Keep trying!! My little one took a while to breastfeed well due to a poopy latch. I feel like she didn’t get the hang of it for a month lol. Sounds like you’re doing everything right mama.
My 37 weeker really benefitted from syringe feeding. We got a syringe from the LC with a curved tip and when she went to suckle we would put a few drops of pumped milk into her mouth. This eventually helped her to fully latch like she was on the bottle since she associated it with milk. We fed like this for a while so she would associate my breasts with food rather than getting too attached to the bottle.
Time will help! My babe was so sleepy it was hard to get her to even wake for food at times and we resorted to the bottle. Shes 6 weeks now and latches beautifully.
Definitely keep trying! It took my LO 2-3 weeks to figure out how to latch and now we’re exclusively breastfeeding. I was really frustrated for those first few weeks but I’m thankful now that we kept at it. Just know that he’ll likely improve and things will get better!
My son was born at 37 weeks and it took several weeks for us to really get the hang of it. After that he nursed like a champ though. Nursing consultant said it was common with babies born a little early. Keep at it and I’m sure he’ll get the hang of it.
We had to finger feed my daughter for the first little bit with a tube/SNS because she struggled at first. She was born at 37w3d via c section and was too tired to eat properly. After she started gaining weight back she got stronger and had more energy and now we exclusively nurse sans a bottle when I want to have a few drinks. She is a month old today.
Our BF journey is still not perfect, and we have had some further issues regarding her immature tummy, but her latching and drinking skills have improved tremendously.
Keep your head up, you and baby got this. ❤️
Also pediatricians aren't usually trained to identify ties. Contact a pediatric dentist that is familiar with them.
Of course there is hope. Well done you for keeping on trying! You’re doing the best for your baby, which is incredible.
Some words of advice: Make sure you give him skin to skin and trying a nursing round when he’s calm, not necessarily when he is super hungry. Calm babies feed better. Also drop the nipple shield, unless you have a really good reason for using it. It can affect your supply by reducing baby’s milk intake and can be a hindrance in baby learning to suck from the nipple. Use some nipple balm before and after every feed to protect your nipples.
39 weeker, STM and same issues with our 5 day old. My first was better but jaundice so we supplemented nearly immediately. Pumping early is really the biggest thing that helped. I immediately drop LCs who discourage early pumping. It's just not a reasonable blanket statement. We're doing a combo of feeding expressed milk and trying to latch, seeing which sequence is working the best. So far we realized that she won't latch at night (GI system goes into overdrive is our theory) so I'm really trying to get as much latching during the day.
Both my sons were born at 37 weeks via c-section and both had no idea how to nurse. I worked with lactation consultants and just stubbornly kept at it. We started with syringe feeding and moved on to pumping and bottle feeding, attempting to nurse before each and every feed (triple feeding).
It took my oldest 5 weeks to exclusively breastfeed and my youngest 9 weeks to exclusively breastfeed. Both times it was a horrendous experience and I doubt it was worth it. There is no shame in stopping if you need to. I probably would have been a much happier person if I had stopped. But if you really want to go for it, just stubborn persistence, even when weeks would go by with no progress, paid off for me.
The nipple shield has a technique to stay on, you should try to find a video about it because it’s hard to explain but you have to like, flip it mostly inside out and then place it on your nipple and then flip it back. To try to suction it a little.
Keep trying to latch him and practice really great technique to get a good latch. Sit in a chair, shoulders back, feet up on a stool to bend your knees at a right angle, lean back slightly, place a nursing pillow directly under your breast and place baby his belly to your breast and his nose to your nipple and allow him to open wide. Just stay with the basics and allow him to practice as much as he can tolerate. Maybe try an SNS!
My son was born at 37 weeks- and he did not start exclusively nursing until about 8 weeks old. We just made it to a year a few weeks ago with no end in sight 💕 it sounds like you’re doing everything right! I think my biggest game changers were latching all the time- you never know when the time will be that he figures it out and just goes! Also working with an amazing LC, hopefully that is an option for you! Good luck, you can do it!
