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#1
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latch agony
Hi, all -- I'm starting the nursing saga all over again... I've
got a 4-day old, and while he's certainly getting plenty of milk and his latch looks OK from the outside, he's giving me really bad cracked nipples. The latch-on is agonizing and the rest of the session isn't much better. I'm trying to get him to open up wider, and I think the real problem is his tongue -- I don't think it's under the nipple. I've got flattish nipples which makes it really hard for him to get a good latch; I've been pumping a bit before each session to raise the nipples and that seems to make it easier for both of us. My question is will that just make him lazy and rely on the pumped-up nipples? Or is it OK to do that and hope that in a few days he'll figure out how to do it himself? And any tips on getting him to open up wider and get his tongue positioned properly? It's so bad that I'm actually reluctant to nurse -- toe-curling agony. Em mama to Micah, 11/14/04; Shiloh, 4/22/07 |
#2
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latch agony
On Apr 26, 1:25 pm, emilymr wrote:
Hi, all -- I'm starting the nursing saga all over again... Congratulations! I've got a 4-day old, and while he's certainly getting plenty of milk and his latch looks OK from the outside, he's giving me really bad cracked nipples. The latch-on is agonizing and the rest of the session isn't much better. I'm trying to get him to open up wider, and I think the real problem is his tongue -- I don't think it's under the nipple. I've got flattish nipples which makes it really hard for him to get a good latch; I've been pumping a bit before each session to raise the nipples and that seems to make it easier for both of us. It may just be the 'getting used to it' first week. But keep an eye on it for thrush. With DD1 I had cracked and bleeding nipples for 3 weeks. We chalked it up to nursing problems, but once I treated for thrush they cleared up. Especially if you got antibiotics during labor. My question is will that just make him lazy and rely on the pumped-up nipples? Or is it OK to do that and hope that in a few days he'll figure out how to do it himself? And any tips on getting him to open up wider and get his tongue positioned properly? It's so bad that I'm actually reluctant to nurse -- toe-curling agony. The LC with DD1 showed us how to do some suck training with her. You put your finger in baby's mouth, nail side down and get him sucking with the tongue down. We did it frequently to help her get her tongue down. I used to do it before latching her on. Once latched on (or while latching on if you are so co-ordinated) a little pressure on baby's chin might help. You can also get better fish lips doing that after latching. DD2 seemed to have a much better latch but I still had the cracked and bleeding nipples for about a week with her. Ibuprofen before nursing helped, and the nursing "Soothies" that you put in the fridge were very nice. Good luck! Mary W. |
#3
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latch agony
My question is will that just make him lazy and rely on the pumped-up
nipples? Or is it OK to do that and hope that in a few days he'll figure out how to do it himself? And any tips on getting him to open up wider and get his tongue positioned properly? It's so bad that I'm actually reluctant to nurse -- toe-curling agony. I'm surprised you've not experienced this before, this is exactly what nursing in the early days was like with both mine! It seems to be the baby struggles to open their mouths, so they don't quite get on first time and it's owie, labour techniques are really good her, because it does only last a similar length of time to a contraction! I would rock back and forth, breath etc. I don't think shaping the nipple for them is backing a rod for your own back, I did this with both and I don't actually recall whether I continued to do it, I have vague memories that it must have lasted longer than very early on, but it was just so natural, as part of unhooking my bra, I'd grab the nipple too, I very much doubt anyone was aware what I was doing. Anne |
#4
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latch agony
emilymr wrote:
The latch-on is agonizing and the rest of the session isn't much better. Congratulations on your new baby! The agonizing latch on sounds normal to me... Both my babies caused excruciating pain in the first few days and then less excruciating pain for the first few weeks. The uterine contractions didn't help, either! It gets better. -- Anita -- |
#5
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latch agony
