HOW do I get her to open her mouth wide enough?

[mama_ani]

My LO is 4 weeks 1 day old and breastfeeding has been a struggle the whole time. She's gaining well so I'm not worried about that but I am getting increasingly frustrated and I can't even count the number of times I have wanted to quit breastfeeding. My biggest problem is that it hurts.
She never opens her mouth wide enough to get a good latch. The only times she opens her mouth wide is if she's yawning or crying... I've tried latching her on while doing either of those but she just gags and lets go. Eventually I just end up latching her on and keeping her on even though it hurts because she needs to eat. Not ideal but there are times I've literally spent an hour latching her on, it hurts so I take her off and try again.
Is there a solution to "tiny mouth, strong suck, giant boob"?
I've seen a LC, LO doesn't have a tongue tie, and we've already done battle with thrush.
The longest I've ever breastfed is 8 weeks, by then it gets so painful I just can't stand it. I really don't want to quit again. I just really want to breastfeed, and someday I'd really like to not hate breastfeeding.
Anyone have an idea to help get her mouth open wide enough?

[anon7799]

sounds like a challenge. i feel for you! i also had many weeks of pain while BF because of a baby who didn't like to open his mouth wide. though it sounds like your baby is more obstinate than my DS was. eventually with enough verbal coaxing from me and DH he would open wide enough. DH would stand beside me and tell him "open wide!" repeatedly. actually it did help, believe it or not. one suggestion from the LC was also to demonstrate it for him - that meant i spent lots of time looking at DS with my mouth opened really wide, tongue sticking out. i looked silly but it seems to have had an effect. LC said not to latch him on when his mouth wasn't opened wide enough so that he wouldn't get lazy and i wouldn't give in to his poor latch. but i dont' know if your little one would get it in time, so i guess you have to balance sticking it out and not creating a ravenous, frustrated baby.

not ideal, but once in a while i'd tug down on DS's chin when he was already latched on to try and get him to open wider while already on the breast (had limited success once in a while). of course the best situation is to get them to do it right the first time.

[motomama]

I saw your title and had to reply I went through the same thing with my little one- he would not open wide enough- I saw a couple different lactation consultants -One taught me to hold babies head right at the base (in the palm of my hand)where it meets his neck-almost so babies head was hanging back a little to really get him to open his mouth-this might be hard to picture
Seeing the lactation consultant again or maybe another one is on call at your hosp? I worry that you might be causing some nipple damage with an incorrect latch-if you have-ask for some soothies-But definetly get some help!!

[asunlitrose]

I'd take advantage of the fact that babies mimic and hold your own mouth open wide with your tongue sticking out.

Since you're probably already holding your breast with your free hand (you mentioned large breasts), use one of your fingers to push down on her chin to open her mouth wider as she latches on. You could also try re-training her, where you don't let her latch on unless she's holding her mouth open wide. It might also be helpful to make sure her lower lip is everted when she's suckling, which can be hard to see, but someone else could check. That could also be causing you some pain.

Could you also talk to a local LLL Leader or attend a LLL meeting? They may be able to give you some tips.

[mirasmom]

CranioSacral Therapy- it works wonders...although our pain isn't all the way gone, Ds is doing much much better now at 9 weeks.

[Lahlah]

My daughter did this as well and it took about 3 months for the latch to correct. I consistently pulled her chin down and phlanged out her upper and lower lips. It seems that she could open her mouth wider and suck from the back of her throat once her lips were curled back on the top and bottem rather than being pursed. It's worth all the work -- I am so happy every time she just latches on so easily! Hang in there!

[CellarDoor]

I feel your pain! I had sore nipples until dd's mouth got a bit bigger around 5-6 weeks.

-make sure you are supporting the breast while dc nurses
-check baby's alignment (shoulder and hip should be level with head)
-try a football hold
-use a free finger (or someone can help you) to gently push the chin down as you latch
-make sure baby's top and bottom lips are flared out (fish lips) and that her tongue is out on the bottom lip (probably only visible if you peel away the bottom lip to peek).
-call a LLL leader and go to a meeting
-do the "sandwich" technique to get more breast into baby's mouth. Hold the breast in a U shape and squeeze a bit to make a "sandwich" shape that goes into baby's mouth. Where you hold the breast will depend on what position the baby's mouth is in (you want the compressed breast to be short and wide in relation to baby's mouth).
-if you are engorged at all, the nipple might flatten a bit and be difficult for baby to latch; if this is the case, try expressing a bit of milk before a feed to relieve engorgement
-allow nipples to air dry between feedings. Don't wash them, just put a bit of bm or lanolin on them.

Good luck!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by mama_ani

Is there a solution to "tiny mouth, strong suck, giant boob"?

Hang in there! I had the same problem with dd- minus the huge boob, but add a high palate. She turned my nipples to hamburger. It was awful.

It got better. Hang in there! By 6 weeks there was real improvement.

good luck!

-Angela

[Carita]

Some people will hate this suggestion - I had to use a nipple shield. My boobs were so big and engorged he just couldn't get on right. I spent every other feeding for the first few days with the CLC by my side, and eventually she brought one for is to try. I had to use it at every feeding though, and it was hard to get on and get him on, but it worked. A couple months later I couldn't find the nipple shield, stuck him to the breast, and he took it on his own!! I think my boobs weren't quite as big, his mouth was a little bigger, plus more experience for the both of us.

Before you give up breastfeeding, consider this alternative. It may also help you to heal.

[asunlitrose]

Originally Posted by Carita

Some people will hate this suggestion - I had to use a nipple shield.

Hey, if it works, use it!

[Lahlah]

[QUOTE=Carita;11193233]Some people will hate this suggestion - I had to use a nipple shield.

I did too. It was just for a day, but in combination with the Lansinoh, it gave my nipple a chance to heal. Amen -- whatever works!

[Alpaca Wacka]

Mama Ani! I have a friend with the same trouble. She's in your exact same spot and it's really tough! One thing the LC reminded her was that placing your nipple down low on the baby's jaw forces a wider opening... just as if you were trying to shove a huge sub in your mouth. Imagine that and how you would place the sandwich on your lips before taking a bite...

[elleystar]

Yeah, that's me...thanks Alpaca!
I've been dealing with the exact same problem and DS is 3 weeks old now. What the LC showed me is to put the lower edge of my areola on his bottom lip, then proceed latching him on. He has to open a bit wider and bring his mouth up and over to get the nipple in then. It helped. Still painful but somewhat better.
I also try to put my finger just below his bottom lip and pull it down as he latches. I don't bother trying to pull his chin..he just resists it. But at least this way he gets fish lips which really helps.
Today has been the best day ever...it's hardly hurt at all! I walked around basically all day with a button up jammie shirt unbuttoned and the girls just hangin out...lol. I didn't think much of the whole air-out-the-nipples thing till I actually did it! And then I was using hot hot wet washcloths as compresses this afternoon and using a manual pump to express some. (Had a plugged duct I was working out.) I think pulling my nipples out a bit with the pump helped a ton along with the all day airing.
The one other thing I tried today is rolling up a prefold and tucking it under my big old boob for a little support. Nice.
Just baby steps...I hope that in a couple months if we work hard we can be pain free and loving bf'ing!!