need help with latch!

DD has latched on beautifully since the day she was born, 10 days ago, until last night. I guess my nipples are a bit soft, because she normally has to bit and pull several times to draw it into her mouth. But she never seemed to have a problem. The last 3 feeds, she's been having a lot of trouble latching on. it seems like the bottom of the nipple keeps slipping out of her mouth. I've tried pumping a bit first, pulling out my nipple, wiping all the lanolin off, etc... This last feed was very hard- it took a half hour to get her latched, and she was getting quite frustrated towards to end. Anyone have any advice?

[meiram]

Well, you have probably fed a couple of times since your post.  Has it gotten better?  The lactation consultant that I talked to showed me how to squish my nipple and areola (sp) flat and slightly push on baby's chin to get him to open up wide and basically shove all of it into his mouth.  She said ideally I should see all of his lips on my breast.  Hope that makes sense.  I have noticed that my son's latch is pretty bad if he has gas he is trying to get out while he is feeding.  Also if he is still very sleepy but hungry he has a hard time getting on.  Oh, another thing...maybe try expressing a little milk and putting it on your nipple.  Good luck, I'm sure you two will get your groove back.  

[pertykitty]

im trying to remember but i know addy went through a short time of rough nursing, about 1-2 weeks old.  and when we get frustrated it makes it worse.  is it just one side?  they always have a favorite.  i wouldnt think soft nipples would be an issue, i think it could be the thrush you talked about?  maybe its painful.  its been a bit of time since you posted, im curious how its going now?  

[tiredbuthappy]

we had a couple of rough sessions, but by the end of the day things returned to normal. i think there may have been a couple of things conspiring against us. my nipples are soft, and i had been treating them with lanolin and breast milk, which left them slick. her meds for thrush made things slick too. on top of that, she got a pacifier the night before. maybe there was some nipple confusion?

so yesterday, we cut the paci (until a midnight moment of desperation by dh, but that's another post). i also stopped treating my nips with lanolin and breastmilk. instead, i switched to a saline soak followed by airdrying. seems to be helping. and instead of giving her the trush (thrush) meds before a feed, dh wrestles it down her throat after.