"emilymr" wrote in message oups.com... My question is will that just make him lazy and rely on the pumped-up nipples? Or is it OK to do that and hope that in a few days he'll figure out how to do it himself? And any tips on getting him to open up wider and get his tongue positioned properly? It's so bad that I'm actually reluctant to nurse -- toe-curling agony. Wow. I'm sorry I was sore and there was some actual pain but nothing like that and no cracks :grimace: I'm not sure about the pumping part but my guess is that it would be OK. Once he's bigger and stronger you won't need to worry about it. I would pop my babies on when they opened their mouth to cry. Or I'd tickly their chin in the hopes they'd open up. I'd redo it if I didn't think they were on right. I often had to reach under and flange out their lower lip. Good luck and I hope it corrects itself soon!! Congratulations -- Nikki, mama to Hunter 4/99 Luke 4/01 Brock 4/06 Ben 4/06 |
#6
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latch agony
emilymr wrote:
Hi, all -- I'm starting the nursing saga all over again... I've got a 4-day old, and while he's certainly getting plenty of milk and his latch looks OK from the outside, he's giving me really bad cracked nipples. The latch-on is agonizing and the rest of the session isn't much better. I'm trying to get him to open up wider, and I think the real problem is his tongue -- I don't think it's under the nipple. I've got flattish nipples which makes it really hard for him to get a good latch; I've been pumping a bit before each session to raise the nipples and that seems to make it easier for both of us. My question is will that just make him lazy and rely on the pumped-up nipples? Or is it OK to do that and hope that in a few days he'll figure out how to do it himself? And any tips on getting him to open up wider and get his tongue positioned properly? It's so bad that I'm actually reluctant to nurse -- toe-curling agony. The one question I will now always ask in such cases: Is it possible he could have a tongue-tie? Check his frenulum (the bit of skin joining the tongue to the floor of the mouth) and see whether it seems to come too close to the end of the tongue. In answer to your questions: I can't imagine that pumping up your nipples is going to make him lazy. Nursing is hard work for him right now as he's learning a new skill, and it sounds like you're just doing something to make it easier while he learns - the equivalent of training wheels on a bike. And the tips I recall for getting babies to open their mouth wider: Bring baby to your breast with the *nose*, not the mouth, lined up to the nipple, as he then has to lean back a bit and open his mouth wider to take it in. Try the cross-carry hold rather than the cradle hold. This means that instead of holding him with the arm that's on the same side as the breast you're using, you hold him with the other arm, putting the back of your hand behind his head with your thumb and forefinger spread into a wide V. This means he can more easily tip his head back a bit, which helps the mouth to open wider. Hope that helps, All the best, Sarah -- http://www.goodenoughmummy.typepad.com "That which can be destroyed by the truth, should be" - P. C. Hodgell |
#7
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latch agony
On Apr 26, 1:21 pm, "Anne Rogers" wrote:
I'm surprised you've not experienced this before, this is exactly what nursing in the early days was like with both mine! Oh, I did -- but it was compounded by Micah having *no* latch, and I was messing around with SNSs, nipple shells, etc. Plus, I was on some serious vicodin, and didn't feel much of anything until a few days later. It seems to be the baby struggles to open their mouths, so they don't quite get on first time and it's owie, labour techniques are really good her, because it does only last a similar length of time to a contraction! I would rock back and forth, breath etc. I don't think shaping the nipple for them is backing a rod for your own back, I did this with both and I don't actually recall whether I continued to do it, I have vague memories that it must have lasted longer than very early on, but it was just so natural, as part of unhooking my bra, I'd grab the nipple too, I very much doubt anyone was aware what I was doing. Anne Em mama to Micah, 11/14/04; Shiloh, 4/22/07 |
#8
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latch agony
Thanks, everyone -- I'm feeling better about the pumping, and he's
definitely getting better -- my one side is almost healed, and I'm exclusively pumping on the other (got 4 oz of pink milk this morning -- ouch). I don't think he's got tongue-tie, since once I switched to cross-cradle, his latch improved dramatically. Still not great, but getting better... Em mama to Micah, 11/14/04; Shiloh, 4/22/07 |
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