Still having latch problems anyone?

[Amy@STL]

I am just looking for some company My DS is 7 weeks now and we haven't yet mastered latching. I have been pumping since he was 2 weeks and he takes bottles for more than half his feeds. He doesnt have nipple confusion thankfully. After going through terrible nursing, thanks to my LC, I now know I have vapospasm. Taking medicine for it has made things MUCH better. But I still cant get to painless nusring.
Is anyone else still struggling like me?

[sew_crafty_girl]

What are you taking for the vasospasms? I have pain between sessions. Nipple pain and shooting pain in my breasts. It's annoying, not unbearable. She has a shallow latch. I have the blanching. Whether or not it's raynauds like my midwife guessed or just latch issues I don't know. I've never had anyone look.

[jenfl]

I've got latch issues at 8 weeks. Sprout had a difficult-to-diagnose tongue tie that wasn't clipped until 5.5 weeks and he still hasn't re-learned how to nurse. He slips off every few sucks and either painfully pulls himself back on or I have to re-latch him.

Neither of us finds nursing enjoyable or relaxing. He's still exclusively breastfed, because the LC feels that it would probably encourage the sucking habits that he needs to be broken of after the tongue tie clipping.

I've nearly broken down and stopped a couple of times in the last few weeks. I just can't bring myself to go to formula as long as it's at least remotely bearable, and after pumping for DD when I worked for a few months, I know I couldn't do that exclusively.

So we push through. I have hopes that things will be better at 12 weeks. Of course, I'd hoped they'd be better after the clipping. And then a week after that. Then at 8 weeks. I guess I need to convince myself that the solution is right around the corner.

[smeisnotapirate]

to all of you - I had a hellacious start to nursing with my first child, and wanted to just cheer you all on. You mamas are amazing!

[Oztok5]

We're using nipple shields still at 3.5 weeks. We started due to my flat/inverted nipples. He has drawn my nipples out pretty well, but they're still not great. I can get him to latch on without the shields sometimes, but he usually gets pretty frustrated. I'm thankful we have the option of using the shields, because I really couldn't get him to latch on for more than 2 or 3 seconds without them, but I hope to be able to wean him off of them over the next two or three weeks.

Hugs to all of you mamas who are having a harder time than I am.

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by Oztok5

We're using nipple shields still at 3.5 weeks. We started due to my flat/inverted nipples. He has drawn my nipples out pretty well, but they're still not great. I can get him to latch on without the shields sometimes, but he usually gets pretty frustrated. I'm thankful we have the option of using the shields, because I really couldn't get him to latch on for more than 2 or 3 seconds without them, but I hope to be able to wean him off of them over the next two or three weeks.

Hugs to all of you mamas who are having a harder time than I am.

Good luck! I had the same issue as you with my DS, and I'm happy to tell you that nursing DD this time was nearly effortless - my nipples are perfectly drawn out. So hopefully the shields help you make it a permanent fix.

[bubbamummy]

yes! DD had her tongue clipped last week (at 4 weeks) and it was traumatic-he apparently clipped the 'mucosa' and she had to be on antibiotics for 5 days which REALLY upset me as DS is 2 and a half and has never once been on them and here poor Molly is at a month old and already had them she tolerated them really well though, so I guess that's something. I debated not giving them to her but the doc reminded me that infections in an infant can get very nasty very quickly...so I caved and she got them

anyway, it honestly didnt do much at 1st and then she refused to nurse at all...the LC thinks that she was traumatized!? as on that same day she had also choked on her vomit and stopped breathing for about 20 seconds which doesnt sound long but maaaan...it was VERY scary for us both so with those two things combined nursing took a downward spiral. On Monday she barely nursed at all for hours and hours. The LC told me that in the AZ heat I couldnt mess around and she needed milk in her so I broke down and pumped and she had a bottle which made me really sad. Luckily though, it doesnt seem to have stopped her nursing as in the days that followed she picked up where she left off and I think her latch IS better now, now that we've all calmed down. However, im now combining nursing and pumping. It suits me better and makes me less paranoid as I can see what she is getting when I pump (I know...im ridiculous!) I can pump a TON I already have over a days worth of milk in my freezer! so we 90% pump during the day and nurse at night.


sorry for essay

[Knitting Mama]

You know, Sophie, if you end up pumping extra.... Just sayin'!

[bubbamummy]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

You know, Sophie, if you end up pumping extra.... Just sayin'!

I did think about you actually!! If I end up with super amounts of extra I'll be sure to let you know!!

[Knitting Mama]

Thanks, mama!

[Amy@STL]

Originally Posted by sew_crafty_girl

What are you taking for the vasospasms? I have pain between sessions. Nipple pain and shooting pain in my breasts. It's annoying, not unbearable. She has a shallow latch. I have the blanching. Whether or not it's raynauds like my midwife guessed or just latch issues I don't know. I've never had anyone look.

I had similar symptoms...my pain was bad enough that I couldnt wear clothes and felt like acid had been poured on my nipples It was awful. They are still tender to touch, hurt while showering but now I can wear clothes

I am taking Nifedical once daily. My LC also said heat helps. So I keep the room quite warm when I nurse him and that has seemed to help too. You can try applying heat just before nursing and see if that helps. Do try to get help if the pain worsens...good luck!

[Amy@STL]

Originally Posted by jenfl

I've got latch issues at 8 weeks. Sprout had a difficult-to-diagnose tongue tie that wasn't clipped until 5.5 weeks and he still hasn't re-learned how to nurse. He slips off every few sucks and either painfully pulls himself back on or I have to re-latch him.

