Another breastfeeding question

Jackson **seems** to be doing marginally better over the last few days. I have started keeping a bit of a diary to track how he is feeding and doing my best to encourage him to stay on the breast and feed longer.

What I have noticed is that after he has had his initial drink (the first 3 - 5 minutes when the let down is fast) his mouth will close up... so he's not making the nice 'Special K' mouth any more, but much more of an L shape.

Jackson has always been terrible at flaring his bottom lip. If I pull it out, he will tuck it back in on the next suck. Neither this, nor the fact that he is closing up hurts me at all, but I figure it's probably quite inefficient. It also doesn't seem to stimulate a second let down either (I have noticed Jackson will stay drinking a lot longer if he does stimulate a second let down).

Anyway, I have tried and tried and tried to get him to keep his mouth open. I have taken him off time and time again and he just closes up. It has turned into a big battle, where Jackson gets quite upset. I have tried putting him down and then starting over a few minutes later but he just seems absolutely determined to have his way. I know they are not supposed to be allowed to have their mouths like that but I just can't get him to change!

So.... **get to the bloody point Laurie** I was wondering if a nipple sheild would help him to learn how to keep his mouth open better and therefore generate more nurturing sucks?

Gosh - so long winded getting there!

On the positive side, Jackson put on 280g in the last ten days, so the perseverance is paying off. I was feeling all happy till I had my coffee group round today and saw how big all their babies were. Even those born a couple of weeks after Jackson make him look pathetically little. I know I shouldn't get upset about it, but I can't help myself.

Thanks weegee. My poor boobs go red from all the breast compression I do!! It really seems to be helping though, along with all the other things I am trying.

Hard work!

Good to know about the difficulty weaning - I don't want that to happen. He is really good at the beginning of the feed, and if he isn't sleepy/tired at all.

Bizzy, maybe my terminology is wrong? It seems to be when he can get a fast flow going again... I usually get tingling in my other nipple when he does this as well, which is what I get when I get my let down.

I don't really have anything more to add except to say that I do know what you mean about the second letdown - normally during the day it isn't an issue but for his last feed in the evening JJ will drink properly with a good latch, then he'll just 'comfort suck' until he stimulates a second and even a third letdown at which point he'll drink properly again.

It's only for the last feed of the day so maybe it's just because he's tired? In which case, maybe Jackson's doing it when he's tired too?

Also at about 2 months JJ went through a stage where he wanted to comfort suck all the time and I just had to take him off because it wasn't great for my nipples. Lots of people suggest taking them off as soon as they start to do that anyway.

ETA: I have difficulty getting to the point too! What I mean to say is, sounds like Jackson is just comfort sucking, so don't stress about it and like Bizzy said, just let him be cos you know he is getting what he needs from your first letdown.

Edited by weegee