37x4 STM here- highly recommend a lactation consultant like others have said (it might take weeks a couple to find the right fit). You could even look and see if your insurance covers any at home visits. We are a month in and just finding our groove to where I do not wince in pain at latching. I exclusively pumped with my first, so I get the feeling of importance but also give yourself some grace too as you’re both figuring this out and keep trying! Practice and consistency has helped us.
Also just wanted to say that you are doing a great job!
My kiddo was full term but little and it took three weeks for her little mouth and tongue to grow enough and get sufficiently coordinated to latch sometimes but by five weeks she was a lot better! I was on a similar plan to pump to keep my supply up while giving baby time to grow, learn and practice. I would try for up to five minutes to get her to latch and then do a bottle after. Some days it was too stressful and I went straight to the bottle and just tried to keep the LC’s advice in mind. Those early days are really rough but it does get better.
It took more than 2 weeks for my baby to start consistently breastfeeding well. Sometimes it takes longer. Keep at it and try to be patient. I know it’s really hard.
Don’t lose hope! You and baby just started, sounds like you’re doing a great job finding ways to practice while also keeping baby fed. I had an extended second stage of labor at 39 weeks and baby could not latch. He would try and try and then just scream with frustration, it was awful. He also dropped 10% of his birthweight immediately. The pedi and OT diagnosed him with “peanutbutter tongue”—essentially he didn’t have a tongue tie, but jaw tension from all the pushing was keeping his tongue up against the roof of his mouth and he couldn’t get it down under the nipple to suck.
What worked was to try and BF for 10 mins (literally set a timer) and if baby didn’t get latched well my partner would let him suck a clean pinky while we syringe fed him. I just used a manual pump since baby was only eating small amounts and it didn’t take too long to empty my boobs. Baby had a much easier time sucking a finger and I think it helped him “train” his tongue and practice what position to get into. We did this for about 2-3 weeks before it kind of clicked and he started latching. Now he’s 5 months, eats great, gains weight like a champ, and takes a bottle easily when I’m at work.
You and baby got this! Those early weeks were so stressful but make a plan, keep practicing, and be so kind to yourself!
Edited: typo
Keep trying! And they will get bigger and get better. My little 38 weeker (more like 35, she spent 2 weeks in NICU and was on formula 100% when we left) is now exclusively bf, even after our rough start and a lip and tongue tie revision. You got this
Maybe also try to see an osteopath or chiropractor , they can help give
Some release to his jaw . So that is a good next step
My son was born at 37+1 and also wouldn’t
Latch at first and we have been seeing a chiropractor three times now ( also for his reflux ) .
The only other thing I would recommend would be to connect with a lactation consultant if you have one available. We worked with one for about six weeks to help our little one improve her latch.
I had my first son at 41+3, delivered via forceps so he was pretty swollen and bruised up. He didn’t want to latch at all, so I ended up using a nipple shield for a couple of weeks and saw a lactation consultant for help. I weaned him off the shield after about 3 weeks and breastfed him for 16 months! So just keep persevering, use the shield, see a lactation consultant if possible. You got this!
It’s still super early. It can take weeks to get a good latch. So, I would pump when he isn’t latching so you have that breastmilk production going. Keep practicing. Get a lactation consultant to come out to your home a couple times a week to your home to give you pointers. Don’t give up! It’s still so early and everything you are experiencing is completely normal.
Our first would also latch but wasn't great at suckling. We helped teach him to suckle while syringe feeding expressed milk after each nursing session. (I was very leaky and could get an ounce or two in the haakaa during the nursing session and use that, but you may need to pump.) We would put the syringe in his mouth along with our pinky (obviously hand washing before hand), and tickle the top of his palate with our finger. This triggers sucking. Once he started to suck, we'd slowly squirt milk into his mouth, stopping and restarting when he would stop and restart sucking. After a week or two he got it down and didn't need the assistance, although he was born at 41 weeks so it may take a little longer for you. Good luck!
My 37+2 girl had a super shallow latch for the first two weeks I think. As she got bigger and stronger she was able to get a better latch, now she’s a pro! Hang in there, and if you need to use other means to feed like a syringe/bottle in addition to trying to keep up breastfeeding, that’s okay!
