The Latch
Breastfeeding Housecalls can visit your home and help you strategize and troubleshoot and ineffective or uncomfortable latch, and so much more!
This latch here could lead to sore nipples and affect milk transfer. To correct it, this mother could position baby's head back so that his chin is deep into mom's breast. Also, flanging baby's lips out (like a catfish) could help baby take more of mom's areola deeper into his mouth.
Having a "good" latch can define a nursing relationship for a breastfeeding mom and baby. For a good latch to be acheived, two sets of anatomies (mom's and baby's) must work together to match their corresponding "puzzle piece". For example, a baby's mouth must open wide enough, and mom's nipple and areola must be pliable enough to enter and be compressed by baby's tongue.
When this "fit" doesn't happen from day one, the outcome can be sore nipples and low colostrum/milk intake for baby. Because every baby's mouth and every mother's areola are unique, when common remedies (such as pulling down on the baby's chin to widen their gape) don't seem to make nursing better, families should call a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) before deciding that breastfeeding is not for them. An IBCLC can help you learn strategies for correcting the latch, and for mitigating the cascade of events that a not-so-awesome latch can cause (bleeding or cracked nipples can lead to a breast infection or low milk supply, and a poor latch could lead to slow weight gain in baby). Seeing a mom and baby nurse is the best way an IBCLC can accurately assess and provide strategies for acheiving the latch you and your baby need.
When this "fit" doesn't happen from day one, the outcome can be sore nipples and low colostrum/milk intake for baby. Because every baby's mouth and every mother's areola are unique, when common remedies (such as pulling down on the baby's chin to widen their gape) don't seem to make nursing better, families should call a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) before deciding that breastfeeding is not for them. An IBCLC can help you learn strategies for correcting the latch, and for mitigating the cascade of events that a not-so-awesome latch can cause (bleeding or cracked nipples can lead to a breast infection or low milk supply, and a poor latch could lead to slow weight gain in baby). Seeing a mom and baby nurse is the best way an IBCLC can accurately assess and provide strategies for acheiving the latch you and your baby need.
