Sounds like she is closing too soon. Try to push her chin down with one finger when latching her on. I usually used my 4th finger to hold my son's chin as I latched him on.

hadn't thought of her closing too soon...that could be it...shall try holding her chin!

i tried sandwiching but think i need to practice that a bit more

i also went completely back to basics tonight chanting what needed to happen as i did it...nipple to nose, chin to base of breast then draw in once opens wide...a couple of times we seemed to get a really good latch after some faffing but thinking about it, as i did everything else right i think you're onto something with her closing too early...

Hi bumble. If you want some support feel free to pm me hunny anytime, i can't promise to know all the answers to your questions but i'll help you through

Oh good. Remember this love, you two are just starting out and it takes a bit of time for you both to learn what you need to do. No one is perfect right off the bat at anything. I am glad to hear that you are getting a better latch. Once it clicks for the two of you, you will be off and going with flying colors!!!

I would love some help with breastfeeding! I really want to bf my dd (5 weeks) but have flat nipples and had problems with her latching on. With my son, I expressed for 3 weeks and then had to give up as I couldn't express enough for him.

With dd, I tried bf for three or four days, but my nipples were cracked and bleeding, and I decided that I couldn't keep up expressing with a toddler to look after as well. I switched to formula, but totally regret it. I tried her on the breast at 3 weeks, but she was fighting and screaming and I didn't seem to have much milk left.

However, I have decided to try relactation, and am hoping it won't be too late. I started yesterday, and have put her to the breast whenever possible before her formula feeds. I'm also expressing every few hours, but only get about 5ml from both breasts at the moment. My nipples are cracked and sore already, so I'm using nipple shields, which is the only way she is able to latch on.

Any advice gratefully received! My eventual hope is to be able to exclusively bf, although I know I'll probably always need the shields because of my flat nipples.

Toria - You sound to be off to a promising start with your re-lactation hun. I'd say keep doing what you're doing and also add some skin to skin time with her. Get into bed topless with her down to her nappy and if you can (not easy during the day with a toddler but maybe once they are in bed) spend lots of time in contact with each other. That will really get the oxytocin flowing and aid the whole process.

I certainly dont think it's too late - 5 weeks is quite early compared to some trying to relactate. Dont pay too much attention to the amount to pump. That's only to stimulate things and when she latches she will be able to get more than you can pumping in a similar amount of time.

Thanks for the advice! I've just hand expressed about 10ml, and the milk is flowing much more freely now. I will keep persevering!

Good work hun! Keep us posted on your progress

One thing I'm not so sure about though - I know that a proper latch should take in some of the areola, not just the nipple. I can only get dd to do this when I'm not using the nipple shields. If I use the shield then she just sucks on my nipple itself, because the shield teat is so big I don't think she can get anything else in her mouth.

However, if I don't use the shields, I'm in agony, and she gets frustrated very easily because there's not much to suck on.

Is it a problem if she doesn't take in the areola, or is the technique different with nipple shields? I'm worried that she won't get much milk if she's not latching properly, but when she pulls off, the shield does have milk in it.

I'm not sure about shield TBH hun as we are told to advise against then. Do you have a breast pump or are you expressing manually? If you do do you find that the pump draws your nipple out? It might be worth pumping if it does and then trying to latch while your nipple is drawn out a bit. It's totally possible to BF with flat or inverted nipples as you correctly said, it's important to get a big mouthful of areola as they work that area to get the milk - hence 'breast' feeding not 'nipple' feeding. If you were to ask me I'd say ditch the shields and work on the latch.