Have a question about pacifiers and satisfying baby.

[martikadragoon]

So mason is 6days old now, and I've noticed that the paci sometimes won't satisfy him, and neither will the bottle or the breast.

I'm BFing but using formula also since we're having issues w/me making enough milk (and he's got a small mouth, he can't latch on right to get enough milk and I can't get a pump that works enough until I see wic)

Sometimes he acts hungry but will spit out the bottle after a few *****, he'll then open his mouth wide and move his head side to side like he's searching but won't latch onto the bottle. He does the same thing when I offer him the breast or a paci.

Anyone have a clue as to why he's doing this?  He ends up fussing and crying ALOT but he isn't gassy or constipated or anything that would make it obvious whats wrong.

[JoyRenee]

If he's pulling away as you guide him to the breast make sure you're not pushing on his head but pushing his upper back and guiding his entire body, not just his head. They tend to not like being pushed on the head/neck. LOL! I learned that that hard way.

By the way, my baby girl doesn't latch as deeply as she needs to and we are still doing fine. I am constantly trying to get her to open her mouth wider. I unlatch and re-latch her over and over again. Sometimes I just forget about it. So long as it isn't hurting me or uncomfortable then I'm fine with it. Small-mouthed babies can nurse it just isn't always comfortable for the momma.

[JoyRenee]

If he is tongue-tied your ped. can clip it for him. My niece had this done and it helped tremendously.

If your nipple is drawn out quite a bit when he unlatches then he is most likely getting a great mouthful. Watch some how-to videos of nursing mothers on YouTube. It really helped me to visually SEE with my eyes what to do.

Don't give up! The first 4 weeks are the most difficult. This is my third baby I've attempted to nurse. I kept giving myself new goals. My first was, "Make it to 4 weeks and re-evaulate breastfeeding". Made it to 4 weeks and now 8 weeks. I can see us nursing for a full year now. It's not as hard as it was those first weeks.

As for latching and unlatching he is most likely still learning how to latch. Just keep offering it to him. He may get upset but be patient and soothing. Talk gently to him and keep brushing his lips with the nipple. When he calms down drawn him to your breast again. My LO likes to latch and unlatch whether happy or sad.

ALSO, babies will do this if they need to burp or have gas pains. So if after a couple minutes he just won't latch again, sit him up and burp him. That always helps Zoë.

Let baby nurse as long as you can stand. Sometimes they love to be pacified at the breast long after they've nursed. Their pacifying can also help build your supply. The best way to build your supply is to have baby nurse as often and as much as possible. Pumping would be the next best thing. Eat oatmeal and drink plenty of water.

Let me know if you have other questions! Get on YouTube and watch some videos girl! See if that helps you to see if he's latching on correctly. There are some good ones on there.

[30something13]

Oh I see yeah problem can be difficult form what I hear. I have heard of the reglan. Have you tried Motilium before? that si supposed to be better for that. I got mine out of the country. It works very good. I would try getting some Fenugreek and blessed Thistle at the store if you still only have drops. But you ahve to reme,ber that if your milk has not come in and you still have colostrum that is all the baby needs to satify him. It is very thick for that reason. I would nurse every hour during the day then pump or hand express afterwards and suppliment after you feed him. It will be easier to pump after he ahs latched on. Look at those videos from Jack Newman and it will show you if you are lathed on good or not. Best of luck and yes you are trying!!!!!!!

[tiredbuthappy]

how bad is the tongue-tie? For us, the combination of tongue-tie and small mouth has actually made bottlefeeding challenging as well. We considered clipping it, but since she can now extend it past her gum line and we found a nipple that works, we're leaving it. Hers is type 3/ type 4 which i read is a bit more complex to snip. If you continue to have problems, you may want to look into having his clipped. Just last year I had a boy in my class who was 5 yrs old and had severe speech issues due to tongue tie (type 1, i believe). The ped told his mom as an infant that it shouldn't be a problem and somehow failed to notice all the articulation difficulties as he grew.

by the way, the nipple type she finally took to is the Nuk (not wide base, but the older narrow one). It's easier for her little mouth to get a hold of it.

[martikadragoon]

Thanks ladies~

30something13~ I'm taking reglan to bring my milk in and can express some easily (a few drops at a time)  but it would be too rough on my skin to try and express alot to fill a bottle. Idk if I can even make that much. I don't want him to lose more weight by me stopping supplementing all together because he eats over 2 oz.

I've looked at la Leche league for advice too but nothing will help the fact that he's got a tiny mouth and it's tough to get him to latch far back enough. He has a mouth like my DH with a short frenuleum (sp?) (otherwise known as tongue tied) the thing that holds the tongue to the bottom of your mouth. DH can't whistle due to it, and mason will be the same most likely.

