Difficult to latch

I've been having the same problem and feeling the exact same too. It's so disheartening as Iam so set that I wanna breastfeed but my baby just won't latch properly at all

My baby didn’t latch so now I’m giving him formula just so he is full and not crying his little heart out 😞 I am pumping my milk using my m5 so he gets some of my milk just in a bottle not direct. It took a while to accept but least he is growing and gaining weight 🫶🏻 do what’s right for you mama xx

Im so sorry you’re struggling at the moment. Have you tried what’s called ‘biological nurturing’ / laid back breastfeeding? It could help use babies natural instincts to latch? Helps to have someone on hand to assist and lots of pillows! Have you seen a lactation consultant? Should be available via midwife or health visits depending on how old baby is x

@Zoė So sorry you are also going through this too ♥️ I feel like I’m failing her if I give up but also don’t know how long my mental health can take it. I dread feeding and thought it would be a magical thing. Feel like I’m not enjoying her because of it.

I had the same problem, it become too stressful for me and my girl so I decided to pump and express my milk and it give it to her via bottle. Get yourself some pumps and start expressing that way you are still breastfeeding but just in a slightly different way, I also had my heart set on breastfeeding but newborns are stressful enough as it is don’t add more stress to your life it’s not worth it xx

Silly Q but have the BF support team assessed for tongue tie? Posterior can be hard to detect but can affect mouth opening, as can tension which a good cranial osteopath can help with after

I feel the same way everytime I try and and my baby doesn't latch on properly and keeps coming off and I have to ask my partner or out my baby down so I can make bottle for him breaks my heart and makes me cry everytime. I so badly want to be breastfeeding mum but it just isn't working for us 😔

Yes we’ve been having the same issue. I am using nipple shields and if she gets too distressed I give her 30ml of expressed milk in a bottle to calm her down and then try again at the breast. Also try sitting somewhere else to do it, we just got a rocking chair and there is one position on each boob that she currently goes for so that is the only place I’m feeding her for now!

Also don’t feel bad if you need to take a few days off, express your milk with a pump and give her that. As long as you’re pumping your milk supply will remain in tact!

I found this article super helpful: https://laleche.org.uk/my-baby-wont-breastfeed/

I agree with Madeleine. I’d get the tongue tie checked. My LO had a posterier tongue tie and I really struggled with feeding making me sore etc but a few days after having it snipped my LO is latching a lot better (still not perfect but I’m more hopeful now) xx

My little girl has issues with latching sometimes and not others for the first few days and my doula checked positioning and her trying to latch and said everything I was doing was correct. She then suggested trying nipple shields and they were a game changer straight away and now she feeds so well and her weight is above her birth weight after 17 days.

@Hayley thanks Hayley. Do you use these every time? Is it annoying?

Thanks all, it’s nice to hear you all have similar struggles. I’ve been told she doesn’t have a tongue tie and we’ve had loads of support from breastfeeding specialists, I’m also pumping and doing one bottle a day. It’s all a lot of effort, especially trying to get her into the different positions. I can’t imagine being able to do it out and about. I’ll look into an osteopath though x

Yes, I do. But my doula said she may not need them forever. She said at 8 weeks she may not need them or when she’s a bit older than that, though some babies prefer to use them always. I find them fine to use and just glad I can breastfed her and give her the best. It’s more fiddly than just putting her on the boob as she moves her hands about and knocks it off as I’m putting her on but it’s not a big issue.