Neither of us finds nursing enjoyable or relaxing. He's still exclusively breastfed, because the LC feels that it would probably encourage the sucking habits that he needs to be broken of after the tongue tie clipping.

I've nearly broken down and stopped a couple of times in the last few weeks. I just can't bring myself to go to formula as long as it's at least remotely bearable, and after pumping for DD when I worked for a few months, I know I couldn't do that exclusively.

So we push through. I have hopes that things will be better at 12 weeks. Of course, I'd hoped they'd be better after the clipping. And then a week after that. Then at 8 weeks. I guess I need to convince myself that the solution is right around the corner.

I have the same anti-formula sentiment that's driving me. Pumping has helped me though...I don't know how long I can do it, but right now nursing doesn't feel great...pumping does..it hurts to say this, but that's how it is.

I am sure things will be better for you soon!

[jenfl]

*sigh* Been a few rough days. Sprout's developed some weird habit that's making him take in a lot of air -- something like starting to suck before he's latched? Can't quite figure it out. Whatever it is, it makes him really uncomfortable. He's started crying sometimes while nursing because of it.

This all has not the happy, relaxing nursing experience I was expecting...

How are you guys dealing with the loss of that? Nursing feels like a constant battle, something I have to THINK about, not just relax with. It's always on my mind, even when I'm not nursing -- what could I try differently? What else might be causing this? How much longer can I put up with it?

Oh, and is anyone else getting pressure to stop? DH is behind me 100% -- maybe even more. He REALLY wants me to breastfeed. I might have stopped before this, if not how disappointed I know he would be (although he'd never actually tell me that). My parents, though, who formula-fed my sister and I, have definitely put in the vote for going to formula.

[sew_crafty_girl]

Thanks for the info Amy. I'll talk to the midwives more at my 8 wk visit. I am also going to attend a LLL talk at the health unit next week.

[sanguine_speed]

Yup. We're using a nipple shield, and she's breastfed and happy. She wasn't latching well early on and the shield saved our breastfeeding relationship.

[Carita]

nursing is going much better w/dd than ds (used a nipple shield w/him). Most of our feeds have latching not deep enough and lots of air - very clicky - so require several burping sessions throught out 1 nursing session. If i force the boob w/out a proper burp, she'll resist & if she does take it it results in projectile vomiting I have an OB appt Tuesday, so I will make a LC appt for the same day. its worst when I am full & engorged, so I pump some of if I am very engorged, but I can't help but wonder if there is some underlying latch problem. I guess I just don't know what normal is supposed to be, so if it can be better, I'm all for it.

Since I also had latch issues w/DS, I don't feel any mourning over this relationship. In fact coming here has prompted me to get help because I thought BFing issues are just normal LOL. I feel lucky just to be BFing exclusively, w/out the shield this time (yay!!) and happy that she is gaining weight well.

[ColwynsMommy]

We're still having trouble. My nipples are red, blistery, and oozy. It's nasty. We both have thrush, which we're treating, but he's also been tongue thrusting which is painful, and I'm not sure whether it's due to nipple confusion or tongue tie. Between that and the Lact-Aid, I end up having to relatch him 20 times in a feeding.

This on top of my usual low supply issues is incredibly frustrating. I don't think women should have to deal with more than one breastfeeding issue at a time.. it's just not fair.

[rhiOrion]

we're doing pretty well over here. but is it normal to have days where it hurts more? usually it doesn't hurt now, but today my left nipple is hurting like she's not latching right. But it looks right and I think maybe my nipple is just randomly hurting. Maybe her latch got lazy during the night and hurt it, and now it just still hurts?

[jenfl]

Originally Posted by ColwynsMommy

We're still having trouble. My nipples are red, blistery, and oozy. It's nasty. We both have thrush, which we're treating, but he's also been tongue thrusting which is painful, and I'm not sure whether it's due to nipple confusion or tongue tie. Between that and the Lact-Aid, I end up having to relatch him 20 times in a feeding.

This on top of my usual low supply issues is incredibly frustrating. I don't think women should have to deal with more than one breastfeeding issue at a time.. it's just not fair.

That really sucks! Have you looked into tongue tie with a doctor who's familiar with it? The longer you wait to get it clipped, the longer it takes for baby to re-learn their latch. Sprout was clipped at 5.5 weeks and is only starting to get better here at 9 weeks.

Originally Posted by rhiOrion

we're doing pretty well over here. but is it normal to have days where it hurts more? usually it doesn't hurt now, but today my left nipple is hurting like she's not latching right. But it looks right and I think maybe my nipple is just randomly hurting. Maybe her latch got lazy during the night and hurt it, and now it just still hurts?

I have days when one side hurts more (usually my left). Usually, for me, it starts with popping him off without breaking the suction properly, then is made worse by me letting him be lazy. When that happens, I nurse him off the good side all night and pump the hurt side the next morning. That gives it time to heal and gives me extra freezer stash!

AFM -- I think I'm comfortable saying out loud that Sprout's latch is somewhat improved! When he's not serious about nursing, he'll still pop on and off a ton. But when he's really hungry, he can stay on much better. He still loses it frequently, but we might get 15-20 sucks in a row now! And I've even managed to switch to cradle AND do side-lying a few times!

I'm finally letting myself think that we might get out of this!

[smeisnotapirate]

ColwynsMommy, we just got over thrush. I totally feel you. Sorry you're having other problems on top of that - you're right it's not fair. Thrush sucks enough.