Why Baby Is Having Trouble Latching Or Sucking & What To Do
Most new moms think that they’re through the hard part once they deliver the baby. However, the reality is that the postpartum phase is even more challenging, with moms experiencing hormonal changes, learning how to breastfeed, taking care of a baby, and . Breastfeeding is tough, with many moms admitting that they didn’t how hard breastfeeding is, assuming it’s a natural process. It’s common for many newborns to have trouble latching or maintaining sucking at their mom’s breast. However, if a newborn is still unable to remove milk from the breast properly, more help is required. A baby needs to be able to remove enough milk from the breast by achieving the proper latch and sucking to receive proper nutrition and gain weight. This milk removal then “informs” the breasts to maintain or . Poor milk removal can lead to nutrition and weight gain problems because the newborn isn’t getting enough milk. Also, this means that the mom’s milk supply will reduce. What causes a poor latch, and what can you do? Read on for more.
Why Do Babies Have Trouble Latching?
A lot of things can affect your infant’s ability to suck and remove milk. According to , some infants have trouble staying awake, while others have conditions affecting the structure of their mouth, making nursing difficult. Some causes of latch-on or suck problems include:
Prematurity- According to , sometimes a poor latch is caused by a baby’s maturity. Preemies often have difficulty latching or a weak suck until they get a little bit older.
Lip ties or - Some infants have physical or mechanical issues that prevent them from latching correctly. Tongue- or lip-ties can prevent a baby from opening her mouth wide enough, which results in a shallow latch, and may even need surgery to correct.
Nipple confusion- Latching a baby onto a pacifier or bottle is very different from the breast, and your baby may find it challenging to adjust their latch to nurse efficiently.
- Your baby may have difficulty latching if you have flat or inverted nipples.
Other reasons why babies may have a poor latch include infection, jaundice, heart disease, a cleft lip or palate, poor positioning, etc.
Signs Of A Poor Latch
Babies with poor latch typically:
Don’t wake on their own to cue for feedings.
Cues to nurse less than eight times in a day.
Signals to nurse 14 or more times in a day.
Latches on and then releases the breast repeatedly
Resists or pushes away when you try to latch her on.
Doses within 5 minutes of latch-on or after sucking for only two or three minutes.
Breastfeeds on one side for over half an hour.
Doesn’t latch and suck relentlessly for the first 7 to 10 minutes of a feeding.
Nurses on one side for longer than 30 to 40 minutes.
Nurses for over 45 minutes without seeming full after a meal
Poops less than 3 to 4 times in a day. This is normal for a baby older than a week and younger than a month.
Seems gassy or produces after the first week.
Produces less than six wet diapers in a day.
Has a hard time taking milk via other feeding methods. The mom who:
Always has bruises or sore nipples or areola.
Has red, cracked, or scraped nipples.
Rarely or never notices breasts are full before feedings and softening after feedings. This is especially if several hours have passed before feedings.
Has more than one episode of mastitis or plugged milk ducts.
What You Can Do
Wake your newborn every three hours to feed. You can also feed sooner if your baby gives you feeding cues or signs.
Understand that your baby will nurse better at some feedings than others.
Massage your breasts towards the nipple during the feeding to help the milk flow into the infant’s mouth and encourage her to stay awake and keep sucking.
For moms with inverted nipples, it takes a bit of patience and practice to achieve a good latch.
You may also find pumping before feeding or using a breast shield beneficial to help draw out the nipple.
Maintain a chart of how many wet diapers and stool your baby has in a day. Also, note down the color and amount of stools.
According to , you can to develop and maintain a good supply.
You can also speak to a lactation consultant or healthcare provider to help you choose if a specific device or feeding method can help your baby learn to breastfeed.
Sources: , , ,
