Problems with the latch

[Willow82]

Hello ladies,

So I had my little girl two days ago and we're desperately trying to establish breast feeding. We're finding it difficult getting her latched on the right side but easier on the left side. However, on both its feeling like it's pinching. It really pinches at first but it does become more bearable throughout the feed. However, I'm getting really sore. I've seen breastfeeding advisors in hospital and I'm trying to implement their advice but I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[angelandbump]

by any chance is there a clicking noise?

Everyone's first couple of days/weeks of BF is different. For the first week I struggled with latching and I was sore, my son every so often would make a clicking sounds while feeding which I later found out was my son was breaking the latch. Just persevere and try different positions. It is very common for baby to feed easier on one side than the other. My second week was easier but still sore. Lanolin was my best friend! Seriously, if you don't have it already then get some. Ask your midwife if she is still carrying out her daily visits for some (if they have any). Also ask if they have a BF specialist midwife. We are lucky to have one in our area and she was brilliant or see if you have local BF groups to visit xx

 

[bumpy_j]

Yep this is me. Sooo much pinching at the start, and it can take a long time for her to establish a latch. My LO was quite small at birth though (5lb 9ozs) and she has a teeny tiny mouth, so I expected it to be a little tricky in the first few weeks. She's ten days old now and everything is starting to ease. Lanolin nipple cream really does help a lot.

I don't believe the whole 'if it hurts, you're not doing it right' thing though. I had a rough start with both my babies (with Joel I had to scream into a pillow when latching!). But Emmy is eating plenty, her latch looks and sounds perfect once she's on, and she'll stay on the breast for a good amount of time. Sometimes you can be doing everything right, and it still hurts like hell. It will pass though, and then breastfeeding will honestly be second nature to you!

 

[ElmaWG]

I agree with Bumpy about it supposedly not hurting if you're doing it right. I think if you have flat or inverted nipplesyou're very likely to have discomfort to some degree no matter what. All my friends have had nipple pain early in nursing. I have normally flat wide nipples, and Nursing DS1 hurt like hell for a couple weeks. But generally only at latch on.

Obvious advice ( in that the lactation consultants probable told you all this): get as much of the areole in as possible, sandwich the Breast and nipple and guide the babies head to the nipple when he opens wide. Another piece of advice that I rarely see, but helped when I had trouble with DS1 is to "point" the nipple upwards like its pointing toward baby's eye, NOT straight back towards his ear.

 

[noon_child]

Have you tried laid back/biological nursing? It can really help in the early days as it works with the baby's reflexes not against them (so no fighting to 'get them on'), and you don't have to pull them in to your breast because they are already as close as they can be. It can be a little tricky at first to work out how to position yourself but babies often take to it quickly and get a deeper latch.