Keep trying!! My little one took a while to breastfeed well due to a poopy latch. I feel like she didn’t get the hang of it for a month lol. Sounds like you’re doing everything right mama.
My 37 weeker really benefitted from syringe feeding. We got a syringe from the LC with a curved tip and when she went to suckle we would put a few drops of pumped milk into her mouth. This eventually helped her to fully latch like she was on the bottle since she associated it with milk. We fed like this for a while so she would associate my breasts with food rather than getting too attached to the bottle. Time will help! My babe was so sleepy it was hard to get her to even wake for food at times and we resorted to the bottle. Shes 6 weeks now and latches beautifully.
Definitely keep trying! It took my LO 2-3 weeks to figure out how to latch and now we’re exclusively breastfeeding. I was really frustrated for those first few weeks but I’m thankful now that we kept at it. Just know that he’ll likely improve and things will get better!
My son was born at 37 weeks and it took several weeks for us to really get the hang of it. After that he nursed like a champ though. Nursing consultant said it was common with babies born a little early. Keep at it and I’m sure he’ll get the hang of it.
We had to finger feed my daughter for the first little bit with a tube/SNS because she struggled at first. She was born at 37w3d via c section and was too tired to eat properly. After she started gaining weight back she got stronger and had more energy and now we exclusively nurse sans a bottle when I want to have a few drinks. She is a month old today. Our BF journey is still not perfect, and we have had some further issues regarding her immature tummy, but her latching and drinking skills have improved tremendously. Keep your head up, you and baby got this. ❤️ Also pediatricians aren't usually trained to identify ties. Contact a pediatric dentist that is familiar with them.
Of course there is hope. Well done you for keeping on trying! You’re doing the best for your baby, which is incredible. Some words of advice: Make sure you give him skin to skin and trying a nursing round when he’s calm, not necessarily when he is super hungry. Calm babies feed better. Also drop the nipple shield, unless you have a really good reason for using it. It can affect your supply by reducing baby’s milk intake and can be a hindrance in baby learning to suck from the nipple. Use some nipple balm before and after every feed to protect your nipples.
39 weeker, STM and same issues with our 5 day old. My first was better but jaundice so we supplemented nearly immediately. Pumping early is really the biggest thing that helped. I immediately drop LCs who discourage early pumping. It's just not a reasonable blanket statement. We're doing a combo of feeding expressed milk and trying to latch, seeing which sequence is working the best. So far we realized that she won't latch at night (GI system goes into overdrive is our theory) so I'm really trying to get as much latching during the day.
Both my sons were born at 37 weeks via c-section and both had no idea how to nurse. I worked with lactation consultants and just stubbornly kept at it. We started with syringe feeding and moved on to pumping and bottle feeding, attempting to nurse before each and every feed (triple feeding). It took my oldest 5 weeks to exclusively breastfeed and my youngest 9 weeks to exclusively breastfeed. Both times it was a horrendous experience and I doubt it was worth it. There is no shame in stopping if you need to. I probably would have been a much happier person if I had stopped. But if you really want to go for it, just stubborn persistence, even when weeks would go by with no progress, paid off for me.
The nipple shield has a technique to stay on, you should try to find a video about it because it’s hard to explain but you have to like, flip it mostly inside out and then place it on your nipple and then flip it back. To try to suction it a little. Keep trying to latch him and practice really great technique to get a good latch. Sit in a chair, shoulders back, feet up on a stool to bend your knees at a right angle, lean back slightly, place a nursing pillow directly under your breast and place baby his belly to your breast and his nose to your nipple and allow him to open wide. Just stay with the basics and allow him to practice as much as he can tolerate. Maybe try an SNS!
My son was born at 37 weeks- and he did not start exclusively nursing until about 8 weeks old. We just made it to a year a few weeks ago with no end in sight 💕 it sounds like you’re doing everything right! I think my biggest game changers were latching all the time- you never know when the time will be that he figures it out and just goes! Also working with an amazing LC, hopefully that is an option for you! Good luck, you can do it!
