My Baby Won't Latch On!

Hi T.,

I would recommend that you go to the ILCA (International Lactation Consultants Association) website and try to find a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in your area who can meet with you at a feeding time and do a history of your health and your baby and to give you help and counseling on increasing your supply and getting your baby to the breast. You also may want to google Breastfeeding and your area where you live. There are some consultants that have their own personal websites. If you qualify for WIC your local WIC office may have a lactation consultant that can help you or they may be able to refer you. Sometimes doctor's office have a list of resources check with your pediatrician and your midwife/obstetrician.

There are several ways to help get your baby back to the breast: one is by using an SNS(Supplemental Nutritional System) you can check one of these out at the Medela website. Another way sometimes is by using a nipple shield (also found on the Medela website). But most importantly if your supply is low you want to use a hospital grade breast pump 8 times a day(pump for every feeding for 15-20 minutes to get your supply up). It will probably take a week or two of good frequent pumping to get you where you need to be. There are herbals you can try(go to www.lowmilksupply.org and read all about the options of herbals and medicines). And be sure that your flanges on your pump are fitted to you. Most pumps come with a small flange and the majority of women actually need larger flanges. Most of the time women who are using a flange that is too small think they don't have enough milk only because the flange is too small and it can't extract the milk well. So go to a professional that can help you with a good plan and get a good pump and get fitted and things will start falling in to place. Try to spend some time skin to skin with your baby. Let your little one lay naked on your bare chest to sleep comfortable after a feeding and let him wake up to you right there ready to feed at the breast. Check out your local Breastfeeding Support Groups like La Leche League and contact your hospital to see if they offer one. The latch on technique is taught on the Ameda website for free. There is a web video called "Your Baby Knows How to Latch" so you might want to check it out. I hope you have a cuddly nite with your baby. Wishing you all the best and hope that this is helpful to you. Hang in there. You can do it:-)

K. S.

T.,
with my first baby he was in the nicu for two weeks so he started on the bottle. When I brought him home I was very engorged and pretty much no nipple. What seemed to help us was two things the first was that I would pump to get my nipple ready for him to latch on. The second was that I used a nipple shield it is placed over your nipple and is like the nipple of the bottle, I know Medela makes them and you can get them at babies r us. When he was 6 months old we learned that his tongue needed to be clipped and after that he was able to latch on beautifully. Good Luck.

E. F.

I had that problem with my first baby. It was very upsetting. I am far from an expert on this, so I'll just give you my humble opinion. With time and perserverence you and your baby will most likely have success with breastfeeding. I would recommend asking the hospital if there's a lactation spectalist who can come to your home and help you with the latching on and breastfeeding generally. I had a neonatal nurse help me and it did help. The other suggestion I have is to contact La Leche League, to see if soemone can come to your house to try to help you. As you probably know there are a large number of positions you and the baby can be in for breastfeeding. In the beginning it is important to find the position that works for you - so try different ones. Here's a link to an article with many positions described. Good luck and I really hope this works out for you.
http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVAugSep00p63.html

It is harder for the baby to get milk from the breast than it is from a bottle and it takes a few good sucks before your milk "lets down". This is probably why he is getting frustrated with the breast feeding. Maybe you could try feeding him BEFORE he gets really hungry so he might have a little more patience. Also, make sure that he is latched on correctly. Remember it takes time and practice for most babies (and moms) to master breast-feeding. If you really want to give nursing a chance, I would suggest that you stop the bottle-feedings until breastfeeding has been well established. Check with the pediatrician and/or a lactation consultant at the hospital you delivered for additional advice. Hang in there. I had a hard time nursing my second son for the first couple of weeks, but he (and I) eventually got the hang of it and he went on to nurse beautifully for the next 9 months!

