In a panic because my one-day-old hasn't latched yet

[pollyanna123]

My baby was born at home yesterday and still hasn't latched on to the breast. I spoke with an IBCLC who suggested hand expressing colostrum and pumping some. She made it sound like I'll have to give my baby formula or breastmilk from a friend soon if I can't get her to nurse.

My dh just took her to our chiropractor for craniosacral therapy. I don't feel like she can open her mouth very wide- maybe a tight jaw or something? I know that would be rare, but it's a gut feeling.

I'm a complete mess over here- crying for the past several hours. This is #3. I nursed #1 and #2 for a looong time without any significant challenges. I think part of the reason I'm in such a panic is that I've never responded well to a pump, so I seriously doubt EP'ing would be possible for me even if I wanted to.

Please, somebody tell me that this can work out!!!

[jenmn]

The new edition of Womanly Art talks a lot about a new way of getting a newborn to nurse called "laid-back breastfeeding".  It also has good info about hand expressing or pumping in the early days if a newborn won't latch.  Maybe call your local LLL leader?  The sooner you get help the better!

Oh and congratulations on your new baby girl!

[gemasita]

Laura,

First of all, congrats on the new baby!  I had a homebirth on 2/2 but hadn't "run into" you online since then.

My baby is having the same issues - not opening up wide enough.  Everyone thinks he just needs to keep growing before he can get enough breast tissue in his mouth to suck correctly.  He made my nipples bleed sucking the wrong way but using a nipple shield did help keep him on the breast.  It helped him latch and me get a little relief.

We got him checked for posterior tongue tie (no) and are planning to take him to a chiro and cranial-sacral therapist too.  So you are on the right track.  And if you have to use a nipple shield for a while, so be it.  My LC says she's never had a client NOT be able to wean off of one.

I am pumping around the clock now and that is NOT fun.  But it is helping me keep up my milk supply while we work things out.  I've been on three different pumps now.  I'm not pumping enough for him so we are getting donated milk from friends to fill in the gaps while we work things out.

[homemademom]

  Thats how my 4th baby was, after successfully nursing my older 3.  My advice?  Start pumping right now.  You can figure out the reason why she's not latching as you go (and you will!), but get your milk supply going no matter what.  My 4th baby had an undiagnosed broken collarbone and couldn't latch.  When I sought help from an LC, it had been several days and my baby was dehydrated and my supply was low, low, low.  It was a rough few weeks.  

I'm dealing with latch problems again with my current baby (#5) and didn't realize that my supply was dwindling. Now, Im having a horrible time getting it up.  Take it from me, you want to pump now.

Big hugs!