breastfeeding latch

[vacuumprincess]

I just had my baby yesterday.  She latches really tightly to the nipple.  how do I get her to take more of the nipple into her mouth?  My nipples are getting really sore & cracked.  She has one bleeding already.

[angela418]

Proper latch on is the key - that and lansinoh lanolin cream!  The instructions Michele posted are really good.  I had a really hard time with latch on and the nurses had to latch my first baby on for me a lot of the time in the hospital.  Once I conquered latch on and used the cream to help with the dry/chapped/bleeding nipples it was way easier!!  I know it hurts and boy do I feel your pain, but hang in there! :-)

[Heatherm4]

Ouch!! My son would always suck in his bottom lip. It's pretty much impossible for him to get the whole thing in his mouth, even at 7 months! But what I would do is bring out his bottom lip! Also try 100% lanolin cream...you can put it on and don't need to wash it off to nurse. It helps heal, or put your own milk on your nipples, the milk has great healing properties. There is also a breastfeeding forum on here!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I'm so sorry!  I know it hurts!!  I have nursed all 6 of mine and have had rawness and bleeding on some level w/ them all.  It will take a few days for your nipples to get used to it, but if you can stick it out, it WILL get better.  I promise!

Oh, and mine tend to try using me as a pacifier in the very beginning.  It is very comforting to them, but once she is done  w/her feeding, hopefully you can put her down and get some rest, and give your nipples a rest as well.  It may even help if they take her to the nursery until her next feeding.  I have done that w/ some of mine, and it actually helps keep them from using you as a pacifier.

[vacuumprincess]

I had a nurse in awhile ago. She got her latched properly on the first side. I am raw & blistered.  When I tried it on the seccond side, I started bleeding.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

You are very welcome and I hope it helps.  Even the regular nurses there in the hospital should be able to watch how your baby is latching and help you/her.  Good luck!

[vacuumprincess]

Thank you!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Make sure to get as much of the nipple into her mouth as possible, including the areola.  I use my index finger and my middle finger to "pinch" my entire nipple and put that into the mouth.  Has a lactation consultant not come to see you??

Just copied and pasted this for you:

The first step to a proper latch on is getting baby to open WIDE!  Brush baby's lips with your nipple to encourage him to open wide, as if yawning.

Once baby's mouth is open wide, quickly pull him onto the breast by pulling the baby toward you with the arm that is holding him.  Make sure you move the baby towards you, and not move yourself towards the baby.

The baby's gums should completely bypass the nipple and cover approximately one inch of the areola behind the nipple.  Make sure the baby's lips are everted.  Some baby's will tighten or purse their lips, especially the lower one.  If the lower lip is inverted (turned in), try simply pressing down on baby's chin to evert the inwardly turned lip.  

You can find this on breastfeeding . com.  Don't put the spaces, but it will also show you pictures.

Also be sure to use the Lanolin ointment to help with the dryness.  The hospital should give you some of this.  If they haven't, I'd ask.