Top lip - important for latch?

[jenrett]

My DS is 12 days old, and I think he has a fine latch, because he gets tons of milk and is gaining well and we have no pain while BF except the first few seconds (I just responded to another post about this - seems normal at first).

His lower lip is flared out just fine and his tongue is definitely doing the caressing of the milk out of the breast, but his top lip seems NOT flared out. HE has a small top lip, so maybe it's just appearance. I can't find any information on how important the top lip is to the latch. I can't seem to get it flared out, at all. Any tips on this?

Again, there is pain initially when he starts feeding, but I have no cracks/bleeding, and the pain goes away pretty quickly. He has a really strong suck and when he is vigorously feeding, it is the worst, of course.

Thanks,

Jenna

[jenfl]

The book "Supporting Sucking Skills in Breastfeeding Infants" says that the top lip should be in a more neutral position than the bottom lip. If all seems to be going well, I'd bet that his top lip is fine.

[CalaRei]

I'd let it go if it's not hurting you and he's gaining appropriately. That's what my LC said when I went in for the SAME thing. My boys have shallow latches, but they're gaining and it's not painful. Sometimes I readjust their chins, but I don't bother with their top lips anymore, because they just go back as soon as I do - they're practically curled under. *shrugs* Keep up the good work!!