Help with 2 day old

[rakishchick]

I am having some problems with breastfeeding... I've been told by a few LC's that the baby's latch isn't good because she isn't opening her mouth wide enough and therefore isn't getting enough breast. They said it may because she is a small baby, but I've seen her yawn and she can get her mouth wide enough and I have tried pushing her chin down while on the breast but this has not helped. I was also told that she may be tongue-tied and to have our pediatrician take a look. The result: sore painful nipples that are being compressed and a red line started forming at the ends of them yesterday.

Some recommendations I've received: try using a nipple shield until baby's mouth gets bigger... but be sure to use a breast pump after. Is this necessary? I bought a nipple shield today and already was able to see a difference... I was able to feed much longer and I am hearing more swallows. It is still a bit painful but not nearly as much and it looks like the red line is starting to go away.

I know it is still early and I still have colostrum but I am trying my best to be proactive so that I don't get so frustrated that I quit altogether.

If you have any advice for me, please share! Thanks!

[sosurreal09]

well firstly CONGRATS MAMA
i would drop the sheild. its hard the first 6 weeks period...you jave to keep in mind its you're job to teach her how to nurse ONLY give her the nipple when she fully opens her mouth. patience patience patience this too shall pass

[mariposa77]

Congrats!
Get your babies tongue tie clipped ASAP, if she has a TT. If she is not able to get the milk out, with her latch, it can harm your supply.
Also, you can pump after feedings for 10-20 mins to make sure she got the milk out.
Wish you all the best mama

[Pookietooth]

mama, it's hard at first especially the first time (but I had a hard time with #2 as well). I would see if there is someone who could definitely diagnose (and treat) a tongue tie. Oh, and if she's not opening before you latch, you could always try pushing more of your breast into her mouth after she's latched on. Have you watched the jack newman breastfeeding videos? http://www.drjacknewman.com/video-clips.asp

[Devaskyla]

I've used a shield w/all 3 kids. Ds1 nursed with it for 3 years, ds2 (tongue-tied; clipped at 6 weeks)about 5 months & ds3 about 4 months (they both weaned to the breast). I never pumped after feeds with any of them. I did use breast compression while nursing.

Get the tongue tie dealt with, if that's the problem. It takes seconds, is painless & makes a huge difference.

Latching Links
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/08/breas...tch-trick.html
http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/When%20Latching.asp
http://www.drjacknewman.com/video-clips.asp

[ewe+lamb]

ITA with the others that say see if there really is a tongue tie - make sure they also check for the tight frenulums on both lips, if it's not a tt then it really is just patience and it's amazing how quickly they grow. This is a great site for painful nursing www.biologicalnurturing.com.

You could do a quick check yourself: wash your hands thoroughly and then take your little finger and insert, palm up into your baby's mouth, run your finger around the palate of the mouth, making sure it's not too high or an unusual shape, then in between the gums and lips checking the frenulums feel if they are tight or too thick, then run your finger underneath the tongue checking that the little bit of skin that attaches the tongue to the bottom of the mouth isn't tight or thick, if you have any doubts then get it checked out if it seems normal then as mentioned before patience is the way to go. Make sure that baby is held in tight tummy to tummy and ear, shoulder and hip are in a direct line - hang in there and all will be find - good luck.

[betony707]

If it weren't for the shield my DS would have been bottle fed -I spent the first week supplementing with formula and pumped milk because he became frustrated and hysterical every time he tried to nurse.( For some reason he struggled with latching the 1st couple days, got a bottle of formula in the hospital because he was screaming with hunger, and it went downhill from there) When we saw the LC (who gave us the shield) it was the last chance before I gave up on nursing completely. After the 1st session with the shield he never got another bottle He FINALLY weaned himself from the shield at around 6 weeks - I thought he would never nurse without it LOL. He is 14 months next week and still happily nursing.


I say if it is working for you, use it! I didn't need to pump while I used it, but I would just pay attention to your supply - it's pretty easy to build back up if you catch it early.