I pumped and fed my son that way for two months and then we switched to formula. Don't get freaked out if it doesn't work for you. It was like the nipple was way to big for his mouth at the time( i guess I would argue on how BIG his mouth has gotton tho! lol) My son is 5 and perfectly healthy. Just because a child won;t latch on doesnt make us inadequate Mothers in anyway. So don't let the professionals get you worked up if it doesn't happen. The truth is your child will pick up on your frustration, and that can have far worse ramifications than if he goes to a bottle- ya know? They make great formula's these days, back in the old days- Mom's actually concocted there own at home. It can be done and we are all ok for it. Give yourself a break- you have three kids- you need it! Goodluck!

For breastfeeding issues, I would work diligently with a lactation consultant. Just google for one in your area. I am sure that you can get you little one to latch on with their help. Good luck
K.

i have big breasts and found that holding by boob while nursing helped. i look the right boob with my right hand and held it (like a football as if i were running with it tucked near my arm pit) so with my hand i made the end near the nipple flatter but squeezing my boob on the left and right of the areola so that the part she put in her mouth was smaller and wouldnt be so much for her to put in her mouth. then held it the whole time she nursed. my arm was not comfortable after a few minutes but i felt more tugging in the breast if i didnt hold my boob for her. i did this for almost 10 months. good luck and if this didnt make sense feel free to email me for a better description.

Call your pediatrician and ask for a lactation consultant referral. I think it is very likely a problem that can be easily solved, but you sort of need a "hands on" help.

I had different nursing issues with both my daughters and ended up breastfeeding for 13 months with the first and still going strong at 13 months with my second. Couldn't have succeeded without a lactation consultant!!

Good luck. It is great that you are being so persistent. After a couple of weeks of hard work with nursing/pumping, it starts getting easier!!

Hi, I know how you feel! I'm a big breasted woman, too, and had the same problem with both my kids. I talked to a LOT of moms, nurses, and a lactation consultant when I was going through this. After two kids with the same issue and the same resolution, here's the conclusion I came to: the size of your breasts does make a difference in HOW you get them to latch on and how complicated it is. In the beginning, it's going to be harder, no doubt about it. As your baby boy gets bigger his mouth will be able to grab on better. In the meantime, please do keep trying! The most important thing is for you to stay calm (not easy I know!). Your baby will take his cues from you. The calmer you are the calmer he will be... eventually. He's going to get frustrated, but if you stay calm, he will eventually get calmer too. I really hope this helps! I got really frustrated with my first child, but it was easier to stay calm with my second knowing that he just needed to "vent" his own frustration and would eventually figure it out.

Hand express some milk just to get the nipple 'wet' and so the taste is there for the baby at latch. You may even want to try expressing while he's freshly latched in order to get him to start sucking without the frustration of not getting any milk.

I too am large breasted and found my son latched fastest and most successful in the football hold (once we were established with nursing - 1-2 wks - I was able to put him in any position).

Call the hospital where you delivered and see if they offer complimentary lactation consultants. If they don't call the pediatrician as they may offer services.

Have you tried a nipple shield? We had a problem with the baby getting latched properly because of nipple size. The nipple shield really helped. We used that until he was about 6 months old, when he naturally just switched to nursing without it.

Hi T.,

Congratulations on your latest blessing! I'm sorry that breastfeeding has been so difficult but it will all be worth it knowing that your gave him the best. Before my milk came in I had a very hungry and frustrated little baby. The nurses bottle fed her at first but I then started using a thin tube (taped to my breast)to feed her. It dripped formula from a small bottle clipped to my chair and with a valve I controlled how much went into my baby's mouth. I used it to temp her to keep sucking until my milk flowed better and she became a stronger sucker (they called it S&S). Talk to your OB and see if they can get you one free. I know it can be very frustrating but remember it's going to get easier very soon, give him and yourself time to get into a rhythm. The advice I always got from my lactation consultant was to drink lots of water (before/during/after), take long deep breaths, keep your shoulders relaxed and maintain good poster with lots of pillows. Good Luck & God Bless!

