Latching help
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11109
Printed Date: 05 June 2025 at 9:29pm
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Topic: Latching help
Posted By: Rachael21
Subject: Latching help
Date Posted: 28 September 2007 at 8:20pm
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My friend had a baby last monday and she has just text me saying she has extremely sore nipples. Her midwife keeps brushing her off so I'm going around there tomorrow to try and help get that baby latched right. Does anyone have some tips that might help her?
And anything that helps with cracked nipples as well? Thanx heaps |
Replies:
Posted By: Bubbaloo
Date Posted: 28 September 2007 at 8:23pm
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Lansnol (sp) is good Rach you can get it from the chemist it's in a purple tube it's around $8 it's good cause you don't have to wipe it off when it's time to feed it's basically lanoline I found it great.
Sorry don't have any tips for the latching on though. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08 |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 28 September 2007 at 8:27pm
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The thing that really helped me this time around that I didn't "get" with the other two was, to put the baby's bottom lip at the edge of the areola and roll/push down the rest of the areola etc right into the baby's mouth.
Also for relief from cracks etc my mw gave me some gel strips that is used for serious burns patients. Anyone can get it from the pharmacy but it's apparently quite expensive. -------------  |
Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 28 September 2007 at 9:09pm
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If your nipples are really sore in the early days hand express a few drops so the baby doesn't have to suck really hard to get the milk flowing. Sometimes a nipple shield can be good for a few days to give your nipples a chance to heal. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Brenna
Date Posted: 28 September 2007 at 9:11pm
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When I went to antenatal classes and again in the birthing centre there was a video I watched about how to get your baby to latch on and I found it really helpful. I wonder if Plunket have it and they might lend it out?? ------------- My beautiful 2 girls...nearly 4 and 13 months
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 28 September 2007 at 9:29pm
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make sure baby has "special K mouth" lips shaped like the k bit onthe cereal box, make sure her nipples/boob is "triangle" shape and shs'e holding it like a hamburger and when babys mouth is wide open like special k, stuff boob in, make sure areola is in as well. If baby dosen't latch properly, take off IMMEDIATELY and re latch, baby won't learn if she lets him (?) feed incorrectly. Get her to ring the hospital and get int ouch with a lactation cinsultant or even plunket, and get her to do it before she gives up. ALso Nipple sheilds are great, and it's easy enoughto wean them off them. Good luck!! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 28 September 2007 at 9:38pm
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I latched bub on lying down and in rugby hold when I had a blister on my nipple, seemed to help just changing the angle, but my MW said I had a fissure (sp) on my nipple so it may not help for just generally sore ones. Def try nipple shields. The antenatal class video showed to have the nipple touching their nose, then when mouth big and wide shove boob in.
Also make sure their head is slightly tilted back so it is easy for them to suck and swallow. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 28 September 2007 at 9:41pm
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The thing I found helped the best is kind of squeezing my areola/nipple (this is going to be quite hard to explain!) so that its oval shape, rather than round- so that more gets in the babys mouth. If Mum puts her hand under her breast and squeezes from there so that when she is looking down at her breast her areola/nipple is the same shape as babies mouth- tickle bubs top lip with her nipple and when baby opens his/her mouth stuff as much in as possible and hold it there- supporting the back of babies head with the other hand.
To unlatch baby if she hasn't got it right, stick her little finger in the side of bubs mouth to release the pressure rather than just pulling out. Get her to use a breast feeding pillow so she isn't worrying about holding baby as well- she can concentrate on the latching part. Lasinoh is BRILLIANT stuff and those cooling gel pads are great too. ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 28 September 2007 at 9:49pm
yep, what she said. Also "chest to chest, nose to hose (nipple) try to get nipple poking at roof of their mouth. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Jennz wrote:Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 September 2007 at 8:05am
| Not much that I can add. But when I had issues with Daniels latching the lactation consultant (who was soooo lovely) told me to do as much skin to skin contact as possible. So everytime he was awake he would be stripped down and placed under my top on my boobs. It's weird to think that it would help but it probably helped some of his natural instincts kick in a bit. |
Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 29 September 2007 at 8:56am
Nipple shields are a god send with sore, cracked nipples...she could alternate between that and expressing to give each nipple a 'break' - that with the lansinoh ointment should have them cleared up in a couple of days. Oh, and breastmilk is great on sore nipples too...
And like the others said, boob shaped like a hamburger so bubs gets more actual breast in the mouth rather than just nipple. Let her know that with sore nipples she will feel pain for about 10 seconds, but if it doesn't subside by then, un-latch and try again - breastfeeding SHOULDN'T be painful with a correct latch (even with sore nipples) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 29 September 2007 at 10:24am
| Thanx everyone she has the lansinoh and im picking her up some sheilds on the way over. she has been expressing a bit to give her nipples a break so hopefully we manage to get it sorted. she lives in Rangiora so the hospital there is pretty average. Will any lactation people come to her? She doesn't have a license |
Posted By: LockieandLiam
Date Posted: 29 September 2007 at 12:18pm
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I found the ladies nurses/midwives at Rangiora Hospital really good when I was there, much better than the ones at ChCh Womens, they seemed to have more time for you. Sorry can't help with your question whether lactation people come to you. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 29 September 2007 at 7:55pm
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Well I managed to show her how to latch on properly yay and she just text me saying it doesn't hurt now.
I just have to say tho i'm appalled at the care she has gotten with breastfeeding. She got given all these hand outs about how great breastfeeding is which is good but she was never shown or helped. She asked for help and the nurse came in and looked at her and said it looked like she was latched ok and there are pamphlets in the other room if she needed anymore help  They do a great big guilt trip if you even consider bottle feeding but don't help at all to get breastfeeding right 
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 29 September 2007 at 8:15pm
Good on you Rach! Your friend sounds like she is lucky to have you  ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Salifer
Date Posted: 11 February 2008 at 1:07pm
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I'm glad all is going well. I was going to add if the pain persisted (like I had for 3 months!!!) could it be thrush??? I had to take anti-biotics after my birth (which I think killed all the good/bad bugs) and left me with horrendous painful nipples due to thrush.....also my baby struggled to latch properly for the first 3 months due to a sunken in chin.....had to wait till she gained weight...which took a very long time....now she latches great. I nearly gave up at 3 weeks and now am approaching the 4 month mark. Tell her to stick with it....honestly the first 3 months a really hard BF.....well in my opinion they are.
And I TOTALLY agree with you that there is a lack of help....everyone seems to brush you off and say you're doing it right....when clearly as a mum you can feel its not right. Feel free to PM me if you need more support. -------------    
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 11 February 2008 at 2:17pm
Woohoo! Glad to hear you were able to help her Rach 
LOL Annie, Nose to hose! So true in those first weeks! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 11 February 2008 at 5:57pm
| go Rach!!! |
Posted By: NovemberMum
Date Posted: 11 February 2008 at 8:43pm
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yay for your friend and good on you for helping her...I think it is pretty slack that she didn't get the help she needed while she was in hospital/birthing centre.
------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 11 February 2008 at 9:07pm
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Also for cracked nipples I totally recommend nipple shields. They also help the baby latch properly and give your nipps a damn good rest as they are protected by the latex!
I used nipple shields for a month and after that never had anymore problems with sore nipples!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 12 February 2008 at 12:09pm
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is this an old post or are the dates mucked up??
anyway....if your friend still needs help, la leche league are awesome and come to you  ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 12 February 2008 at 9:53pm
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Yip old post lol
I'm plased to report baby is now nearly 5 months and shes still breastfeeding yay |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 12 February 2008 at 9:54pm
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