those 'helpful' hands

[Maud]

How do you all deal with baby's helping hands during feeding?

Much of our feeding attempts are blocked by her fists pushing boob away, dragging nipple under her mouth where she can't reach it or stuffed into her mouth preventing anything else from getting in there. Sometimes I manage to pin her arm between our bodies without her realising (she hates being restricted and arches away from me if she realises what I'm doing) but most of the time I'm constantly trying to dodge her flailing arm/fist while she does everything she can to put it in the way.

Not only does this really slow getting her latched (20-30 mins is pretty normal; screaming the whole time!) but it can be very sore with tender boobs and split nipples.

Is there a technique I am unaware of for getting round this?

 

[Mummybexee]

Hand Express some milk around her lips and around her face ? Worked for me when he wouldn't latch and we were in hospital - I also hummed to him etc - I put oscars hand under him on his side

I'm just firm to move them out the way but we havnt had too many problems feeding so I can't really comment

Do you stop trying to latch LO on when she's screaming after a while and cuddle her to calm her down? Then try again?

 

[purpleslurple]

Can you swaddle her in a cellular blanket? That's what the BF support lady did when my LO had flailing hands.

 

[Maud]

She hates being restricted so swaddling isn't an option. I hold her upright against my shoulder when she gets really stressy which usually temporarily calms her and if I can get her to concentrate on trying to latch she stays quiet but she gets frustrated very quickly and the only thing that properly quietens her is getting latched on so she's her own worst enemy. She usually gets covered in milk regardless, but I do put some on her top lip to encourage her to go for boob. She doesn't do the headback mouth wide open thing but rather launches herself at me so I need to be able to see clearly so as to guide her in best I can. Unfortunately I usually spend more time trying to avoid her hands than trying to latch.

 

[Mummybexee]

Have you had her checked for tongue tie at all?

To start with Oscar didn't do the whole proper latch thing - sometimes it was easier to get him on however I could for a few mins to calm him down then re attach him however I didn't have sore nipples and havnt had sore nipples at all :/

Keep going - your doing fab - it's about trial and error and learning best positions etc for you both

 

[Maud]

She had a severe tie snipped in her first week. It's given her a stronger latch but didn't improve it. I am so jealous that you have had no pain. Her latch can be toe-curling. Sometimes it feels like she's sucking in my boob like a piece of spaghetti, Lady & the Tramp style; agonising! It's usually better when she reattaches after a burp.

 

[Mummybexee]

I have quite a high threshold though Hun - but keep going and slap on the nipple creams and massage your boobs in the shower etc - it will settle down soon enough xx

 

[Potternutter]

I tuck the bottom arm under my armpit whilst getting her in position, then hold her other hand in mine. I guess it depends what position she feeds in- my LO will only feed with her head in the crook of my arm or lay on the bed x

 

[Belfast girl]

How old is your little one? I'm guessing its still early days! In which case she really is still learning. It took us all the way to 6 weeks to get established, and here we are at over a year.

I always tried feeding before my lo asked for it, not too long before but if she hadn't feed for say 2 hrs, I'd pop her on, before she got manic!

On the arm thing, they seem to spout extra arms at all the critical moments!! For us, 1 hand got loosly tucked under my arm and I encouraged the top one to 'hold on' to my top.

On the latch, it doesn't sound right. If you haven't already got it seen, I'd try and go. Its worth putting lots of effort into getting it right at the start and not allow her to get lazy. She won't be draining your boobs properly and that can lead to supply issues etc
Maybe its because this is my second but my nipples never hurt.

I think you are doing brilliantly! Its definaltly a skill that I thought would come naturally, how wrong was I?!?

Oh and google biological nurturing. We don't feed in this position but when we tried this at the beginning it seemed to sort her latch out.

 

[BunnyN]

I read that it is better not to restrict their arms because it is a natural instinct for them to put their hands on either side of the boob to help position and latch. Of course in practice it doesn't always work that way so you have to do whatever works. LO hated being restricted too and I did find that rather than trying to get her hands out of the way (which made her angry) helping her to get them in the "right" position either side of her mouth was what helped the most in the end. It does take them a bit of practice to get the hang of positioning.

 

[BevG]

id always tuck one arm under the arm i support her head with and if necessary grab the other arm with my free hand (assuming i had one) or just suffer being bashed etc. currently poppy likes to stick her fingers in your mouth and pull your lip while she feeds....