latching help?!!

Uvlollypop · Dec 9th, 2008, 09:52 AM

hiya i wondered if i could get some advice

i had Faith three days ago and have been breast feeding her she was very interested as soon as she was born and im feeling really positive about it all apart from one thing... i cant get her to latch on my right boobie properly she refuses to open her mouth enough resulting in a painful crack. i take her off the boobie and try for ages to get her back on properly but she gets really upset and we both end up in tears its so so painful.
last night i cried everytime i fed her and felt like giving up untill i changed her nappy and noticed her poos changed which made me feel like the pain was worth it cause she must be getting something.

i dont know what i can do to fix it, it feels like my nipples are just to big for her tiny mouth... prob a silly thing to say i know but... yeah.

help?

sparkle · Dec 9th, 2008, 10:05 AM

When I first started feeding Cormack he didnt feed well on one side either. I think it's quite common. All I can say is keep trying. I tickle his chin to encourage him to open up wide. He does feed really well now. Good Luck!!!

masi · Dec 9th, 2008, 10:11 AM

I had this problem with Seth. Have you tried lansinoh nipple cream?? I used it loads, and it really eased the pain. Also when your milk comes in it really helps, because their latch seems to improve, and it's a lot less painful. You could also try cabbage leaves on your breast. Thats supposed to be really soothing.
Chin up, in a day or 2 it will all get easier, and you'll be glad you stuck it out.

paula85 · Dec 9th, 2008, 10:12 AM

when trying to breastfeed my son he would not latch on properly no matter which position i tried, i was advised to use nipple shields which worked well but i think they are a last resort, not sure what advise i can give

marley2580 · Dec 9th, 2008, 10:29 AM

Try sandwiching your breast between your fingers to help her get more of the breast, she'll get the hang of it soon enough. Congratulations by the way.

hypnorm · Dec 9th, 2008, 10:52 AM

i agree with the nipple shields, ewan would latch fine on one side but not the other and i used the shields untill the engorgement went down and he had learnt how to latch on properly. i can understand what you mean though with the pain... its toe curling at times!!

Mervs Mum · Dec 9th, 2008, 11:29 AM

everything I'd say has been said - hang in there Molly - it is painful but you'll both get better. it really is just a case of gritting your teeth. Lansinoh is brilliant. x

ps I have the worlds longest nipples!!

sam#3 · Dec 9th, 2008, 11:46 AM

I know what you are going through, Harry had tongue tie when he was born and for the first 3 weeks he has been feeding with his gums!! OUCH!!!
My nipples were cracked and blistered and bleeding, i was close to giving up until my midwfe suggested kamillosan and nipple shields for a few days and this did help to relieve it.
Stick with it, it does get easier with time and you will be so pleased if you keep going. Good luck hun and congratulations xx

PeanutBean · Dec 9th, 2008, 12:29 PM

Byron would only latch on one side so now my right nipple is kid of tender. Today he's decided not to latch properly and chewed on my nipple a bit no matter how many times we tried to re-latch. You could try different position - this worked for getting him to latch properly on the left boob. You can try and rugby tackle her under your arm, round your side, so that she faces the opposite way on the boob, or I found resting Byron a bit on my knees (still holding him along his body) with his face a little more upwards than normal helped get him on to the left. The body position does seem to do a lot for how the baby opens up their mouth and how well they latch.

I know what you mean about the sore nipples but just wanting to see a good feed even if it wrecks! I'm sure you will both get the hang of it soon. Byron and I have improved a lot over the past week but we are both still learning and have lots of ups and downs.

Uvlollypop · Dec 10th, 2008, 07:53 AM

things are a bit better today, ive been laying on the nipple cream thick gritting my teeth and curling my toes lol i think my boobs were too full?? i hand expressed some off in the end and she latched much better and she now has brilliant bright yellow poo so i must be doing something right after all!! :-D

Dec 9th, 2008, 09:52 AM	#1
Uvlollypop Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: milton keynes Posts: 5,790	latching help?!! hiya i wondered if i could get some advice i had Faith three days ago and have been breast feeding her she was very interested as soon as she was born and im feeling really positive about it all apart from one thing... i cant get her to latch on my right boobie properly she refuses to open her mouth enough resulting in a painful crack. i take her off the boobie and try for ages to get her back on properly but she gets really upset and we both end up in tears its so so painful. last night i cried everytime i fed her and felt like giving up untill i changed her nappy and noticed her poos changed which made me feel like the pain was worth it cause she must be getting something. i dont know what i can do to fix it, it feels like my nipples are just to big for her tiny mouth... prob a silly thing to say i know but... yeah. help?

