My baby is having a hard time getting a good latch. Why is this and what can I do?
Babies are born with the instinct to breastfeed, but sometimes it takes practice to achieve a good, deep latch. Learn about proper latching and positioning techniques during your pregnancy! The "magic" nursing position can be especially helpful when babies are having a difficult time latching.
Causes/Solutions:
- Baby is drowsy after birth due to medication(s) mom received during labor/delivery.
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- Make a birth and breastfeeding plan and share it with hospital staff.
- Hold baby skin-to-skin immediately after birth for 1-2 hours.
- Learn about babies’ 9 instinctive stages after birth and allow them to breastfeed early, before falling asleep.
- Mom has flat/inverted nipples. Although women can breastfeed no matter what their nipple looks like, this may make latching more difficult. Babies “breast” feed, not “nipple” feed. Their suck can form and draw the nipple into their mouth.
Other ways to draw out the nipple:
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- Roll the nipple between your fingers.
- Hand express or briefly pump before latching.
- Wear breast shells about 30 minutes before a feeding.
- Nipple shields can be used after other things are tried first. They are a tool that should only be used as a short-term solution.
- Baby has a lip/tongue tie. Ties can restrict the movement of the tongue/lip, causing latching issues. Have a trained professional (dentist or CLC) look in baby’s mouth. If needed, a same-day procedure can correct a tie and make breastfeeding much easier.
- Bottles are introduced too soon. Different muscles and mouth movements are used to remove milk from the breast versus a bottle. Offering a bottle too soon can complicate latch.
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- Wait 2-4 weeks, if possible, to offer a bottle.
- While baby is still learning to latch (or doesn't stay latched long enough to get a good feeding), hand express and offer colostrum/breast milk using an alternative feeding method. The breasts need to be emptied 8–12 times in 24 hours to establish and maintain a good milk supply.
- If you decide to offer a bottle, use the paced bottle-feeding method.