Nursing Help

[luckyno7]

DD was born on Wed and I am still sore from nursing. I don't think we have a perfect latch though. She seems to be pinching or I am still adjusting to nursing. The top lip looks good so I think it's the bottom that's the issue. My nipple looks similar to lipstick when she's done. She also has a very strong latch, it's very hard to break once she's on.

Thoughts? If the latch is wrong ideas on how to fix.

Thanks!

[meltoine]

Latch is definitely wrong if your nipples look like lipstick.

Wait for her mouth to be open really wide, then aim your nipple at her nose and place the bottom of your breast on her lower lip. That should get her a deeper latch.

Look for videos on YouTube of "newborn latch". Visuals are helpful here.

[spk926]

Did you meet with a LC at the hospital? If so, I would call them so they can look at the latch.

I will say even with a good latch I was sore the first days.

[namasteak]

Try holding baby in the cradle hold and using one hand to cup the bottom of your breast (think about holding a taco). Try dragging your nipple across her top lip and wait for her to open wide. Then shove your nipple far back into her mouth.

If it feels wrong unlatch ASAP by hooking your pinky finger into the corner of her mouth.

If it still hurts tomorrow I would call an LC.

[Deleted]

Ditto what namasteak said. And bring baby TO your breast, don't try to lean over to bring breast to baby. It takes some practice!

[ringstrue]

Youtube "deep latch" it has good pics. Hold on ill find it.

[water*drop]

Ditto everybody else. Also, I often had to kind of pull DD's bottom lip out a little after she latched to get her lips in the right position while we were still working on getting her latch right at the beginning. DH helped at first, and we could do it without totally breaking the latch. It took us a long time for us to get a good latch every time; this helped in the interim.

[ringstrue]

youtu.be/7FJuBn2bgNk

[pinkpeony08]

I agree that an LC would be helpful. I found one to come to my house when my daughter was a few days old. Super helpful and so nice to not have to go anywhere. Can you use google or a local birth center website to figure out if there is someone in your location?

[Deleted]

Get baby checked for a tongue tie, as well.

[luckyno7]

Thanks everyone! I'll be using those tips. We have a friend who's a lactation specialist at her hospital so I'll definitely enlist her help.

[Deleted]

For now, you could also try laid back breastfeeding: www.llli.org/faq/positioning.html

[karinothing]

Ditto pulling bottom lip down. I used to pull DS chin once he was latched. Good luck

[sparty04]

Have you checked for tongue tie? I will say that bf was painful for me for the first 10 weeks. I was in the process of weaning to go back to work when it magically stopped sucking, so now I combo feed

[curbsideprophet]

Even with a perfect latch you could still be sore in the beginning. Hope you get the latch fixed and things start to improve.

[ringstrue]

I nursed Dd hella well but I had to relearn how to do it with DS. Newborn nursing is so different. GL and hang in there!!

[litasail]

Lipstick nipple is a classic sign of a tongue or lip tie. I'd see an LC ASAP to get it checked out.

[soxin2]

Ditto all the tongue tie check advice.

[Deleted]

All great tips so far, I also had to squeeze my breast to get my nipple as far back in the babies mouth as I could. I know it is early but changing positions may help? Do you know how to do the different holds( football, or laying down)