Author Topic: Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **  (Read 10402 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Diego's Mama

  • Guest
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« on: November 04, 2005, 21:27:29 pm »
Ladies:

My cousin just had her first baby.  She's really frustrated because he's not feeding well due to short nipples and he's losing weight.  She's pumping and offering in a bottle in addition to continuing to try breastfeeding and doesn't want to go the formula route, but baby's having a very hard time. 

He gets upset and screams and won't latch on, likely frustrated.

Advice?
Tips?

What can she do to try to remedy the situation?

Offline Noelle

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 53
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 1993
  • Eau Claire, WI
  • Location: Eau Claire, WI
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2005, 21:52:24 pm »
How about a nipple shield?  Not that I have much experience with BF  :oops:
**Noelle**  Formerly JohnandZoesMom



Offline LindseysMom

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 9
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 561
  • Lincolnton, NC, USA
  • Location: Lincolnton, NC,USA
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2005, 22:01:58 pm »
I would definitley get her to go see a lactation consultant.  They really are good about figuring out the problem and giving solutions.  He is not toungue tied is he?,  ie short frenulum.  There are many different things that could be going on so I think that a lc would be a good start for her.   

If you have not seen http://www.kellymom.com check it out.  There are some very informative articles there about breastfeeding.
Lynne
Registered Nurse now Sahm
Mom to Lindsey Elizabeth 10/28/04
Baby girl due December 8th


Offline LindseysMom

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 9
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 561
  • Lincolnton, NC, USA
  • Location: Lincolnton, NC,USA
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #3 on: November 04, 2005, 22:16:46 pm »
Here is a link from the site about flat or inverted nipples.


http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/bfhelp-mother.html#inverted
Lynne
Registered Nurse now Sahm
Mom to Lindsey Elizabeth 10/28/04
Baby girl due December 8th


Offline GraceKellysmom

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 104
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 2783
  • Location: Oregon, USA
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2005, 01:22:06 am »
I agree to have a l/c check the nipple/latch situation. If it is flat or inverted nipples, she could try pumping a little to pull them out and then getting him latched. A shield is another option, Noelle is right on.

Are you close enough to check things out yourself? My sis just had her baby and she had flat nipples like me. We were able to work it out on the phone.

How old is baby?
Stacy, Mama to
Grace Kelly 01/03, Maximilian Alexander 07/04, Faith Noelle 03/07, Henry Patrick 12/08
and my angel babies

Offline jennc123

  • BW Devotee
  • ****
  • Showing Appreciation 1
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 269
  • Location: montana
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2005, 05:54:41 am »
I had to use a nipple sheild right from the getgo in the hospital. One of my nipples is sorta inverted, small and she had a heck of a time latching on....but to this day she nurses great now, ironically the nipple she had the most problems with is the one that she prefers now.  I had to use the sheild only for a week or so then my nipples had hardened up on their own.  Its worth a shot, a lactation nurse would definitly be able to help. :)
<img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/NjpEm7.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0"  />

<img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/MT1Om7.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0"  />

Offline evanskimberley

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 118
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 2935
  • Kent, GB
  • Location: Kent, England
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2005, 08:37:30 am »
Nipple sheild could work, i also found that after i stopped bf and was expressing they hardened up loads.

I know you say she doesn't want to give formula, and i'm sorry if this is contreversial, but if baby isn't happy and isn't puuting on weight then formula feeding is best for the baby.

My DD lost a lot of weight because i was determined to bf, but this was me trying to satistfy my wishes and feeling pressured by society and the breast is best issue. it wasn't best for my baby cos she wasn't gtting any milk. I firmly beleive mum should do what is individually best for her baby, and prime concern should be them gaining weight.

She could offer some formula to get the weight back up, keep pupming to sort her nipples out and then go back to bf when the situation has improved.
Kimberley


Diego's Mama

  • Guest
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #7 on: November 05, 2005, 16:34:45 pm »
Thanks everyone.  She's offered a bit of formula as she's worried about the weight gain, but after we talked she's begun pumping.  We worked out that pumping and giving baby the EBM is best for now as it will help her supply (he's only a few days old) and I'll tell her about the breast shield. I think she used them in the hospital. 

Thanks all. 

Thanks for the kellymom link too!! Much appreciated. You friends are wonderful.

:)

*hugs*

Offline evanskimberley

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 118
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 2935
  • Kent, GB
  • Location: Kent, England
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2005, 19:19:54 pm »
Forgot to say earlier, its worth trying different makes of nipple shields, they all come out a bit different in thickness, feeling and nipple length. Took a few tries before i found one i and Dd liked.
Kimberley


Offline Katet

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 608
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 14364
  • Sydney Australia
  • Location: Sydney
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2005, 10:36:45 am »
Laura,
Aiden didn't latch on for 5 days- I had inverted nipples, a sleepy baby & Aiden has a high palet, not good for first time bf.

 I expressed & syringe fed him (with the midwives help for 3 days)so he didn't learn to suck on a bottle. I was fortunate in that in Australia, you can stay at the hospital until feeding is working, so I was there for 6 days. I had to have a nurse help me try to attach for 2 more days. The key thing I found was to get the let down before I tried to get him to latch on... I learnt to finger express to do that.

Also with newborns who won't latch I was told & worked for me fantastically, is to use the football hold (ie under arm) rather than cradle. I also used to sit & just keep trying to get him to latch... one time I did 42 attempts. I refused to give in despite 3 rounds of nurses telling me it might be easier to ff him.
Anyway one split nipple & sore nipples for 3 months I kept going until Aiden was 13mo & he self weaned due to me being preg & my payback has been Liam latching on first time & never looking back!
dc1 July 03, dc2 May 05

Diego's Mama

  • Guest
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2005, 01:15:53 am »
Talked to cousin this evening.  She's doing GREAT with the nursing.  She fought and fought and stuck with it and was able to avoid formula.  She pumped and offered a few bottles when things got too nervewracking, but she really persevered and now baby's nursing brilliantly.


HOORAY!!


Thank you all so much for your ideas and help!  I'm so happy for her!

annamum

  • Guest
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #11 on: November 18, 2005, 01:21:10 am »
Great news! Good for her!

Offline Katet

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 608
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 14364
  • Sydney Australia
  • Location: Sydney
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #12 on: November 18, 2005, 01:34:29 am »
Laura - that is fantastic news yeh for your cousin & her baby
dc1 July 03, dc2 May 05

Offline GraceKellysmom

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 104
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 2783
  • Location: Oregon, USA
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #13 on: November 18, 2005, 02:32:57 am »
:D  :D  Way to go for supporting her. If only we all had that!  :D
Stacy, Mama to
Grace Kelly 01/03, Maximilian Alexander 07/04, Faith Noelle 03/07, Henry Patrick 12/08
and my angel babies

Offline chark

  • New & Learning The Ropes
  • *
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 24
  • Location:
Short nipples, hard time latching, advice? ** UPDATE **
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2005, 09:36:34 am »
For what it's worth, the only way to get my LO to feed was with nipple shields due to flat nipples. I kept trying without them and then at about 2 1/2 months he just latched on one day. Was FANTASTIC. Makes things much easier and I am much more confident about breast feeding in public. Am glad I persevered. I think one day their mouths just reach a developmental stage where they are ready to do it. DEFINITELY would advise a lactation consultant too. They can be really reassuring.