Latching on problems...pain! help!?

Question

My baby is only 4 days old today but I'm having a really hard time with latching on. I met with the breast feeding consultants a few times at the hospital and they helped me get the baby latched on correctly but I can't seem to do it at home. I try and try and try at every feeding but it doesn't seem to work. I think I've done it successfully once. My nipples are very sore...I've been using lanolin so hopefully they won't crack or bleed or anything. I really want to breastfeed for as long as I can and having this problem is bothering me to no end. What can I do? What are some good sites to check out? If you had this problem what did you do to correct it and how long did it take to get it right? Thanks in advance. Serious answers only please.

Answer 1

It is very hard to breast feed. I wish as women we were more upfront with each other about this. It can hurt A LOT especially in the beginning. The beautiful images of peacefull mother and child must be from much later in the childs life.

There are several different nursing positions you can try. A website below lists several of them. Also, try a "Boppy." It sounds silly, but it was really a lifesaver for me. Its a pillow that is a half circle. You put it around you waist and rest the baby (in your arms) on the pillow. It helps to get them at the proper height and saves your back and arms. (You can buy them at Babies-R-Us.)

If you are really having trouble, try contacting a lactation consultant. You're doctor or hospital should be able to recommend a few. You generally have to pay, but I've heard a few people swear by it.

A few things to try if you haven't...
Try "teasing" the baby with your nipple. Brush it around the edges of his lips to encourage him to feed.

Try putting a few drops of sugar water on your nipple. They did this at the hospital to encourage my son to latch.

But mostly, relax. You are not doing anything wrong. This is not your fault, and most women do have trouble getting started. If you don't, you are lucky!!! The baby will sense your tension and frustration, and it will make it harder. If you are having a rough time, take a quick break and cuddle him and love him and try again.

There can be many things that cause issues. I found out after the fact that my son had acid reflux (which often goes undiagnosed.) So, he was actually avoiding eating even when he was hungry b/c swallowing caused him pain.

So, relax, enjoy and do some reading. If you continue to have problems, call a professional, your doctor, or your pediatrician and get some help.

Also, for you - The pain does improve significantly in a few weeks as your nipples toughen up. Gerber makes a great little stick of lanolin that I used at night that really helped! Also, avoid soaps that are drying to your skin. That can help too.

Good luck to you and good health to you and your little one. Good for you for trying so hard. It is SO GOOD for your baby and eventually does become a very special time.

Answer 2

Please contact La Leche League, http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html (if you aren't American just change the country in the drop down box at the top). The La Leche Leader should be able to come help you OR go back to the hospital OR find and independant Lactation Consultant. The first is free, the second two may or may not be.

Check out:
http://www.kellymom.com

I had a tonne of problems in the begining. I had to pump because I let the hospital bully me. Then I was syringe feeding. Then he wouldn't latch unless my nipple was way back in his mouth so I used a nipple shield (do not use unless under the supervision of a lactation consultant they can cause more problems then they help). Then there was the cracking nipples (check for white lines when the baby unlatches).

Stick with it! And don't be afraid to pull your baby off and relatch a million times in one feeding. However also be aware that even a perfect latch can hurt when you are very sore BUT if you are getting a good latch the pain should get better over 8 hours, not worse.

If your baby is not making enough wet diapers then you will need to pump and feed. DO NOT use a bottle. Use a syringe (all drugstores have them, though they may be behind the counter) or cup feed (you will need help with learning this)

Also call WIC or public health. They may be able to help you or at least point you in the right direction even if you don't qualify for WIC.

Take care.

E-mail me if you want.

Answer 3

OUCH! I feel for you hon, I remember those days all too well.
You can contact the breast feeding consultant from the hospital to help you at home too. Best suggestions I can give you are to contact the "La Leche League" for more help & support and to give you a few pointers that were taught to me.

When you're getting ready to nurse, make sure to get as much of the ariola (the dark part around your nipple) as possible into your baby's mouth--this keeps your nipple from being hurt. It also helps your milk come down faster. Pinch the area close together, then present it to your baby. Try warm compresses, as well, but make sure they are warm and wet as well--like a warm wash cloth or if possible, nurse very soon after a hot shower. There are also other people you can ask for help--check your local Human Services for groups/nurses in your area that can be of assistance to you. Even your local WIC office should be able to help you--and they, like La Leche, won't charge you for the help. It's not uncommon for first time nursing mothers to have this problem, no matter how many times they've had children before. You are not alone.
Good luck, and I hope this information helps you!
Congradulations on your family as well!

Answer 4

I don't know where you live but you can go to :

http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebIndex.html

and find a local LLL councleler and she can help you, way more t han words on a computer. This is FREE also.

I work for our university extension program and we have a breast feeding cousoultant, so check out your local Extension office as well.

For help TODAY:

My son had a n awful time latching on too, I was a young mom (18) and I did end up cracking and bleeding. It is painfull, but I got past it.

