Help =)

Sorry if this is long but here goes.

Baby boy was born 4 weeks early on Fri and we are struggling with breastfeeding. Things were going ok until day 4 (when milk came in) and now he won't latch on and gets frustrated and cries the house down =( It almost sounds like he is gassy cos he been farting like a trooper and we can hear his tummy bubbling (if you get what I mean). We ended up getting a pump and expressing to give him a bottle as he was so hungry but wouldn't latch on. What can I do to help get him latching and all that comes with learning this whole process?

You might want to consider getting a latching consultant involved tomorrow, especially since he was born early. He might be having trouble with latching just because of being so young.

Quite often they don't like the spray of the milk or it comes in too fast. Can you express (just squeeze it with your hand into a cup - have a flannel handy) the fast milk off, just a little, before trying to latch him on? It seems he will pick that up again soon, since he already had learnt it, but just doesn't like the speedy delivery.

(Sounds like you are producing perfectly healthy milk, btw!!)

My 36-weekers had huge trouble latching too, and never really got it sorted so the best advice I can offer is to ask for help from your LMC or a lactation consultant now coz the longer it goes on the more difficult it gets.

Family Centre could also be an option if there is one in your area, your midwife can refer you and you go and spend the day there and they observe your feeding and help with latching etc. I think bub has to be a couple of weeks before you can go there tho.

Ask your mw about shields because in most cases they are discouraged.

emz wrote: My cousin just had a baby and her mother (a nurse) has been getting her to express a few mls off before latching baby on as she was too full for a good latch. Don't know if it would help but you could try that.

This is what I had to do until my milk settled down. But I agree with the others. Get some help

Edited by kebakat

As the others have said talk to your LMC and ask for a lactation consultant or contact La Leche League - I attended a couple of meetings when Jack was a bit older and they had a lactation consultant there

Ditto the LC recommendation. Babies born early often have trouble establishing the latch and suck-swallow-breath pattern. I found my LC fantastic, and getting them involved early means it is much easier to resolve than battling through on your own.

busymum wrote: Ask your mw about shields because in most cases they are discouraged.

Its interesting that they are so discouraged busymum. I have heard that comment alot, but honestly for me if it wasn't for those nipples shields I would have thrown b/f away!! Using them through that really tough time helped me so much that I managed to b/f Lauren until 7 months! It did take me about a week to wean her off the nipple shields at 6 weeks old, but that was wayyyyyyy easier than trying to get her to latch properly in the first place!

As they say "do whatever works" ahy!!!!

Also well done Henna79 for managing to stick with it. B/f is soooo worth it in the long run, but I found it the hardest job I have ever had to learn!

Keep up the good work, it does get easier!


Edited by peachy