Tiredbuthappy~ I use the "u pillow" and the boppy. they both work well and I've used the football hold as well as the side lying position. he tends to push his head away when I'm trying to guide him to the breast

grandmatobe~ no thrush.

QUESTION: When he latches and detaches, my nipple is drawn out and not flattened or anything. Does this mean he's done it right?   God, this is all so new for me lol. I don't have a date to see WIC because they have no openings anytime soon. Probably in a  few weeks. I still try to get him to latch multiple times per day so we'll see what happens. I won't feel bad tho if it doesnt work out because at least I'm trying.

Thanks for the advice ladies!
I'll keep you updated! :)

TTYL
Cindie

[tiredbuthappy]

my little one has a small mouth and tongue tie. the only position i could get her to latch well consistantly was the football hold. Try different positions and see which works best. I also had success by bringing her mouth up and over the nipple to latch her and get more boob into her mouth. So you kinda put his chin there 1st and then lift the head to bring the mouth up and over as he takes the breast into his mouth. Have you bf'ed before? You may need the guidance of an LC, or like the previous poster suggested, La Leche League. they can teach you so much! Also, make sure you are positioning him properly, as this early on, improper positioning can lead to difficulty latching. once you both get more experienced, you'll be able to be more flexible. For now, the baby's entire body should be facing your breast (his head should not be turned). For the football hold, the LC had me hug her tight against my side with the arm that held her head. MyLC strongly recommended the Brestfriend pillow instead of the boppy in the beginning since it promotes better feeding positioning and therefore helps the baby latch better until s/he learns how to do it better.

as for supply, you are setting yourself up for failure by supplementing and not pumping this early on. if you truly want to be able to maintain your supply, you need to take the advice of the other ladies, or at the very least pump with even a cheap pump. manual expression also works for many and doesn't cost a penny. when do you see WIC? time is very critical at this point and can determine whether or not this will be possible for you.

good luck and congrats on the arrival of your little one. i hope everything works out well for you guys!!!

[30something13]

Babies who are getting the breast bottle and picifier do this alot in the first few weeks as they are confused. I owuld drink as much as water asd you can stand to help your milk come in better and also if you suppliment then it will be hard for it to come in the way it needs to. Bottle nipples do not have to be sucked as hard as the breast does to get the milk and he needs to work to get the food or he may not do good at all BF'ing. If he has a small mouth epsecially. He sounds like he is rooting and wants to eat but is just plain confused. I would nurse no longer then every two hours and three at night till this is resolved and stop the pacifier and bottle all together if you plan on BF"ing. Never stop Bf'ing even if you think their is no more milk as continuing will help stimulate more milk to come with in a day or so. I hope this gets better for the two of you soon I know this can be a stressful thing. Look up a leading dr named Jack Newman. He has video and article over any and every topic of a breasfeeding mother. THis will be your best. You can also look up Lalachee League sorry if I spelled that wrong. THere will be someone you can call in your area that can help and even come to your home. As for a small mouth is nonsense unless their is a palate problem. My dughter nursed on my F size boobs and was 30 1/2 weeks early weighing 3lbs 8oz. She had a small mouth and was fine. Lots of dr's will say this but all it is really to help him learn how to nurse and not letting him get confused with many other things

[Grandmatobe]

My first thought was to check his mouth and see if he has thrush that is making it painful to suck on anything.  I'm sure you would have noticed if his tongue was completely white, but just throwing it out there.

[rebekah385]

oh and also my second baby would never take a pacifier either she perfered sucking on 2 fingers. my 1st and 3rd loved their pacifiers, so I think it is all individual taste

[rebekah385]

it sound to me like he's rooting around looking for the breast, but since he is not latching right does'nt want it.  I also had trouble with 2 of mine haveing trouble latching on, have you tried using a nipple shield? it's a little clear shield that goes over your nipple and areola and makes it easier for the baby to latch on, they have them in small, medium and large so if he has a small mouth you could try the small one. it really helped with my last baby! you can buy them at target on the bottle aisle or contact your local le lache league or WIC office. good luck and hope it helps

[blueeyedtabbycat]

my DD is the same way. I never found out why. I always chalked it up to her inability to latch on to the nipples. My DD is one of the only babies I have had that wont take the nuk. Its a good thing though. Also my DD had a hard time with the nipples I was using. I had to switch to the crappy brown ones they gave me in the hospital untill I could get her used to the clear kind. Your BF so that doesnt apply to you but maybe like you said its a latching issue and thats why he never seems satisfied? Sorry im not of much help. My DD finally out grew her issues. But she did the same thing with the fussing during feeding and turning her head. Good luck!
Hey and when am I going to see more pictures of Mason???I need pictures, lol:~)