Baby with Small mouth

[SixtiesChild]

My newborn babys mouth is quite small and I'm having some problems with latching her onto my breasts. I am sore but am persevering. I think that maybe my areola is a bit on the big side for her. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Nan]

Hi!!
My DD was so tiny when she was born that she nearly gagged on just my nipple, let alone getting any of the areola into her mouth, so I know what you mean about it hurting! Try not to worry. You just need to keep persisting and letting her suck as much as she can, so that she gets the hang of it and your boobs toughen up a bit. (Mine were sore every feed for the first few weeks.) Don't forget that at her age she doesn't need much milk to be full. Her little tummy is only as big as her clenched fist!
Try using a few different positions and making sure that if she can only get the nipple inside her mouth, that it is pointing upward (so she is getting the nipple and maybe a little of areola on the underside - if that makes sense).
Hope this helps.
Love,
Nan. xx

[Oscar's mum]

Try a PM to Tea Lady with your question!

[Princess_Alisa]

My daughter's mouth was quite small as well when she was born and she could not latch on properly either. I had REALLY sore nipples for the first 3 weeks and any time I breasfed her, I ended up in tears, because of the pain of the cracked nipples.:crying:

I almost gave up breastfeeding because I thought my breasts or my babies mouth was not made for it.

Then I went to a breastfeeding class at the early childhood centre and and got help there. The lady said, that my daughter's mouth was big enough to breasfeed but she was not opening it wide enough. She said any time she latches on wrong, I have to take her off again, then she will learn.

After a few days my little princes latched on beautifully and now I think breastfeeding is one of the most wonderful things in the world. :thumbsup:

Good luck with it!!

[jarrahsmumma]

Have you tried the ABA, you can call or email them with questions, they run BF classes.

attachment things are usually better explained in person...are there anyother BF mums around you who you feel comfortable with enough??
here is ABA's website, they also have a forum which might help

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/index.html

hang in there, it is worth it

[Tea Lady]

Did I hear my name?!

I think Nan's suggestion about trying to point the nipple up is a great one and Nel's right that the ABA would be well worth a call. Someone posted just recently about painful attachment and someone put a link on the thread which apparently had some pictures - you could check them out. I think part of the prob is that once you've got damaged nipples even correct attachment hurts so you're never quite sure if you've got it right.

Maybe you could google your prob and you might get some new ideas. Sorry I'm not too much help - I just suffered through it and it eventually got better, but I'm really glad i did now! :)

[SixtiesChild]

Thanks ladies for the support and encouragement. In the last week she seems to be opening her mouth a bit wider to get more nipple in, so there is some improvement.:)

[JE's Mum]

I had a lot of trouble with my DS in the first few months. He had a small mouth and wouldn't open it wide enough to latch on at all so I was expressing around the clock. We ended up at the Mercy Hospital Breastfeeding Clinic in Melbourne a few times and they got him attached with a nipple shield. We fed with a nipple shield for 5.5 months when he was finanlly happy to feed without it. Still feeding twice at day now.

I see your in Vic so I highly recommend contacting the Mercy or Royal Womens. They have day clinics for breastfeeding and you get one on one attention with a lactation consultant. They are fantastic! We wouldn't have breastfed without them.