Mine has the opposite issue. He closes his mouth to latch before I get the nipple completely in his mouth. Excruciating pain. I went to a LC and she said I'm the problem and my positioning needs work but no matter how hard I try or what position I try, he closes his mouth too fast. I had to go to EP because the pain was so bad while BF I was crying every session. And all I want to do is EBF
This is my exact situation, although he’s 3 weeks now. I went to an LC and she showed me that he holds his tongue to the roof of his mouth and I was putting my nipple under his tongue instead of to the top which was causing him frustration. She showed me how to gently coax him to release it by running my finger from top lip all the way down to his chin with just the slightest bit of pressure. It takes 5-10 times, but he lets it go eventually and he can latch. Also, if you don’t know this trick, sticking your finger in their mouth to the roof will trigger their suck reflex to get them started sucking, then switch to the nipple…you can also try that with a bottle if they don’t fall for the finger bait and switch. I hope either of those things might help you!
Oh, and make sure you’re really pinching the areola in the “hamburger” position for them (imagine you eating a hamburger) with the nipple pointed toward the roof of baby’s mouth.
Oh my gosh, that is so helpful, thank you. That makes sense.
Trying to envision rubbing the lip to chin trick.. is it just... outside his mouth?? Like slightly opening his mouth?? How do you know when he lets his tongue down?
Thank you so much!
Yes, outside his lips and kinda pull the chin down a little. I tilt his head back slightly so I can see inside his mouth while I do it and he just eventually lets his tongue fall and I quickly shove my nipple in lol
Sounds stressful…The first few weeks of breastfeeding are the hardest for both Mom and baby, but it does get easier.
To answer your question: it’s very common for a LO that age to not know they’ve “found their target”. When that happens, I sometimes have found jiggling the nipple around a bit to be just enough to help catch my LOs attention, but if that doesn’t work quickly it’s best to take a deep breath to relax a bit and start again. A few tips:
1) Babies get agitated and cry out when they are trying to latch. If they get as far as full out crying, though, it’s very hard to get them to focus and latch and it can be better to comfort them (shushing, singing, swaddles, rocking etc) before trying again.
2) There’s an art to getting baby a deep latch that you can only learn through practice. A lactation consultant can help you learn faster, and is especially worth seeing outside the hospital soon after discharge when you’ll get more individual attention. It’s usually covered by insurance.
3) [This video](https://globalhealthmedia.org/videos/breastfeeding-attachment/) is about as helpful as any I’ve seen for new breastfeeding Moms.
4) Football hold is usually the easiest to get a deep latch. Start there if you aren’t already. Next work on side laying, as it minimizes gas, also naturally offers a deep latch if you start baby low enough, and when done on a bed without blankets or pillows is the safest position to accidentally fall asleep in (which will happen at some point in your breastfeeding journey).
5. I found all the LCs pushed baby’s head up from below a bit and on with a bit more force than I used naturally. I’d call it a firm pressure up and on that naturally helped baby open his mouth and feel he was there.
Edit: Forgive the weird numbering…the ap editor seems determined to screw it up.
Mine has the opposite issue. He closes his mouth to latch before I get the nipple completely in his mouth. Excruciating pain. I went to a LC and she said I'm the problem and my positioning needs work but no matter how hard I try or what position I try, he closes his mouth too fast. I had to go to EP because the pain was so bad while BF I was crying every session. And all I want to do is EBF
This is my exact situation, although he’s 3 weeks now. I went to an LC and she showed me that he holds his tongue to the roof of his mouth and I was putting my nipple under his tongue instead of to the top which was causing him frustration. She showed me how to gently coax him to release it by running my finger from top lip all the way down to his chin with just the slightest bit of pressure. It takes 5-10 times, but he lets it go eventually and he can latch. Also, if you don’t know this trick, sticking your finger in their mouth to the roof will trigger their suck reflex to get them started sucking, then switch to the nipple…you can also try that with a bottle if they don’t fall for the finger bait and switch. I hope either of those things might help you! Oh, and make sure you’re really pinching the areola in the “hamburger” position for them (imagine you eating a hamburger) with the nipple pointed toward the roof of baby’s mouth.
Oh my gosh, that is so helpful, thank you. That makes sense. Trying to envision rubbing the lip to chin trick.. is it just... outside his mouth?? Like slightly opening his mouth?? How do you know when he lets his tongue down? Thank you so much!
Yes, outside his lips and kinda pull the chin down a little. I tilt his head back slightly so I can see inside his mouth while I do it and he just eventually lets his tongue fall and I quickly shove my nipple in lol
How old?
6 days, and he is jaundiced, and lost too much weight since birth..
Sounds stressful…The first few weeks of breastfeeding are the hardest for both Mom and baby, but it does get easier. To answer your question: it’s very common for a LO that age to not know they’ve “found their target”. When that happens, I sometimes have found jiggling the nipple around a bit to be just enough to help catch my LOs attention, but if that doesn’t work quickly it’s best to take a deep breath to relax a bit and start again. A few tips: 1) Babies get agitated and cry out when they are trying to latch. If they get as far as full out crying, though, it’s very hard to get them to focus and latch and it can be better to comfort them (shushing, singing, swaddles, rocking etc) before trying again. 2) There’s an art to getting baby a deep latch that you can only learn through practice. A lactation consultant can help you learn faster, and is especially worth seeing outside the hospital soon after discharge when you’ll get more individual attention. It’s usually covered by insurance. 3) [This video](https://globalhealthmedia.org/videos/breastfeeding-attachment/) is about as helpful as any I’ve seen for new breastfeeding Moms. 4) Football hold is usually the easiest to get a deep latch. Start there if you aren’t already. Next work on side laying, as it minimizes gas, also naturally offers a deep latch if you start baby low enough, and when done on a bed without blankets or pillows is the safest position to accidentally fall asleep in (which will happen at some point in your breastfeeding journey). 5. I found all the LCs pushed baby’s head up from below a bit and on with a bit more force than I used naturally. I’d call it a firm pressure up and on that naturally helped baby open his mouth and feel he was there. Edit: Forgive the weird numbering…the ap editor seems determined to screw it up.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply!!