Latching on with Lact Aid

[countrygirl28]

I recently purchased a Lact Aid in an effort to try to get my 2 month old DD to nurse from the breast.  I have a great milk supply and pump anywhere from 10-18 oz per pumping session, but she has never been able to get enough milk from me when we nurse.  We've seen 2 lactation consultants and had DD's latch and suck evaluated, but no one can figure out why she's not nursing efficiently.  We've also had her evaluated by her pedi for lower lip tie and a tight upper frenulum.  Currently she is getting my breast milk in a bottle, but I desperately want DD to breastfeed because pumping is just too much unnecessary work!  I feel like the Lact Aid is our last shot at actually breastfeeding.  We have tried using the Lact Aid for several feedings, but I cannot get the tube in DD's mouth.  I have tried taping it, holding it, and inserting it after she is latched on, but I've only been successful a couple of times, and those times the latch has been less than ideal with lots of clicking when she sucks.  I know there is a bit a of learning curve with this, but I am getting so frustrated and our attempts to use the Lact Aid end with DD and I both in tears and the bottle in her mouth.

Does anyone have any tips on how to latch with the Lact Aid?

[mrsgrasty]

Okay, first...I mist be missing something. If you have a solid supply, but she Isnt nursing effectively, how will a lactaid help? We use a supplementer b/c I have a low supply. My son has a good latch. If you use the supplementer, if she is sucking correctly, she will be able to get you milk too. Correct me if I'm wrong ladies.

That said, it is frustrating at first to help hem latch on with the tube. What I did was hold the tube in place with the tip of the tube almost to end of the nipple. Then touch the nipple to her nose. Then when she opens her mooth wide, put it in. My lo was 3.5 months when we started though. There may be a more effective way for a younger infant.

It does get easier. Like you said there is a learning curve. Hang in there. It is such a pain to pump, but be thankful you have the milk at all. I would give anything to have that much milk for my son. Just keep trying to get her to latch, use a low flow nipple while she is taking the bottle, and nurse her sitting up so that the flow is slower. All those things will keep her from getting accustomed to the faster flow of the bottle so she will not be frustrated by a slower flow when she does attempt to breastfeed.

[CheriK]

I was given a nursing supplementer to use with my twins, when we were struggling with both undersupply and ineffective latch.  It was only later (as I became much more educated in supporting breastfeeding) that I learned that a nursing supplementer is not effective for teaching proper latch and suck.  It's an excellent tool to keep baby at the breast while building supply, but if milk supply isn't the issue, it won't help your baby learn.  It's too easy for baby to "cheat" with a supplementer and learn to get milk flowing without using the proper suckling technique to remove milk from the breast. 

I'm not clear what's happening when you try to nurse.  It sounds like your baby latches, but then does not suckle.  Or, does she suckle but not stimulate a let-down?  Or does she refuse to latch at all?  Has she ever latched?  Ever had a good nursing session?  How you approach this depends on what exactly is happening when you try to nurse.  With the amount of milk you're pumping at a session, I wonder if oversupply could be affecting her willingness to nurse.  Does she get mad when the heavy milk flow starts and refuse to nurse?

If your baby is used to bottle feedings, she may be unwilling to suck long enough to stimulate milk flow at the breast.  If she does latch, you can help her out, either with breast compression or by pumping to the point of let-down and then offering her the breast.  This way, she'll get an immediate milk reward and will hopefully be stimulated to suck.  You can keep using breast compression whenever your natural flow slows down so she doesn't get frustrated.  Jack McKenna has a good description of compression at http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Breast-compression.asp.

You said you'd seen two LC's.  Were they IBCLCs (board certified lactation consultants) which is a rigourous education & testing program?  Anyone can call themselves a lactation "consultant".  Irregardless of whether/ not they were IBCLCs, you might want to see a third, but specifically look for someone with experience working with non-latching babies.  Your local La Leche League can probably help you find someone with experience (Leaders often know the IBCLCs in the area, or can get referrals from others).  Babies can learn to nurse after months (and some babies learn to nurse even after a year of age), so you have time.  The biggest challenge for most moms in this position is keeping milk supply up with pumping alone, but sounds like you've got that covered.

The others suggestion I have for local support is to get a referral to an OT (occupational therapist) who has experience with lactation.  Your baby may have some physical issues that are causing her difficulty with sucking.  Using a bottle isn't a good indicator of ability to suck, as gravity will let the milk flow even if baby doesn't suck.  An OT can evaluate her suck and can teach you exercises to help her learn.  CST (cranial-sacral therapy) might also help.

Have you learned about paced bottle feeding?  You want to make bottle feeding as much like breastfeeding as possible, so your baby is more easily able to transition.  A good place to start is at lowmilksupply.org (http://www.lowmilksupply.org/bottles.shtml).  You might also want to read the information at this site on nursing supplementers, more details about why they probably aren't the best solution for you and your baby).

Good luck.  As long as you have a good milk supply, your baby can learn to latch.  You might just need more help, or to find the right idea to try, or just more time.  Pumping is a lot of work and your baby is very lucky you're continuing with this.

[mrsgrasty]

cherik, thank you for that post! the link you posted was exactly where i got my nipple info, and the one we chose (the playtex drop-in low flow nipple) has worked great. of those on the list, it was the only one they had at our babies r us.

about "cheating", my 7 month old figured out the tube a few weeks ago, and i have to be careful that he stays on properly now, instead of just staying on the nipple and sucking from the tube. a few times, he has even unlatched and kept sucking on the tube. little stinker!