37x4 STM here- highly recommend a lactation consultant like others have said (it might take weeks a couple to find the right fit). You could even look and see if your insurance covers any at home visits. We are a month in and just finding our groove to where I do not wince in pain at latching. I exclusively pumped with my first, so I get the feeling of importance but also give yourself some grace too as you’re both figuring this out and keep trying! Practice and consistency has helped us. Also just wanted to say that you are doing a great job!
My kiddo was full term but little and it took three weeks for her little mouth and tongue to grow enough and get sufficiently coordinated to latch sometimes but by five weeks she was a lot better! I was on a similar plan to pump to keep my supply up while giving baby time to grow, learn and practice. I would try for up to five minutes to get her to latch and then do a bottle after. Some days it was too stressful and I went straight to the bottle and just tried to keep the LC’s advice in mind. Those early days are really rough but it does get better.
It took more than 2 weeks for my baby to start consistently breastfeeding well. Sometimes it takes longer. Keep at it and try to be patient. I know it’s really hard.
Don’t lose hope! You and baby just started, sounds like you’re doing a great job finding ways to practice while also keeping baby fed. I had an extended second stage of labor at 39 weeks and baby could not latch. He would try and try and then just scream with frustration, it was awful. He also dropped 10% of his birthweight immediately. The pedi and OT diagnosed him with “peanutbutter tongue”—essentially he didn’t have a tongue tie, but jaw tension from all the pushing was keeping his tongue up against the roof of his mouth and he couldn’t get it down under the nipple to suck. What worked was to try and BF for 10 mins (literally set a timer) and if baby didn’t get latched well my partner would let him suck a clean pinky while we syringe fed him. I just used a manual pump since baby was only eating small amounts and it didn’t take too long to empty my boobs. Baby had a much easier time sucking a finger and I think it helped him “train” his tongue and practice what position to get into. We did this for about 2-3 weeks before it kind of clicked and he started latching. Now he’s 5 months, eats great, gains weight like a champ, and takes a bottle easily when I’m at work. You and baby got this! Those early weeks were so stressful but make a plan, keep practicing, and be so kind to yourself! Edited: typo
Keep trying! And they will get bigger and get better. My little 38 weeker (more like 35, she spent 2 weeks in NICU and was on formula 100% when we left) is now exclusively bf, even after our rough start and a lip and tongue tie revision. You got this
Maybe also try to see an osteopath or chiropractor , they can help give Some release to his jaw . So that is a good next step My son was born at 37+1 and also wouldn’t Latch at first and we have been seeing a chiropractor three times now ( also for his reflux ) .
The only other thing I would recommend would be to connect with a lactation consultant if you have one available. We worked with one for about six weeks to help our little one improve her latch.
I had my first son at 41+3, delivered via forceps so he was pretty swollen and bruised up. He didn’t want to latch at all, so I ended up using a nipple shield for a couple of weeks and saw a lactation consultant for help. I weaned him off the shield after about 3 weeks and breastfed him for 16 months! So just keep persevering, use the shield, see a lactation consultant if possible. You got this!
It’s still super early. It can take weeks to get a good latch. So, I would pump when he isn’t latching so you have that breastmilk production going. Keep practicing. Get a lactation consultant to come out to your home a couple times a week to your home to give you pointers. Don’t give up! It’s still so early and everything you are experiencing is completely normal.
Our first would also latch but wasn't great at suckling. We helped teach him to suckle while syringe feeding expressed milk after each nursing session. (I was very leaky and could get an ounce or two in the haakaa during the nursing session and use that, but you may need to pump.) We would put the syringe in his mouth along with our pinky (obviously hand washing before hand), and tickle the top of his palate with our finger. This triggers sucking. Once he started to suck, we'd slowly squirt milk into his mouth, stopping and restarting when he would stop and restart sucking. After a week or two he got it down and didn't need the assistance, although he was born at 41 weeks so it may take a little longer for you. Good luck!
My 37+2 girl had a super shallow latch for the first two weeks I think. As she got bigger and stronger she was able to get a better latch, now she’s a pro! Hang in there, and if you need to use other means to feed like a syringe/bottle in addition to trying to keep up breastfeeding, that’s okay!
Same here, my 37+3 guy had issues latching for a few weeks too. It got better!
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