Breastfeeding

[coolrunning]

I requested to join the breastfeeding community here on LJ but I'm wondering if someone knows the answer to my questions in the meantime. How late is too late to teach baby to latch on to the breast? (example: someone decides not to BF then changes their mind and wants to). Also any advice on how to get baby to open his mouth wider and stop

Comments

[rosewalker]

I'm not an expert, but my son did the same thing and it turned out he had a tongue tie. The pediatrician clipped it when he was 2 weeks old, and then it only took another couple days for him to learn how to latch on with his "new" tongue and quit chewing on my nipples. The first LC I saw when he was born said it wouldn't be a problem, I wish I'd gotten a second opinion then instead of waiting 2 weeks. My nipples would've thanked me.

Not that this is the problem you are having, but it's a possibility you could check into.

[crazybouncycrls]

Agree.

My daughter had a horrid chewy latch and wouldnt open her mouth enough to get enough nipple to not chew. I pumped for 8 weeks kept offering her the breast hoping she would latch and bam she finally did and is nursing still at 13 months.

Instead of a tongue tie, my daughter had an upper lip tie that kept her from latching correctly!. Definitely get all these options checked!

Good Luck!

[coolrunning]

This idea crossed my mind initially because my SO was tongue tied as a child. No one noticed until he was nearly 8 years old because it never effected his speech (I don't know if he was breast or bottle fed - given his mom's situation I'm guessing bottle). I just assumed since my son spent so much time around doctors and already had his first physical with his pediatrician that they looked. I mean, he seems to stick his tongue out just fine (not that I'm a baby tongue expert) just not when he needs to. Thank you. I'll be sure to mention it to the LC.

[ladyjbug]

Hi,

You CAN DO THIS. I was in the same boat as you, and it was hard, but I am still breastfeeding my son at 16 months.

I got help from a lactation consultant, I went on domperidone, I went on fenugreek, pumped after every feed for three months until my supply was up, used a nipple shield for 5 months (he weaned himself off of that), and let him feed for hours, rather than the 5-20 reccommended times. It is hard work, but it is the best thing I have ever done and you can do it too. Message me if you need some more support.

[coolrunning]

Thanks. I'm so glad everything worked out for you :)

[ms_hecubus]

My daughter didn't want to open her mouth at first and the LC suggested putting a drop of formula on my nipples to get her interested. It really worked and I only had to do it for a few days before she caught on for good.

There are supplimental feeders that run a tube down to your nipples making it easier for the baby to get the food while they're learning to latch. I can't remember what they're called but I'm sure someone around here does.

I wonder if nipple shields are something you should look into until he stops the chewing action. I haven't used them, but I know others who have and were able to wean off of them with good results.

[ms_hecubus]

PS: Someone mentioned syringe feeding. That is something you could do while he's at the breast too. Holding him in nursing position while feeding can help establish that bond.

[coolrunning]

Yeah, we did the formula thing as well as a drop of sugar water. It gets his attention for about 2 sucks and then he's done. We also tried the nipple shields. It sort of worked, provided I manually express some milk into the shield... though he just drinks the milk in the shield and then gives up. That's about the time he starts screaming and flailing his arms around, often times hitting my already sore nipples :/ I do like the syringe idea, at least until I meet with a LC. Thank you.

[xfoundinabottle]

My son couldn't latch on properly until he was 6 weeks old. I used a nipple shield and pumped when it became really unbearable. He would chew on my nipples as well (even through the shield). By the end of week 2, half of my right nipple was gone to be replaced by scabs and scar tissue, it was that bad.

I made an appointment with a breastfeeding clinic at 6 weeks and he was diagnosed with tongue tie. His tongue wouldn't come forward to cover his gums, so he'd chew, and since his tongue didn't extend, he couldn't draw the breast into his mouth in order to have a deep latch.

After that, he learned to latch on within the next 3 weeks or so, so by 9 weeks his latch was good, and by 3 months his latch was perfect. He is 5 months old and breastfeeding is now the easiest thing for us.

PLease go to the nbci.cam, read the info on latching on (they have great diagrams) and email doctor Jack Newman. He can help you over email even if you can't get to a clinic in person (there's only one in Toronto).

[xfoundinabottle]

errr.. I should point out that the tongue tie was snipped at the 6 week appointment.

[coolrunning]

That sounds horrid. I'm afraid of my son being tongue tied as well, since my SO was tongue tied. I just assumed with all the time he spent in the NICU and his first exam by the pediatrician they would have checked that stuff out, but maybe not. Thank you for the information :)

[mzvanessa]

While i don't have any personal advice, since i've never been in your situation, kellymom has some pretty good info on getting baby back to a breast: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html

[coolrunning]

wow that's a lot of info. thanks:)

[mzvanessa]

kellymom,the google for all things breastfeeding ;)

Good luck mama, you can do it =)