unable to latch baby even after five months

[esancen]

Hi My baby is five months now, i'm still trying to latch him on correctly but at no success. Right now i pump and bottle feed him and i'm really happy to be able to do that. i was just wondering if there are more moms out there like me that are still trying to latch their babies even after so long. is there any hope for me or if i'm just beating a dead horse.

[mysticmomma]

I'm not in the same situation, but wanted to give you a big : because it is great that you are perservering. Have you considered baby "boob" camp? Is baby gaining well and meeting milestones? If so you may need to just cut out all artifiical nipples and use a cup or finger feed or something else while you keep at it. Have you been to LLL?

[esancen]

Yes I 'm working with a LLL. I do fine when i'm there at the clinic. She says I do every thing right. But as soon as I get home and I try again everything goes wrong. I wish I had a LLL with me all the time. About baby "boob camp" I've tried that and he goes crazy drinking out of a cup and finger feeding too, he hates it. I've also tried sns and it's so hard to use and my nipples are in serious pain at the end of the day. He likes the boob thats the worst part of it. If he didn't like it, then I would be fine with just pumping. I think I'm just going to comfort feed at least once a day. that way i feel like i'm breastfeeding and he gets some boob too.

[Kristine233]

It took 4 months for my youngest to learn to latch. She just could not "get it". I pumped for her that entire time as well. I finally tried a nipple sheild thing and that worked for her. After a couple days with the sheild she had it and then wouldn't use a bottle no matter what, lol. (and didn't need the sheild after that either) For her, it was one or the other, no in between or back and forth.

But I just wanted topost and say that it is possible and if you really want to do it then just keep at it. Its never too late!

[mysticmomma]

Originally Posted by esancen

Yes I 'm working with a LLL. I do fine when i'm there at the clinic. She says I do every thing right. But as soon as I get home and I try again everything goes wrong.

Hmmm, I wonder if it's environment then?

Originally Posted by esancen

About baby "boob camp" I've tried that and he goes crazy drinking out of a cup and finger feeding too, he hates it. I've also tried sns and it's so hard to use and my nipples are in serious pain at the end of the day.

Well, the idea is to NOT use the cup or finger unless absolutely necessary. At this point, if he was gaining well and a healthy kid, I would probably go 3 hours past his normal average between feedings before I'd offer the alternative, but I'd keep offering the breast every few minutes. Have a mini baby moon and just be the two of you, or your partner if supportive and be naked all day, in the tub, etc. Don't leave the bed.

I wonder if you could plan to hang out at the clinic one day ALL day long, or go to a motel or something and ONLY nurse. If it's his ONLY option, it may work. Talk to him about it. (I realize he's only five months old, but I truly believe he will "get" some of it).

Originally Posted by esancen

He likes the boob thats the worst part of it.

I'm confused... he likes to nurse, but latches wrong?

[wendyland]

Can you elaborate on why you think he latches wrong? Does he not get enough out? Or it hurts? I had a lot more pain with my last baby. It lasted for a long time. Everything seemed right, but I still hurt.

[esancen]

When I latch him on i'm there for an hour and he still is unhappy. Or sometimes his happy for like 45 minutes and then he starts to cry then I give him a bottle and he drinks 4 to 5 oz. So I wonder what did he drink. I feel like he only drank like 2 oz or less I really would like to know what he drank. Thats way i know that he didn't latch good, cuz other wise he would be full and happy at least for a longer period. I really don't feel to much discomfort when he latches maybe a little sore cuz i don't latch him on as much, only because i'm there for an hour and I don't have that much time.

If he was latched good how long should it take for him to emtpy the breast.

[mysticmomma]

Instead of giving a bottle, switch to the other breast. Just because it takes long, doesn't mean he isn't latched right. Do you hear him swallowing? My children were all "boob switchers" they liked to switch every few minutes because I seem to let down faster that way. It's going to take him a while to get used the difference in flow, and he may nurse longer and more frequently as he adjusts. Offer the breast more often, say every 2-3 hours during the day. Distract him with something else and play for a few minutes if he starts fussing. Then offer the other breast. Hang in there mama! You are doing great. Keep trying and keep those artificial nipples away!

[esancen]

Thank you

[megan sacha]

I think seeing a lactation consultant would be a good first start if you haven't tried that yet. Best of luck and kudos for all of that pumping mama!

[mysticmomma]

How's it going

[swimswamswum]

DD had a sort of crappy latch and our DO did cranio-sacral therapy on her. I think it helped a lot. You might want to see if you can find someone who does that in your area.

[williamsmommy2002]

Are you sure it is latch. My ds had a very poor suck due to low tone in his mouth and couldn't empty the breats. I nursed him as usual and then was able to pass him off to get a bottle while I pumped. At about 5 months is when it clicked and he could empty the breast. We didn't really know about the low tone in his mouth until he was three. Of course it led to him eating purees until about 3 and having trouble with his speech also.

[RoseDuperre]

Take heart! It took me five months and we are now at almost 7 months old, nursing completely. Read the story in my sig link if you want the full scoop.

I will offer two pieces of advice. Wait, three. First, evaluate him for tongue tie if you haven't already. Second, whether he has a tie or not, craniosacral could work wonders. Finally and possibly most importantly: please consider trying a LactAid. It is similar to the SNS that you tried before, and trust me, I know how much that can suck (again, see my saga in the link), but the LactAid actually is somehat easier to use than the SNS, and it is THE thing that got us out of a stuck place that sounds a lot like where you are now.

Hang in there and best of luck!!!