I'm having some issues with latching on my 5 week old. He has always been a good nurser in terms of staying awake and scarfing it down once he gets latched on but he has never really had a good latch. In some ways it's gotten better as he's gotten older (ie it doesn't hurt me anymore and most of the time he latches on fine) but in other ways it's gotten worse. Twice in the last 24 hours it has taken several minutes to get him to latch on at all, to the point where I'm afraid I won't be able to get him to latch on. The last time he had his mouth open and was kind of rooting but would not close his mouth properly so he could latch on. He also will sometimes latch on but pop on and off constantly and squirm like something is bothering him--he does this even if he is just comfort nursing and not getting any milk.
He has never had a bottle but has had a pacifier since he was about a week old. I'm sure the first piece of advice is going to be to stop giving him the pacifier, but I'm not sure I can manage if he doesn't have a pacifier. He probably doesn't cry any more than the average baby (when the pacifier is available, that is, I really can't imagine how much he'd cry without it) but when he cries he is very very loud and very very unhappy.
He also has reflux or silent reflux which may be contributing to or causing the latch issues. He doesn't seem to be in pain and is gaining weight fine but needs to be nursed in a more upright position and needs to sleep propped up at night. I latch him on in a cradle or cross-cradle (I think that's what it's called, anyway) position and then let his body drop down so he's more upright because he really has trouble latching on in the more upright position, or side lying. He spits up quite a bit and also spit up in his throat and chokes, gags, and wheezes quite a bit. I'm going to try eliminating some foods from my diet to see if that helps with the reflux.
I think I have problems with oversupply and overactive letdown. I've been block nursing 7-8 hours per side for a few days and that has helped a lot. I don't think I have oversupply anymore (I still have plenty of milk, though) but may still have an overactive letdown as DS has trouble coping with the milk on the 1st, and sometimes 2nd feeding in the block on each side.
Sorry for the long post...any suggestions? The nearest LLL is 2 hours away and I cannot afford to consult a lactation consultant unless it's truly an emergency.
He has never had a bottle but has had a pacifier since he was about a week old. I'm sure the first piece of advice is going to be to stop giving him the pacifier, but I'm not sure I can manage if he doesn't have a pacifier. He probably doesn't cry any more than the average baby (when the pacifier is available, that is, I really can't imagine how much he'd cry without it) but when he cries he is very very loud and very very unhappy.
He also has reflux or silent reflux which may be contributing to or causing the latch issues. He doesn't seem to be in pain and is gaining weight fine but needs to be nursed in a more upright position and needs to sleep propped up at night. I latch him on in a cradle or cross-cradle (I think that's what it's called, anyway) position and then let his body drop down so he's more upright because he really has trouble latching on in the more upright position, or side lying. He spits up quite a bit and also spit up in his throat and chokes, gags, and wheezes quite a bit. I'm going to try eliminating some foods from my diet to see if that helps with the reflux.
I think I have problems with oversupply and overactive letdown. I've been block nursing 7-8 hours per side for a few days and that has helped a lot. I don't think I have oversupply anymore (I still have plenty of milk, though) but may still have an overactive letdown as DS has trouble coping with the milk on the 1st, and sometimes 2nd feeding in the block on each side.
Sorry for the long post...any suggestions? The nearest LLL is 2 hours away and I cannot afford to consult a lactation consultant unless it's truly an emergency.
