Correct Attachment??

[slick2]

Hi Girls

I've just had bubs no 2 and am having real trouble getting him to attach to the breast. My first baby was a natural and I had no problems at all getting him to breastfeed.

This time round I've had cracked and raw nipples trying to get mty newborn to attach. I BF for the first week until it got too painful and expressed and bottle fed until they were healed a little but as soon as I tried again they have just become cracked and raw again. It feels as though he is biting my nipples. I've been to see the midwife at the hospital who has assured me that I am doing everything right to get him to attach but he is not taking in enough and that's how my nipples are getting damaged. Another midwife said that she thought his tongue was getting in the way. They just told me to keep trying and feed him before he gets too upset, which is easier said than done.

I tried again last night and failed yet again, giving in and bottlefeeding in the end. I have gotten to the point where I feel like such a failure and just want to burst into tears whenever I try feeding or think about it. I am also feeling so bad for my bubs when he is so hungry and just wants to feed and I can't help him.

As I am from a small town I don't have access to a lactation consultant or specialist. Can anyone tell me how I can help him to attach properly without wrecking my nipples and causing me pain? I really want to breastfeed but don't know how much longer I can handle it.

[JodieC]

I had alot of trouble breastfeeding as i have one flat and one inverted nipple. My DD didnt take to it at all, DS#1 took straight away and i didnt have any problems but with my new bub and had terribly cracked nipples, i tried breast shields but they only made it worse, the midwife suggested using it until my nipple pulled out then taking it off and finishing the feed, but i couldnt bear the thought of putting the nipple shield back on.
So i rolled my nipple between my thumb and finger and gently pulled it out, didnt have a problem latching on after that :thumbsup:

[Oscar's mum]

Ensure bub opens his mouth really wide before you actually attach him to the nipple!:thumbsup:

[Tea Lady]

Ooooh you poor thing - it sounds so awful :crying: Could you maybe describe what you're currently doing to get him to attach, and then we might have some more ideas? I had a lot of trouble because bub apparently had a small mouth (and I had small nipples - you think that would be a good combination, but no :rolleyes: ) and I also had thrush which prevented the cracks from healing and made the pain worse. I really feel for you - I know what it's like to despair at the thought of feeding, and it's horrible. :hugs: I hope it improves soon:hugs:

maybe you could try googling for ideas to help you attach? There are lots of helpful websites out there.

[Baby Girl]

Give the ABA a call. There may not be a lactation consultant in the area but they may be able to give some reassurance and maybe even guidance over the phone or maybe they have a hidden member close to you :fingerscrossed:

I used a nipple shield when my first DD was doing a similar thing to your bub (biting & chewing) and they actually helped her to feed properly - I used it for about 24 hours and my nipples were about 75% better but she was latching much better and once I stopped using it my nipples healed really quickly and feeding was a nice experience again.

Good Luck :hugs:

[Goosie22]

Hi,

I agree, call the ABA in the area they will have someone with in their ranks passionate about helping.

Click (http://www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_images_latchon.html) here for some pictures and explainations incase you want to go over the LATCH. Positioning has a big roll to play also to pay close attention to how you postion bub and how you offer the breast(try to postion your babies nose facing the nipple to encourage the baby to stretch up and take a big mouth full of breast tissue). Correct posture for you and the baby will help the feed to go more smoothly.

[slick2]

Okay here's what I have been doing. Most of the time I cradle hold him and have also tried laying down to no avail. I can't do the football hold as I just feel too unco doing it that way. I have also been pulling the nipple as well as using a breast pump to pull the nipple and also express a little milk before I attach him.

I hold him in front of my nipple and pull him towards it (as they suggest). He seems to only grab the nipple and doesn't feel as though he has the areola, although I can't see any of the areola. Most of the time he will have a go at sucking once or twice and then let go and tries again or cries.

When he does attach, it feels okay for about 2 secs then it feels like he is biting my nipple with his gums. When I pull the nipple out t's looks pointed and is very sore around the base of the nipple. The skin on top of the nipple is torn off and they become cracked on top and around the nipple. Sometimes it does feel like he attaches properly but he just lets go and cries.

The midwife did suggest taking hm off and getting him to settle before I try but he gets frantic every time I try. They also suggested using a nipple shield. Does anyone have any comments on their use and effectiveness?

[Tea Lady]

Sounds like you're doing well slick2. Are you making sure his mouth is really wide? (Easier said than done I know) I found it help to really wham bub on once her mouth was wide - this kind of pushes more of the breast into their mouth. Also their lips need to be poking out , not sucked in. Do you have the number for the ABA? They're lovely sympathetic people who would be glad to help (I used to get DH to ring people up because I would just cry :o ) and those pictures of Goosies would be good to check out too. :hugs: