Problems latching

[Maud]

Does anyone else have /had problems getting their baby latched on for feeding?

She's a week old and it took ages to get her latched on in the hospital but, even thoufh we can now manage it it's so hit or miss - sometimes she latches right away, other times it takes 10-20 mins and sometimes even half an hour or more. The whole time she's screaming and punching me in frustration and it makes feeding her such a battle that I'm starting to doubt my resolve to breast feed.

Please can someone reassure me that we're not alone and that this will get better?

 

[J_Anne]

Do you have a local breast feeding support? Speak to your midwife ASAP and they should either be able to send someone round or refer you to a support group where they can check your LOs latch for you and give you some advice.

It does get ALOT easier, before you know it she'll be on there before you've had chance to unclip your bra!x

 

[purpleslurple]

Yep - the exact same happened to me. It seemed to go in cycles where he'd latch beautifully then the next time I'd get the screaming, face punching etc. It did get better and you do need to persevere - it will be worth it in the end. Occasionally he still does it now and it's ALWAYS because he has wind - make sure this isn't the case with your LO.

I too questioned my resolve at that point but in another few weeks you will be so glad you stuck with it.

 

[Jajis]

Yep, but it did get better, and my son is still breastfed at bedtime and first thing and he's 19 months now - so it really doesn't mean you'll have long term problems

My son didn't really latch in the hospital, and instead of providing help and support to breastfeed (even though they knew that was what I wanted to do) they provided formula... bloody useless, and definitely did not help.

When I got of there and my milk came in, I started to express milk so that I could give him some from a bottle (instead of formula) to try and calm him down. So our routine for each feed was:

- try to latch
- give bit of expressed milk to calm him down
- try latching again
- give rest of expressed milk if it doesn't work

The key was just to try, try and try again at every feed. It was so stressful, and I hated every minute of it, but I am SO glad that I persevered. I think it was at about two weeks when all of a sudden he just seemed to 'get it' and although it still hurt until we got the latch figured out properly, I was just so happy that he was finally able to do it.

Has your baby been checked for tongue tie? Apparently it's often missed at newborn checks, so it might be worth getting it double checked.

Good luck, I hope you manage to get it sorted. Definitely seek out advice from wherever you can get it. I've found the local NCT group facebook page has been invaluable for answering random questions or pointing people in the direction of other help and advice (and you don't have to be an NCT member to join the facebook groups).

 

[willow76]

I found at the start different positions worked for me. I got a good latch when I lay in bed on my side but struggled sitting up. Had to persevere with the sitting up if I ever wanted to take her out as couldn't just lie down when out in public. I also tried the laid back method where I lie skin to skin with her and place her on my chest and she manages to wriggle and find her own way so maybe worth giving this a go as I found it calmed my LO down as she had more control. I have also found when she gets frustrated during a feed it's because she wants to suck but doesn't want food. Tried to avoid getting a dummy but gave in the other day, prob would advise avoiding one though till you r both confident with breast feeding so she doesn't get confused.

 

[Mummybexee]

I found hand expressing and rubbing it around his lips off my nipple helped get my LO latched

When he was red in the face and screaming i would take him away from boob - sit him upright and calm him down alittle and try again...

Did the trick for me and after a day or 2 his latch was much quicker and easier x

 

[Maud]

Thanks for the replies. She was tongue-tied but this has been sorted. Am very reluctant to feed her expressed milk when she's slow to latch as I can see that making things worse as she can just take the easy option. We're seeing the midwife later today and will ask about getting some more help. Can't keep going on like this.

 

[Mummybexee]

Oscar was tongue tied too Hun/ he had the op on Friday

Since his op he's sucking too hard now and choking on my let down!

Honestly try the hand expressing and if she gets too worked up don't try and force it - just sit her upright and comfort her - calm her down and try again- when your both abit worked up it won't help

I had this in hospital with Oscar and it made me cry but the midwife who came to help was lovely and she told me about the hand expressing - he also latched better if I was lay down on my side with him on his side

Definatley get in touch with your local breast feeding support- mine was a huge help and will be getting her back out today

Once the latching is sorted breast feeding is the most wonderful thing - keep going x

 

[Maud]

Quick update: health visitor helped us try a couple of different feeding positions and we have discovered reclined feeding which is far more comfy for both of us. Hopefully this will help her learn to latch a nd to reduce the stress from feeding.

 

[Mummybexee]

Glad your getting there patience is key - you'll both learn together my LO loves lieing next to me on his side feeding or lieing down my front due to my letdown

Keep going x