OUCH not attaching properly

[Rainbowbrite]

As most of you know MJ has been giving me a bit of greif lately with the boob & now its gotten so bad i'm in tears whilst feeding her

She refuses to attach properly. I've tried different positions, taking her off & trying again but nothing is working. Basically she wont take a mouth full, all she's doing is taking in the nipple nothing else. Its like she cant handle the feeling of it all being in her mouth. If I try to push her in closer she pulls back even more stretching it.

Is there anything I can do to ease the pain & teach her how to attach again? I used to use a sheild in the beginning, should I maybe get that back out?

I went to the clinic this morning & saw a LC and she just told me not to offer the breast unless MJ is actively looking for it or just before offering her solids, which I thought I was doing with demand feeding. The only thing i'm getting from "friends & family" is to give her a bottle

I'll be going back up tomorrow to the breast feeding support drop in but really need help now.

Please help me.

RB

[OM]

I am not too sure if I can offer much in the way of help, maybe JanetF is online, (cross fingers) she surely will be able to help.

But in the meantime if your bub keeps just taking in the nipple only, just try unattaching her then put her back on until she finally takes a good mouthful, that is my only suggestion at the moment I am sorry.

By the way I don't think the shield is the way to go if she is having trouble attaching as I don't think it will correct the problem only make it worse, someone correct me if I am wrong about this.

[kimmy]

I use to tease Chloe wit my nipple until her mouth was big & wide then i quickly put her on. maybe you have already tried this.
I hope all works out for you just keep trying & don't stress i will happen.

[Rainbowbrite]

I've tried teasing & re-attaching but its not working. She's 7.5months old & had it down pat. I dont know where i've gone wrong

RB

[OM]

Honestly I don't think you have done anything wrong at all.

I guess persistance is the key. As I said the only thing I could recommend is to keep unattaching eventually she has to give in and open her mouth wide.

Perhaps as a long shot I squirt as a game milk into DS's mouth and he opens his mouth wide when I do to catch the milk for fun what if you tried that then put your breast in her mouth then when the mouth is really wide. It works for me to make DS open his mouth wide but not sure if your little one would do the same.

[kimmy]

I've heard of this staff called wool-wax which will toughen up you nipples. that mite help with the pain you can get it at the pharmacy.
Wish i could help more.

[kimmy]

Yeah i don't think you have done anything wrong at all.

[wattle]

Tell hubby to drop everything and get a tube of Lansinoh. It's the bees knees when it comes to sore nipples.

I'd highly consider getting another lactation consultant. I had a lot of trouble when ds was small (different situation I know), but I went to the breastfeeding clinic, the ABA, the maternal health nurse and they ALL just kept saying "Keep persisting, you'll eventually get there".

Finally out of sheer desperation (and many many tears later) I called a lac consultant, she came to my home and in 5 minutes had it sorted!!! I had a really fast letdown and it was flooding into ds's mouth and scaring him. Poor ds. She showed me what to do to fix it. That was the best $60 I ever spent.

Perhaps there is a simple solution for you too, fingers crossed that you find it, and for MJ too.

[JanetF]

What crappy advice! I really think another LC is in order until you get some helpful advice not rubbish! She's basically telling you stuff that would wean your 7 1/5 month old baby! And your local ABA is only a 24 hour a day phone call away so ring the helpline right now and talk to someone. You both deserve better than that. You'll be fine *hugs* What a lucky babe MJ is that you're so committed to her health and wellbeing.
This is the hotline:
http://breastfeeding.asn.au/products/counselling.asp

[OM]

Ugh why didn't I think of that, they were great for me when I had troubles with breastfeeding.

Let us know what they say!