Nipples in PAIN, lact consult didn't help, now baby refusing left breast

[Dani402]

...it's making me cry thinking (knowing) I'm doing something wrong and baby isn't getting milk like he should. Baby is 9 days old and is great at letting me know when he's hungry--he's already (almost) on a pretty regular eating schedule, and he does his part by opening his mouth very wide when he's up near nipple... But he sucks so hard on left breast I feel like the nipple going to rip off. I went to lactation consultant yesterday and of course he did great there but wouldn't stay awake so not a lot was done/learned... Got back home n now he won't eat from left breast--just fusses and squirms when he's put up to it. I'm starting to think ill have to pump that side if things don't start working more smoothly over there. I've tried different positions (across body and football hold) on that side and have tries using different supports (nippy, normal pillows adjusted differet ways...)

Any suggestions? I really think he just doesn't get a DEEP latch, but can't figure out how to fix that. Tried "sandwiching" but he squirms n moves his mouth so much that he doesn't STAY with sandwiches breast tissue in his moth, if he's willing to suck at all...

HELP!!

 

[TheNewMrs]

Do you have a La LEche League around you? Or a different LC?

 

[CandyDay]

And I agree with PP check for a LLL meetup in your area

https://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=...tion&Itemid=17

https://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/conte...agename=videos

 

[Lilmiss1]

Also ask your midwife or Hv to visit you and watch a feed at home. I asked for a visit every day/ alternate day for ages!

 

[LuluSS]

I had something similar. My nipples hurt BAD for the first few weeks. I did see an LC once who helped me with latch. But at home, it still hurt. I just kept with it though. I kept having him latch onto both breasts no matter what. And after a few weeks, the pain went away, and he was eating well. Now there is problems at all.

Is he gaining weight?

 

[Home-Bird]

Has your lo been checked for tongue tie or upper lip tie?
My lo was still causing me a lot of pain a couple of weeks into bf'ing and couldnt understand why turns out she had upper lip tie and was always worse on one breast over the other for some reason.
Is your lo gaining weight well? do they dribble when feeding ?

 

[Maxy1]

DS was the same, hated the right breast from a very early age. I had to be very strict on myself to hold him in the right place each time to help him latch. i was given the sandwhich advice too, it went terribly too. I don't know who comes up with these things. By far the most helpful advice I was given re latching was the alignment with the nose and drop.

Bring baby to the breast so that the nipple is in line with LO's nose, wait for LO's mouth to open pull baby close to the breast so the bottom lip is touching the bottom of the areola (whilst holding the breast so the nipple is still in line with the nose - obviously it will be pointing up a bit at this stage) and let go of the breast so the nipple essentially falls to the back of LO's mouth. Top lip should fall over the top of the areola. There should be more lower areola in the babies mouth than upper. Make sure that top lip is flared out. if it isn't, use your finger to gently flop it out. if it keeps going back under or you can't flop it out your LO probably has a lip tie.

The other reason your LO might not like one breast over the other is that it is has an overactive let down and your LO struggles to gulp it down. Have you noticed any spillage from that side when your LO is feeding?

 

[Dani402]

Thank you all for your help!

Yep he is gaining weight... Well at least last week he did. We go in again on Tuesday morning, and if he gains even tho I quit supplementing with formula (like dr ordered) then ill be happy

His lip flips out sometimes on its own... Can't seen to get a finger in to flip it out for him without unlatching n starting all over :\

 

[Dani402]

Frustrated... Picked up n read breastfeeding booklet lactation consultant gave me at hospital... Has same steps/tips everywhere else does... "Baby's mouth should have more of bottom areola than top...blah blah blah". How do I make sure he has breast tissue below the nipple? First off, he's sideways, so if anything he'd have SIDE tissue... And secondly, I can't really see past the nipple once his mouth is that close...

UGH!!!!! I bring his chin up first, he opens wide... I think he still only gets nipple and not other tissue below nipple. :-/////:

 

[Lownthwaite]

Frustrated... Picked up n read breastfeeding booklet lactation consultant gave me at hospital... Has same steps/tips everywhere else does... "Baby's mouth should have more of bottom areola than top...blah blah blah". How do I make sure he has breast tissue below the nipple? First off, he's sideways, so if anything he'd have SIDE tissue... And secondly, I can't really see past the nipple once his mouth is that close...

UGH!!!!! I bring his chin up first, he opens wide... I think he still only gets nipple and not other tissue below nipple. :-/////:

It can get really frustrating I know but you will get to grips with it. You're both learning right now don't forget.

You tube can be a great help for latching videos.

As PP said - it's worth getting baby checked for toungue tie or lip tie.

It sounds like you really do need somebody to come and show you - do you have health visitors where you are or midwives who can help you? Breastfeeding supports can really help too or local breastfeeding groups - there are often trained helpers there who'll be happy to give you hands on advice until you're sorted.

 

[emmalg]

I didn't have access to a consultant and had this problem for about 3 weeks until DD finally got the hang of it. With practice your LO will improve. With another consultant you might find you can get there a lot quicker than I did. Good luck