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View Full Version : Latching correctly or not?


klynnw
05-08-2008, 02:07 PM
I have a 9 week old who is just now starting to get the hang of nursing...or at least I think. It has been a long journey to get here, but he's now able to suck-swallow-breathe and he's actually opening his mouth more to latch. I have a few questions though, since we're new at this. When he nurses he tends to move his head around alot, adjusting where he is after the initial let down....any ideas why? I usually take him off and try to burp when he does that, but he usually freaks out. My other question is that when he comes off, my nipples are still slightly pinched (maybe a football shape), although not as much as before. I'm a little sore, but not cracked or anything. Is this just because I'm letting him nurse more now than before and I'm adjusting, or is it a sign things still aren't correct? And last, I've noticed he tends to eat one side, then sleep a bit, then fuss a little, then eat the other side, then sleep a bit, etc, etc....is this a normal pattern? I'm usually still sort of full when he's done, should I pump the extra off when I think he's done for a while (which is hard to tell) or leave it alone? Or is this a sign he's not getting enough? (I was pumping and bottle feeding, I usually got about 4-6 oz per pumping and he usually ate about 4 ounces) Sorry for the vast amount of questions.......any advice is appreciated!

annieversteeg
05-08-2008, 02:27 PM
OK.. First of all...WAY TO GO WITH HANGING N THERE... It isn't easy to do what you have done.. Only Mommies do that!
I would let him move his head without removing him.. he may be trying to get comfortable and then some well meaning mommy comes along and interrupts him!!! Are you using the asymetric latch?
The pinching.. he may have a bit of a bubble palette left and he is still trying to shove the nipple up there instead of being back between the hard and soft palette. It could be 'latch' but it may really be 'palette'.
Feeding may exhaust him especially if your milk comes really fast, let him rest between sides, it won't last forever!
Great milk supply.. Is it too fast for him?

klynnw
05-08-2008, 02:33 PM
thanks! I don't know what you mean by asymetric. I use the cradle hold usually if that helps. It doesn't seem to be too fast for him. He happily gulps the let down, then usually falls asleep.

annieversteeg
05-08-2008, 02:44 PM
OK.. I was wondering if he choked and sputtered at the breast which would be anindication that the milk is too fast.

The asymetric latch means his nose is NOT touching the breast tissue while latched on.