I do not suggest formula! Only because baby is so little nipple confusion will be horrific, and you say you want to breastfeed.

Place your finger into babys mouth to break the seal, this was my biggest mistake, I just "yanked" him off. Try holding your baby around the other side, so he has a different way to latch on.

Does one side hurt more than the other? Do you have a boppy?

When you get into a comfortable spot, let him stay there as long as he wants, even if you don't nurse on the other side, My youngest baby would only nurse off one breast per feeding. I was not ockward big on the other side either, as some may suggest.

Try warm compresses before feeding too, so your milk is running before baby latches on.

Honeslty your best bet is the la leche league or a breast feeding specialist at your local extension office.

If you want more help from me, or for finding your extension office please email me.

Things should be worked out with you and your baby in the next few days.

CONGRATULATIONS on BREASTFEEDING.

Babies were born to be breastfed!

Sorry bout my spelling, my check spelling button isn't working.....lol

Answer 5

Are you washing the lanolin off before you nurse? It tastes terrible, and until your baby is very, very hungry he/she will refuse the nipple.

If your problem is nipple erection, you can try pinching the nipples (kind of hard) to get something the baby can nurse on.

Or, you can use a breast pump to express your milk into a bottle for feeding. Most mothers don't want to use this method, as it is not as natural. My advice to you is keep trying, keep pinching, and your baby will get hungry enough to really "grab on" and pretty soon, you will be nursing like a pro. Try not to become upset, many new nursing mothers go through this.

You'll get sore, but won't likely bleed. It takes a little patience and you and your baby will quickly develop your own method.

Answer 6

I had a hard time with my baby too. Mainly because I was sore and bleeding. You just have to endure the pain and it will subside. Make sure the baby is latching onto the entire aerola and nipple, not just the nipple. The baby will have a big portion of your breast in his mouth. I checked out the La Leche League website and that helped me the most since where I am there are no specialists. GOOD LUCK and hang in there. Once you get the hang of it, it is so rewarding.

Answer 7

first of all congrats on the birth of your new baby. please please please ignore advice to get the baby some formula, people who say that have most likely never breastfed or even wanted to! I have had three babies all of which I have breastfed for a year. Its not the easiest thing in the world but the more tense you get the harder it will be. get yourself comfortable and relaxed. have a drink next to you. have a pillow under baby if that helps get her in a better position. it does take time for both of you to get the hang of it. your baby is learning as well as you. touch your baby's nose or the top of her lip with your nipple and she will open her mouth. I found it took some time for my babies to learn to open really wide, but once they got it there were no more sore nipples. Only move your baby onto your nipple if she has a nice wide mouth. if you both get a bit flustered calm down and start again. You will get it eventually but it may take a week or so before you have completely mastered it. I am training as a breastfeeding coucillor because i want to help women like you cause there is just not enough help out there. also you can ask your midwife for help with latching on that is what they ae there for. not all midwives are supportive of breastfeeding so if your one isn't then ask to see another one! I hope this helps, PLEASE don't give up it's sooooo worth it in the end!

Answer 8

Call La Leche League. A Leader will probably be willing to come to your home and help you for FREE.

Try feeding in the cross-cradle hold or the football hold. These positions give you more control over baby's head while latching. Wait for baby to open WIDE like a baby bird and pull baby onto the breast, aiming your nipple towards the roof of baby's mouth. When baby latches, his lips should be flanged back like "fish lips" and he should be bringing his tongue out over his lower gum to milk the breast.

Check out the sites below.....

Answer 9

My baby is 3 mo. old and thanks God I am succesfully breastfeeding exclusively.
I had a hard time at the begining also... Thankfully I had a lot of help from nurses and lactation consultants from the hospital.
And just like you, it was very easy to do it when they were all there, but when I was by myself, we (baby and I) had a hard time.
I had a lot of advice, good ones, like all the answers posted here, tthey are excellent and correct.
But the main thing that made things easier for me was one advice from one of the consultants at the hospital.
We were by ourselfs, baby and I, and not being succesfull, so I called her in (we were at the hospital) When she came into the room, I was holding the baby and trying to have him lached on. The first thing she said to me was: "relax your shoulders" and thats when I realized I was SO TENSE and stressed. I felt soo relived when I relaxed my arms and shoulders, that it self made a BIG difference.
ALso try to remember this (also words from this woman) You and your baby are learning. None of you have done this before, so both of you need to take it easy and take it step by step.

Im just giving you my 2 cents here... I dont want to repeat what the other answers said, which is totally truth and you should also follow that.
But we tend to do everything by the book and forget our minds.
Keep trying.
It took me four days to feel confident about breastfeeding, maybe it'll take you five or six. But IT IS SO WORTH IT!!!!
Good luck

Answer 10

tap the babys mouth (bottom lip)with your nipple to get he/ she to open wide then push your nipple in, while the babys moth is open wide