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Dec 9th, 2008, 10:05 AM	#2
sparkle Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,718	When I first started feeding Cormack he didnt feed well on one side either. I think it's quite common. All I can say is keep trying. I tickle his chin to encourage him to open up wide. He does feed really well now. Good Luck!!!

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Dec 9th, 2008, 10:12 AM	#4
paula85 Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Teesside UK Posts: 11,008	when trying to breastfeed my son he would not latch on properly no matter which position i tried, i was advised to use nipple shields which worked well but i think they are a last resort, not sure what advise i can give

Status: Online

Dec 9th, 2008, 10:29 AM	#5
marley2580 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Forfar Posts: 6,098	Try sandwiching your breast between your fingers to help her get more of the breast, she'll get the hang of it soon enough. Congratulations by the way.

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Dec 9th, 2008, 10:52 AM	#6
hypnorm Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Stroud, Gloucester Posts: 4,505	i agree with the nipple shields, ewan would latch fine on one side but not the other and i used the shields untill the engorgement went down and he had learnt how to latch on properly. i can understand what you mean though with the pain... its toe curling at times!!

Status: Offline

Dec 9th, 2008, 10:11 AM	#3
masi Other Inactive Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 946	I had this problem with Seth. Have you tried lansinoh nipple cream?? I used it loads, and it really eased the pain. Also when your milk comes in it really helps, because their latch seems to improve, and it's a lot less painful. You could also try cabbage leaves on your breast. Thats supposed to be really soothing. Chin up, in a day or 2 it will all get easier, and you'll be glad you stuck it out.
masi Other Inactive Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 946
Status: Offline

Dec 9th, 2008, 11:29 AM	#7
Mervs Mum Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: somewhere over the rainbow..... Posts: 21,344	everything I'd say has been said - hang in there Molly - it is painful but you'll both get better. it really is just a case of gritting your teeth. Lansinoh is brilliant. x ps I have the worlds longest nipples!!
	Supporting birthing women in Yorkshire, Humberside, Manchester, Merseyside & the surrounding areas.
Status: Online

Dec 9th, 2008, 11:46 AM	#8
sam#3 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 5,049	I know what you are going through, Harry had tongue tie when he was born and for the first 3 weeks he has been feeding with his gums!! OUCH!!! My nipples were cracked and blistered and bleeding, i was close to giving up until my midwfe suggested kamillosan and nipple shields for a few days and this did help to relieve it. Stick with it, it does get easier with time and you will be so pleased if you keep going. Good luck hun and congratulations xx

Status: Offline

Dec 9th, 2008, 12:29 PM	#9
PeanutBean Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: May 2008 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 18,226	Byron would only latch on one side so now my right nipple is kid of tender. Today he's decided not to latch properly and chewed on my nipple a bit no matter how many times we tried to re-latch. You could try different position - this worked for getting him to latch properly on the left boob. You can try and rugby tackle her under your arm, round your side, so that she faces the opposite way on the boob, or I found resting Byron a bit on my knees (still holding him along his body) with his face a little more upwards than normal helped get him on to the left. The body position does seem to do a lot for how the baby opens up their mouth and how well they latch. I know what you mean about the sore nipples but just wanting to see a good feed even if it wrecks! I'm sure you will both get the hang of it soon. Byron and I have improved a lot over the past week but we are both still learning and have lots of ups and downs.

Status: Offline

Dec 10th, 2008, 07:53 AM	#10
Uvlollypop Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: milton keynes Posts: 5,790	things are a bit better today, ive been laying on the nipple cream thick gritting my teeth and curling my toes lol i think my boobs were too full?? i hand expressed some off in the end and she latched much better and she now has brilliant bright yellow poo so i must be doing something right after all!! :-D

Status: Offline

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