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Can I try to latch after 5 weeks of EPing?

BabybeachbumBabybeachbum member
in Breastfeeding
Hi, my son is 5 weeks and I've had to EP since he was 1 day old due to jaundice. He doesn't latch correctly and hates BFing! The LC in the hospital introduced me to a nipple shield; he takes a few sucks but then he thrashes around and screams until he chokes when I tried to bf him. I got discouraged and found EPing to be easier for both of us and gave up trying to BF. I'd like to try again bc pumping is a lot of work. Any suggestions? Should I try after he gets his bottle so that he isn't starving and impatient?
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Re: Can I try to latch after 5 weeks of EPing?

  • linzeek44linzeek44 member
    I think it's certainly worth a try! My friend EPed for about 3 months and then successfully BFed, so I think the window of opportunity is open. :)

    Has he been checked for tongue tie or lip tie or other issues with his mouth or palate? If he wasn't latching correctly, I'd probably get those things checked out to make sure that he can latch correctly. 

    I know moms in my BFing group have had good luck offering a little in a bottle first to take the edge off and then BFing so that baby is still hungry but not frustrated. Other moms will pump a tiny bit so that their milk has letdown and baby can get milk right away and see "oh yeah, this is where the good stuff comes from!" Other moms find that trying in the middle of the night or at wake up is easier since baby is sleepy and less likely to resist the newness. 

    Good luck!

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  • ErinO21ErinO21 member
    It is definitely possible! When Ds was only a few weeks old he was having a lot of trouble gaining so we syringe and bottle fed. First we did breast then syringe but sometimes we did bottle then breast. It calmed him down for one and then I think it also reminded him what he was doing. Due to other issues, his and my own, his latch was terrible and he never really had to nurse or even got the chance too until he was a little over 2 months old so I EP'd until he was 2.5 months.

    Have lots and lots of patience. It took 3 months for DS to really figure out how to nurse and another month after that for us to get to the point where he would nurse on nights and weekends. (I work full time) we did a couple 1/2 day nursing vacations. I literally just sat on my couch for hours with my boobs out.

    Also, once I stopped forcing the issue we had success. I would say I was done trying and then he would try to nurse. Once I relaxed and kind of let him take the lead, we clicked!

    It can be done. It won't be easy, but it can be done.
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  • ChichigoChichigo member
    The nursing vacation idea is a good one. I would pair it with plenty of skin to skin. Do everything you can to encourage milk flow before attempting a latch unless you have an overactive letdown.

    I would also look for a breastfeeding support group. In addition to groups like LA Leche League and Breastfeeding USA, many hospitals have free support groups.
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