How to correct bad latch in 2 month old?

[magaparsec]

Emma is bf since birth, takes a bottle every other day. We had A LOT of trouble bf'ing in the hospital. Too much conflicting advice and help form nurses, not to mention shock of 22 1/2 hour labour and then emergincy c-section  Anyway, the left breast at first was a dream breast (no pain, lots of milk). The right breast hurt from the start and has never fully healed. Now, at 2 months, it has a white patch on it that has been there for a month or more (I thought it was thrush and used Nystatin cream and Emma had antibiotics... then I thought it was milk blister and tried lancing/popping/scrapping...) it jsut bleeds if I pick the skin off from the top of the white part. It's sort of in 2 patches, one has a whole in it where milk comes out, the other is smoothed over with skin, but it yellowy white underneath, and a bit tender. The bf'ing on that side has gotten better, no more pain, but not there's a different kind of uncomfortable, it's a pinching, not painful but like a vaccuum, and Emma has serious sucking blister, and puffy, sometimes hard blister in center of upper lip.

Any advice? I like the closeness of breastfeeding, but sometimes think about giving it up...

[magaparsec]

Forgot to mention, I'n positive Emma has a poor latch. She feeds alright and it gaining steady (if a little slow...) but I think we've learned bad latch habits. I can't get her to open her mouth wide, and I think I have large nipples (small areala -- she takes almost the whole thing in her mouth). And sometimes when she comes off, her breath smells a bit like BO... strange? It used to smell really sweet... She's not really a fussy eater, and when I pump I can get a good amount...

[Samuel's mum]

You've done so well despite a rough start.
I'll try and give my 2 pennies worth.
The puffy lip thing does sound like a latching problem as it occurs when extra air is passing across the lips during the feed and there isn't a good seal. I'm not sure what to advise other than wait for her to open wide and then move her onto your breast very quickly - don't move your breast to her.

Can I be honest? Your description of your breast with the whole patch/milk coming out/yellowy white stuff DOES NOT SOUND GOOD. It could be some kind of infection which would explain her breath smell. I really really would suggest you see a doctor very soon. You don't mention having a doctor's opinion on it. You really need one. I'm trying not to sound scary here.

[magaparsec]

Thanks, no it doesn't sound scary. I just kind of lived with it for awhile and since the major pain went away, I ignored it. I will make a dr's appointment. I've also emailed the La Leche League leader around here to ask for lactation consultant referrals. I really wanted to clear this up a month ago but I was so tired, and dealing with healing from c-section, and adjusting and everything! So now I have a bit more energy, I'm trying to deal with all the accidental parenting... sleep association, co-sleeping (I love it but she can't get to sleep during the day without nursing then and won't stay asleep), overstimulation, lack of routine etc etc. I know it's supposed to get easier around 3 months, and it has gotten easier, but it's still hard! DH is a dream, he cooks/brings home dinner almost every night  and does the vaccuming, mopping etc. I just set laundry and dish goal (keep kitchen tidy (not maniacally clean) and try to keep a load or so a day going). Anyway, I'll call the doctor now. Bless you!