![]() “Sometimes babies just have to grow into the mom’s larger nipples. “Tongue ties and upper lip ties may also interfere with a baby's ability to breastfeed correctly,” says Hays. If you've tried these fixes and your baby is still latching poorly, don't hesitate to get help. In some cases, a medical condition such as a tongue tie may interfere with an infant's ability to nurse correctly. “Starting when your baby is calm will give you the time and concentration you need to focus on your baby’s latch.”Įven breastfeeding parents that have a relatively easy time with nursing can use help, and if you’re struggling at all, lactation consultants can be hugely helpful. ![]() “Not only is the mouth in a suboptimal position when baby is screaming, it is almost impossible to latch a baby when they are frantic,” adds Hafken. “Parents can use that fairly accurately as a sign that a baby is hungry.” For newborns, be ready to nurse as soon as they wake up. Laura Sinai, a board-certified pediatrician, explained to Romper. “We know that the rooting reflex is related to feedings, specifically breastfeeding, but even bottle-fed babies in the early period will rub their face to try to find the source of feeding, because that source evolutionarily would be the nipple, and they need to find that,” Dr. Smacking their lips, turning their head from side to side ( "rooting"), and putting a hand to the mouth are a baby's way of saying they’re hungry. Whenever possible, start feeding at the first signs of hunger. The calmer your baby (and you) are, the easier it is to establish a deep latch from the start. You can help fix your baby's shallow latch - and avoid frustration for both you and your child - with these expert tips. But don’t feel like you have to nurse through the pain. ![]() Some telltale signs of a shallow latch include a feeling of pinching in the nipple during feeding, a crack or scab in the shape of a line across your nipple, or your nipple looking flattened, pinched, or lipstick-shaped after a feeding, Hafken says. “When a shallow latch happens, your nipple will be pinched, squeezed, abraded, flattened, or blistered from the excessive suction being targeted at a tiny area of the nipple rather than applied to the whole nipple, as well as the baby’s tongue rubbing it like sandpaper,” Lynnette Hafken, IBCLC, a lactation consultant at Rockville Lactation and senior advisor to the Fed Is Best Foundation, tells Romper. If you do feel pain, however, it might be due to a shallow latch. How to know you don't have a proper latchįirst things first, if you feel pain, don’t continue to feed - you can always reposition or try a different technique until you get a comfortable latch. While there are plenty of positions to choose from, in general, the baby should be turned to face your body and everything should be aligned - your baby's ear, shoulder, and hips - to make sure that they don’t have to twist their head to feed. "A simple way to remember good latch mechanics is tummy to mommy, nipple to nose, wait for the gape and pull the baby close," Cat Halek, IBCLC, tells Romper. ![]() According to Ward, a successful latch "should be relatively comfortable, with any pain subsiding quickly and like more of a tug than anything else.” If you do feel pain, that’s a sign that something is not quite right yet. How to properly latch a newbornīefore you troubleshoot how to solve a shallow latch, you need to know what a proper latch looks and feels like. For everything you need to know about fixing a shallow latch, read on. If your baby will not latch properly, you should be able to work through it with a little bit of patience and expert knowledge. “Every mother and baby fit together in their own way, some facing more complex challenges than others,” lactation consultant Natalie Ward told Romper. If you and your baby do experience shallow latching, especially in the beginning of the feeding journey, know that it’s completely normal - you may simply need some time to work out the kinks. This allows the infant to nurse with little to no discomfort on the breastfeeding parent’s part. When a baby has a good latch, the areola should be in their mouth along with the nipple. A shallow latch can lead to nipple damage, too, which is as bad as it sounds and can interfere with your nursing experience. Shallow latch is the technical term for what happens your baby isn't opening their mouth widely enough to nurse without causing you pretty major discomfort or even pain. The great news is that with a little insider knowledge about how to properly latch a newborn, this problem is likely fixable. Ah, the amazing maternal joy of - OW! What in the name of La Leche League is that kid doing to your poor boobs? That sweet experience of breastfeeding can start to feel less-than-sweet if your baby has a shallow latch.
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