noeleanne
member
Latching Problems
noeleanne
member
My son was born on Monday and we have been having latching problems from the beginning. When I bring him to my breast he will latch for a couple of seconds but then usually starts screaming in frustration. The lactation consultant at the hospital gave me a nipple shield to try and he seems to do well with that occasionally. When he doesn't get enough from the breast we give him the bottle with my pumped milk. Throughout my entire pregnancy I was really looking forward to breastfeeding and am very upset that it has not worked out as well as I thought it would. My question is: do any of you have or have had latching problems? How long did you keep trying to breastfeed before you eventually just pumped exclusively instead? Also, if I decide to EP will it decrease my flow? I'm a FTM so I will pump every 2-3 hours and want to keep doing this for at least 10 months. TIA!
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Re: Latching Problems
We had latching problems as well - it was due to my DD being tongue-tied. Have you tried consulting other LCs since you've been home? I would see if someone can come in and evaluate the latch. I kept trying to breastfeed while pumping to keep up my supply (necessary due to the latching problems). I never decided to exclusively pump, and it worked out because she is mainly back on the breast, but also takes bottles, which is good for when she goes to daycare.
Also, if you are bottlefeeding at this point, we had success using the playtex drop ins with a slow flow latex nipple and paced bottlefeeding. This helps support breastfeeding, so the baby will eventually move back to the breast and doesn't learn the bottle is faster and easier. There are also supplemental ways to support breastfeeding without using a bottle, but we didn't learn about those until afterwards.
I would also check out this page online: https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html
Keep trying! Here are some resources:
https://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:when-latching&catid=5:information&Itemid=17
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/latch-resources.html
https://www.biologicalnurturing.com/#
You might also want to talk to a different LC for some new ideas or find your local La Leche League for phone/email/in person free help.
Pumping is a lot of work. It can be done, but it's not easy.
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You are only just starting out breastfeeding, don't give up just yet. You need a lot of patience in the beginning to get a good latch, since both you and your baby don't really know what you are doing yet. Did the LC suggest any reasons why you were having difficulty latching on, or did she just give you the nipple shield and that's it?
I'm also a FTM and in the hospital, my baby wasn't latching on well to my left side, so my right side was getting very sore from overuse. The LC at the hospital gave me a nipple shield for the left side and he started eating from that side as well, which helped relieve the soreness on the right. When we went to the first visit at the pedi, I told her about this, and said he's been mostly eating well with the shield, but won't latch on without it. The pedi said- let's try to do without it. She sat there with me for 10 minutes until we finally got him to latch on to that left side. From then on, I basically did away with the nipple shield. The first couple of days needed a LOT of patience, but now there is no difference right or left.
I know that my story is not yours, and I don't know the cause of your difficulties, but I just wanted to make a point- Don't give up yet!
As PPs have said- speak to another LC for more insight. It is definitely a good idea to identify the cause. Good Luck!