I had latching problems w/ my last 2. My first child BF'd w/ ZERO issues. SO I understand your frustration. Try a nipple sheild. It was the only way I could get them to latch on properly and stay. They say to wean them off of it after they get the hang of it. But it helps pull the nipple out so they can get a better hold of it. You sort of have to train them as well as your nipple at the same time. If all else fails pumping and bottle feeding is just as nutritious and you can still bond when you HOLD to feed. Dont beat yourself up over not being able to BF, its ok and your baby will be just as wonderful. :) Good Luck!

Your question is a good one for La Leche League, the nursing organization. Others have had your problem and I'm sure they have solutions. They have a web site and phone. Look them up. I pray you can continue to give your baby the best food, breastmilk. AF

Hello, I agree with trying a nipple shield. I believe using one is why my baby and I were so successful at bfing. Lactation consultants helped a lot too. They have a few at the hospital were my baby was born that I can still call if need be. They know what they are talking about when it comes to technique and tips for latching on. Also I don't believe in nipple confusion for a majority of babies. I think that BFing just needs to be learned sometimes. Just stick with it and don't give up hope I know it is frustrating. good luck.

Hi T.,
Try putting a bit of formula on your nipple each time he separates from your breast. It really helped my son when he had a hard time latching on after being bottle-fed.

D.

I can't help, but I can tell you that I've been pumping milk for my twin sons for 3 months now. I make enough for them both, but I had to rent a hospital grade pump. It has extra umph compared to the electric ones on the market. I also have the Medela pump in style for portable use. I have been trying to get my boys to latch with no luck and I've been to a lactation consultant 3 times. I only want to tell you that it is possible to pump. I am going to continue to try and get them to the breast as they get older because my pediatrician thinks I will lose my milk supply if I soley pump. Only time will tell. I hope you get some help and have better luck at the latch thing than me.

Breast feeding is supposed to be enjoyable for both parties involved. If it is frustrating for both of you don't feel guilty about choosing the bottle, It could be the best decision for your baby. Without going into too much detail, your story sounds very familiar. Sometimes breat is not best. If the kid can't get to it! Lots of luck!

try different positions. I am also a big breasted woman & have found that using the football hold is much easier. keep trying. good luck & try not to get too fustrated. BTW....what hospital did u deliver?? I know that when I had my 2nd child 3 months ago they offer outpatient lacation at the hospital if u need it

Try a nipple sheild, I used one and it worked well. You can order them online. Madella makes them, just type in 'purhcase madella nipple shield' You should order the largest size one. All the websites will tell you that they re just temporary and you should wein him off as soon as you can, but I used it for 3 months because my thought was - as long as he's gettng my breast milk, who cares if there is a nipple shield. I then went on to breastfeed him for 5 more months without it. Good luck.

Hi,

It's great you are providing the best nutrition & immune boosting food your baby! I really think you need to get to a good lactation consultant ASAP & La Leche meetings too. They have them day & evening in the area. You can start with searching LaLeche in your area or your hospital. They should be able to give you some referrals.

I'm big breasted with small nipples. I nursed my 1st (big Baby) 15 months no problems. Then number 2 (small baby) no problems until my milk came in & I had to run to a lactation consultant. She solved our latch problems in minutes. I paid something upfront, but insurance reimbursed me. Even if they hadn't I saved tons on never using formula & no sick baby visits.

Hello
I had the same problem for a while. My little one would not latch on and both of us were getting really frustrated. I took my now 5 month old to a lactation consultant and she diagnosed my son as being "tongue tied" or having ankyloglosia (medical term). Maybe he has this. I had to take him to an ENT doc to have his frenulum clipped (the little attachment under the tongue) because it was too tight. It took 5 miinutes in the office and then he could latch on about a day later. I would find a good lactation consultant and tell them about your issues. They may have lots of advise and answers. Keep it up! You are doing a great job with continuing to pump. Breast milk is fantastic for your baby and far less than formula.
Best
Oli A.