Please somebody help me!

[butrfly]

my son manages to latch on for a little while then lets go. then he cries & cries & cries!

i really want to breastfeed - esp now that i can sit down for long periods at a time. but this reaction my son has to latching on is very discouraging!

can someone please help me with advice / suggestions on how to keep my son latched on?

 

[Logiebear]

There could be many causes for this hun, a few I can think of are:

• your nipple shape, can he latch on properly.
• is he getting lots of air when he sucks so he has too much wind to stay on?
• is he getting any milk yet or has your supply still not come in properly?

If it is any of these they are very fixable hun so don't panic.

Is he stressful and unsettled? Do you think he is hungry? Have you had your latch checked hun?

for you, your doing really well so keep trying xxx

 

[butrfly]

There could be many causes for this hun, a few I can think of are:

• your nipple shape, can he latch on properly.
• is he getting lots of air when he sucks so he has too much wind to stay on?
• is he getting any milk yet or has your supply still not come in properly?

If it is any of these they are very fixable hun so don't panic.

Is he stressful and unsettled? Do you think he is hungry? Have you had your latch checked hun?

for you, your doing really well so keep trying xxx

i dunno about nipple shapes. mine is flat often but lifts up when stimulated.

my boobs got all engorged a day or two ago and i've managed to pump it a bit so as it's not too big for him.

how do we fix what needs to be fixed? how do i know what needs to be fixed?

(i'm at a loss right now.)

 

[Mervs Mum]

This sounds totally normal at this stage to me hun. Remember it's only day 5!!! Dont expect to crack it straight away. It takes patience and determination and most of all practice! You are BOTH learing. It will take you both weeks so dont give up just yet - you are only just begining!

He is probably a bit frustrated. He has to work for his food and he's also learning this new skill. Giev him time. Try all the usual things. Check he's warm, clean and winded. He might not like the postition so you could try a different one. The owrst thing you can do now is panic and get stressed - he will pick up on it. Take your time, a deep breath and work through it one step at a time.

Has someone actually shown you how to latch him properly? He needs a good mouth full of breast. Keep putting him to your breast - even if he's not on for long and it is frustration as he draws your milk in properly, it wont last long and putting him on will get that milk in.

 

[butrfly]

thanks mervsmum! you're very encouraging.

will continue working on this.

(i've been researching on the web for how to do proper latch ons and all that. found out that the hospital nurses taught me wrong in some ways.)

will work on this.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Hey honey You are right in the thick of the toughest time for a new BFing mum. You are still tired and recovering and your milk supply is a way off being established but I promise you things will get better. You just have to believe in yourself. Your clever clever body has nurtured and nourished your gorgeous boy for all these months - nature wont give up on him now!! Just dont expect too much and take it a feed at a time.

When I was learning to latch my LO I found 'sandwiching' my boob helped me. She wouldnt open her mouth very wide so I tickled her with my nipple between her top lip and nose. This should get him to tip his head back and open his mouth wider. Hebe still wasnt great at this but I then sandwiched my boob with my thumb on top and fingers underneath and pointed my nipple up while tickling as I just described, then you kind of wait for their mouth to be as open as it gets and then with almost a flick of the wrist/hand you flick a bog mouth full of breast in his mouth - I'm not sure if that's a great description and one day I might even video myself doing that so I can just link to it instead!!

 

[Brockie]

like others have said hon it takes practise but it won't be long and you will both get it!

i found initially like you it was hard to get baby to stay latched on as he hadn't quite got enough boob! my MW watched me feed him and i remember her saying i had to really 'whop' him on me boob! i mean get a good grip of back of his neck/upper back with one had, tickle his top lip with your nipple to get his mouth really wide and 'whop' him on firmly! I was being really gentle with him and he just kept slipping off. Im not telling you to be rough with him/her! just use a firm motion to make sure he gets a good mouthful, hope this makes sense?!!!!

keep going it will all get easier soon xx

 

[Mervs Mum]

^^^^^ she's right ! Sandwich with one hand on hold him round the back of his neck with the other, then 'whop'!!

 

[butrfly]

ok

will try to whop =P

 

[Brockie]

haha! 'WHOP' shall be breast feeding term of the day!

 

[Mervs Mum]

I'll whop mine out later I think. I'll see how my hubby feels about videoing me demonstrating a good WHOP.....

 

[Logiebear]

I'll whop mine out later I think. I'll see how my hubby feels about videoing me demonstrating a good WHOP.....

That would be great for me too hun if you don't mind showing off the whop lol
I haven't seen it done properly yet!!

 

[Brockie]

I'll whop mine out later I think. I'll see how my hubby feels about videoing me demonstrating a good WHOP.....

 

[Mervs Mum]

I videoed it! I did post it but this isn't a members only bit so I removed it....

I tried to 'whop' but it sounded more like a grunt....

 

[Logiebear]

So where can we see your whop hun?

 

[Mervs Mum]

I PMd the Whop!! Were you impressed??

I got my DD to film it on her phone! Hebe wasnt in the mood for waiting so she actually opened her mouth really wide!

 

[leighbaby]

My LO is 5 days too and I'm having the same problem....hoping practise makes perfect

 

[Jelly Bean]

MervsMum has given her stellar advice as usual, I'd only recommend trying two opposite things at separate times. Sometimes newborns will latch on better for the first time when they're raving with hunger, other newborns do better when their tummy is somewhat full and they feel more relaxed (that's the case with my LO).

 

[butrfly]

mervsmum, may i see the whop, too?

 

[Logiebear]

The whop was great hun! It looks like what I do but I'll have to get it more fluid and make sure dd opens her mouth properly!!