Baby won’t open mouth wide?

Hey hun, have you tried putting your nipple near his nose so he can smell the milk? Usually makes bubbas open there mouth. Then you can try to add more areola into his mouth while he feeds. It can take a while with breastfeeding for them to learn exactly what to do. Hope this helps and that you manage to carry on. I’m EBF and it was quite hard in those first few weeks with lots of cracked nipples. Will link the shields below that helped me heal fast!

LoveNoobs Silver Nursing Cups, Soothing Nipple Shields for Nursing Newborn Babies, Nickel-Free, Pure Silver Nipple Shield, Silver Nipple Covers Breast https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B722V381/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_jpLKLXY1SVGWF

hey, yeah I have tried putting my nipple to his nose and he just seems confused. He doesn’t seem to smell the milk or associate it with feeding. It seems like once he has latched on I cannot get any more areola into his mouth for some reason! I was taught in hospital to hold his head with the opposite hand and bring him to the nipple with the other hand holding your boob.. then I read this is actually the wrong thing to do, they need their head free to move it backwards to open wide!

My nipples are not cracked, just sore and tender from him clamping onto the nipple itself.

I was looking into cups like these but don’t know if they can help with the pain I have

Have you seen a lactation consultant?

Could be that you have flat nipples, I had this issue with my first and I have to use the nipple teats which helped, also what can help is sounds weird but flattern your boob like a burger with one hand run the nipple from nose to mouth and if you can get a little bit of milk out onto his lip that can help too, he should latch, and the flatter you can get your boob the more he might be able to take in, try once nipple is in to tickle the bottom of his chin slightly if you can this promotes the sucking hope this helps and makes sense

I was taught a few ways too, and I think that way too, but honestly you have to do what feels most natural. Lots that I was told didn’t feel natural but eventually we got there. Have you tried pumping a little and giving in the bottle? That might open up his appetite then you could try feeding. Glad you don’t have cracked nipples they are the worst. The shields also help with the friction of your bra rubbing again nipples so I put them on from time to time when mine are feeling a little over used lol

I stand by "nipple sandwich" like suggested and the "flipple technique" combined, my little girl doesn't open her mouth wide for an "exaggerated latch" as shes like a piranha to the nipple, no chance for anything but tiny bit of breast and all nipple!

They do help get a semi decent latch and I have no pain or misshapen nipples doing so, it's worth a shot if anything

Has he been checked for tongue tie? Sounds like mine and my little boys first few weeks of feeding until he had his tongue tie divided

It might be worth popping along to a group run by la leche league or contacting them - they are volunteers and I found them super dooper helpful and kind when I was struggling with latch (also they are free, based on a donation of a couple of pounds so a good place to start before paying out for a lactation consultant )

I am yet to see a lactation specialist, I actually done a post about places to get one but I didn’t get a lot of responses so I’m just going with the very few I got. La leche league is where I got information on right and wrong holds and techniques (that I can’t get to work). I hate speaking on the phone so the fact a lot of the support is via helplines isn’t ideal but I will try and contact someone soon.

I’m not confident with taking him out around people yet as he hasn’t had his vaccines so I want to avoid meet ups on feeding but I’m going to go through more videos😂🤦🏽‍♀️.

My nipples are far from flat, haven’t seen them flat since this journey started😂😂

I just tried the “sandwich” thing, it slightly helps but I tried it when my boobs are as soft as can be as he has been on it for almost an hr, but I don’t get this softness unless he has been feeding for a long time so I’m enduring a load of pain before trying!

On my very last visit from the midwife she said he looked like he had a minor tongue tie and that it’s likely they wouldn’t do anything for it since he is gaining weight, feeding well and it’s not causing him issues (but it could be causing me issues though!)

My nipple currently has a discoloured tip, it’s pretty much white and looks like it’s becoming more and more raised,almost like it will come off

You might have a lactation consultant you can see via your local NHS in which case your GP or HV can refer you (this is not your infant feeding team though they're generally not ibclc certified) or you can see one privately
https://lcgb.org/find-an-ibclc/

hey, I have tried the flipple technique and weird enough it will work one time making me feel empowered but then it won’t work again for the whole day! There is clearly something Im Doing wrong but can’t figure out what! I think it doesn’t help that I’m starting in a load of pain anyway. Weirdly enough the pain will randomly disappear for some feeds making me able to get through the day but then will be right back! I guess at times his latch is ok and the rest of the time it’s off🤔

thank you, my midwife said she will contact me with a appt with a breastfeeding nurse but I’m still waiting a week later! My health visitor I have only seen once and I should see her soon so I’ll bring it up, but I might just go private as I need help now!