FTM needing help

[VALiz]

Hi All! I'm hoping you lovely ladies can help. I'm having a terrible time breastfeeding. We've had one issue after another due to a traumatic delivery and baby's unwillingness to nurse in the beginning. Right now, all that's left is to fix the latch. I saw a LC yesterday who said he wasn't opening his mouth wide enough. I've worked on that and also implemented her other tips. I still am having pain and a lipstick nipple afterwards. His lower lip is below or at the end of the areole but his tongue is never with it. I asked after he was born if he had a tongue tie and the LC checked and said no but I can't get him to keep his tongue with his bottom lip. Any advice? I'm waiting on a call back from another LC but am desperate as every feed is a painful.

Also, question 2... He's gaining weight well albeit feeding for hours and hours since he's not efficient. When he's not eating he's sleeping. I think because he's so tired from all the work he has to do to eat. He's surpassed his birth weight. I was originally told by the dr. That he needed to eat every two hours until he's back to his birth weight. Now that he is, how long would you let him sleep before waking to eat?

 

[VALiz]

Forgot to add that he's 16 days old

 

[Maxy1]

Lipstick nipple? I assume funny flat shape and red? This is a sign of vasospasm and will be very painful for you. You need to make sure you are feeding in a warm room, taking some b vitamins and may want to look at some special breast pads to try assist as well. If it is not improving with some of those steps there are medications you can take. I have taken the medications with both of my LO's and they are fine.

If there is not tongue tie then maybe look for lip tie which can also lead to inefficient transfer and pain for you. Is he slipping off the nipple over the course of the feed? So the latch is great everytime you start but by the end the latch is terrible cos he has slipped off the areola.

Common thoughts are if there is a lip tie then there must be a tongue tie. However both of my kids had a severe lip tie with no tongue tie despite being checked by several experts including midwives, LC's, paeds and the dentists who lasered the lip tie.

 

[VALiz]

Thanks for your reply. I just looked at his upper lip and to my eyes, he's got a pretty severe lip tie. I feel so sorry for him since he's so exhausted from trying to eat all the time. I plan to call the dr. In the morning. I hope I don't get the runaround. I did a quick google search. He does have sucking calluses on his top and lower lips.

Thank you! Your reply caused me to look at his upper lip. Do you think this could explain our feeding troubles? Also, do you think he'll be okay until we get this sorted (constant eating and sleeping). I feel so bad for him.

 

[RaspberryK]

My ds had undiagnosed lip tie which gave us problems til about 6 weeks with similar symptoms to you. He'll be fine til you get it sorted.
Xx

 

[VALiz]

What do you think? I hope the pic attached. Thanks for your help!

 

[Maxy1]

He will be fine, just keep up with the regular feeds. DS's lip tie wasn't diagnosed until 10 months old and he is just fine as a 3 year old (except for the tantrum he is throwing right now about going to bed).

We had a lot of problems caused b it because I also had vasospasm so i had severe damage to my nipples. But from what I understand, most babies just adapt their latch and do quite well. DS clamped on hard with his gums to make up for the bad latch leading to my damage.

I can't really tell from the photo you have posted. When you pull up the lip you are looking for restricted movement of the top lip and the frenulum goes white if you try lift it to a normal movement.