Help =)
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20072
Printed Date: 12 September 2025 at 2:41pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Help =)
Posted By: Henna79
Subject: Help =)
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 8:38pm
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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? |
Replies:
Posted By: lottieandharry
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 8:47pm
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I don't have any major words of wisdom other than get you midwife to spend time helping you or ask her to refer you to a lactation consultant. They are the best people to spend time with you to help you work out the problem and help getting the latch sorted.
Does he latch on then come off when the let down happens?? Maybe the flow is too much for him? You might be best to let the letdown happen into a towel then try relatching him? All the best it can be a tough few weeks and I hope it all works out for you. There feels like nothing worse when you have a screaming baby! Big hugs to you ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 8:50pm
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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!!)  -------------  |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 8:56pm
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Could you try nipple shields perhaps? They help baby to get a good latch and encourage a good letdown. I used them for the first 6-8 weeks when DD was born and they got me through that rough first few weeks of b/f before it became second nature!!
I also recommend seeing a lactation consultant. They are fantastic! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 8:58pm
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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. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 9:03pm
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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.
I also recommend getting help from your LMC or a lactation consultant. Once you go for the bottle route, you may never go back (I know from experience )
Also so you don't waste your milk, you can put your expressed milk into an icecube tray and freeze it. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 9:04pm
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Ask your mw about shields because in most cases they are discouraged. ------------- |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 9:06pm
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I too would say talk to a lactation consultant. just ring your local LLL. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 9:09pm
This is what I had to do until my milk settled down. But I agree with the others. Get some help 
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emz wrote:Posted By: SaLin
Date Posted: 14 August 2008 at 11:13am
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Get help now - from your midwife and a lactation consultant. You could also try la leche league.
The more you use a bottle the more difficult it will be to establish breastfeeding. I had major problems with an overactive letdown and had to feed my baby lying down and express a bit of milk off before feeds - a lactation consultant will be able to tell you very quickly if overactive letdown is the problem. Good luck - hang in there! |
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 14 August 2008 at 12:56pm
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As the others have said talk to your LMC and ask for a lactation consultant or contact http://www.lalecheleague.org.nz/ - La Leche League - I attended a couple of meetings when Jack was a bit older and they had a lactation consultant there ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 14 August 2008 at 4:08pm
| Henna I would definitely recommend seeing a lactation consultant as quickly as you can. They are great!!! And hang in there - I know how difficult it can be to get things started. |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 14 August 2008 at 4:24pm
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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. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Henna79
Date Posted: 14 August 2008 at 5:07pm
| Thanks Ladies. We have had a much better night and day today. I did use the bottle over night but then also breast as well and he takes it much better now. DH has been helping me express and so hopefully, I don't wanna count my chickens just yet, we are ok. I will give it the weekend and then if we still having issues will ring LC. MW is coming tomorrow and so will chat to her too. Again thanks heaps. |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 14 August 2008 at 6:33pm
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! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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